Future Funding and Investment Lead

Essex

n/a - n/a

£43,139-£50,752

Chelmsford

Permanent

Economic Development

Role

Future Funding and Investment Lead

Permanent

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£43,139 to £50,752 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 9th March 2025 (23:59)

The Role

Essex County Council is a systems leader for Skills and Economic Growth, partnering with public and private sectors to position Essex as a hub of innovation, enterprise, and ambition. Through our business-facing services, we drive an inclusive, integrated approach to skills development, business support, sector growth, and inward investment across the County.

The Future Funding & Investment Lead will shape our approach, leading the development of funding and investment strategies for the wider service to maximise the income secured to assure the delivery of the outcomes we plan to achieve. The role will provide evidence-based recommendations on both funding sources and activity to prioritise and in response be at the heart of proposals that secure investment.

This role is at the forefront of the collaborative approach to growth and will support the development of meaningful partnerships to promote projects for investment and influence the flow of grants, developer contributions and other income.

To read more about our business area, please visit People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

Accountabilities

- Develop and maintain a strategic approach to securing external funding and investment for the service, assessing proposals using data and expertise to create a pipeline of project proposals aligned to the objectives outlined in service and Corporate Plans.

- Lead networks of people, services, and information; developing effective partnerships to streamline dissemination of intelligence on emerging opportunities, projects and, , best practice & to influence the flow of funding and investment into the Essex.

- Be part of multi-disciplinary project teams, providing clear recommendations on the approach to bidding for funding, and supporting the development of relevant applications across the wider team to ensure proposals are robust.

- Identify any risks, resources, and match funding requirements from external funding opportunities, assessing chances realistically and providing critical challenge where necessary including evaluating proposals as a 'critical friend' to strengthen outcomes.

- Work in partnership with Local Authority planning teams advising on responses to planning applications and leading negotiations with applicants to increase the flow of as well as managing a pool of Developer Contributions funding for a pipeline of Skills and Growth projects.

- Lead on engagement with regional and national planning bodies in relation to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPS), managing the coordination of a single service response, bringing together key stakeholders and establishing partnerships between developers, colleges, universities and the supply chain to ensure a coordinated, collaborative response to skills shortages and coordination of such skills funds.

- Maintain and support the development of an accurate database of funding and investment secured by the service including monitoring delivery of employment, skills and supply chain strategies and contributions schedules for NSIPs and planning projects to ensure they are delivered. Use the database to inform reporting and activity associated with grant applications, funder management and income targets, providing reports to managers and partners.

- Maintain understanding of programme funding rules, providing advice on and ensure compliance with relevant terms and conditions of funding as well as assuring compliance with required monitoring requirement. Understand the impact of changes to funding rules and suggest appropriate action.

- Deliver ECC’s business account management approach and serve as a primary point of contact to build and maintain trusting relationships with businesses, industry representatives and partners.

- Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

· Educated to RQF level 5 in analytical and commercial expertise, in any discipline or equivalent by experience.

· Extensive knowledge of grants, funding opportunities, Corporate Social Responsibility (and equivalent practices, such as Environmental Social and Governance- ESG- practices) and private sector funding, including extensive experience of successfully securing external funding, ideally in both a commercial and local authority setting.

· Effective understanding of the planning system, specifically Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), s.106 and s.256 developer contributions and knowledge of how these can be leveraged as a source of external funding for projects in the relevant service area.

· Experience of managing competing priorities, balancing the needs of different services and project proposals, using project management tools.

· Effective communication skills, experience of building effective relationships with a range of internal and external services, partners and stakeholders as well as evidence of effective written communications that convince people to make decisions.

· Effective research and data analytics skills, with the ability to use data to recognise and implement improvements that lead to enhance project outcomes.

· Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area with membership of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising as desirable.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

Links / Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours

Apply