Engagement Officer

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Active Travel Engagement Officer

Req ID: 13589
Salary: Up to £29,703 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Fixed term, Full time
Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing date: 29 September 2023.

Please note we are offering this role on a 1-year fixed term contract within Highways and Transportation.

Job Purpose

Our Sustainable Transport (ST) team’s priority is to create more travel choices so that Essex is a Safer, Greener, Healthier County. This will be achieved through the increased use of active travel and sustainable transport through a shift towards, sustainably designed transport schemes and by providing and promoting credible alternatives to the private car.

The Active Travel Engagement officer will help develop a stakeholder engagement strategy and support the delivery of an active travel community engagement programme incorporating healthy school streets, and active travel schemes including Essex Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) and Liveable neighbourhoods.

The postholder will be required to work with senior internal and external stakeholders including community groups and partners.

Service/Functional Accountabilities

• Help develop and implement a stakeholder engagement strategy, using the latest techniques, innovative and engaging methods to co-produce active travel schemes with communities, identifying needs and addressing barriers to the take up of active travel
• Research, identify, engage, and establish partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders to devise and deliver an active travel community engagement programme which seeks to identify and implement win-win scenarios
• Encourage, motivate, and liaise with residents, and a diverse range of voluntary and community groups, schools and business communities to support and take part in active travel events and consultations, creating a network of community-based Active Travel Champions
• Coordinate a programme of events – both physical and digital – including managing external suppliers and partners, governance, budgets, and evaluation to ensure efficient delivery
• Champion the Safer Greener Healthier vision, acting as an ambassador, supporting others to effectively promote the aim and aspirations
• Answering customer queries and complaints via telephone and email and undertake administrative duties as required
• Provide timely engagement reports and feedback, evaluate the effectiveness of key activities and contribute to regular monitoring and evaluation reports
• Represent Essex County Council as a sustainable and active travel ambassador
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Educated to RQF Level 3 (A level) or equivalent by experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area
• Experience of active travel or cycling initiatives or experience of engaging with communities, residents and business
• Able to work effectively and collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritise accordingly
• Knowledge of co-design and/or Asset Based Community Development principles (desirable)
• Proactive and able to work on own initiative
• People person – approachable and engaging
• Able to use Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Project Management (Desirable).

Why Essex?

Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career.

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.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

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.

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.