Assistant Project Sponsor in Chelmsford

The Capital Investment and Delivery team will develop and deliver the capital programme for Essex County Council. The team will focus on developing opportunities for capital investment in order to secure financial returns to support the Council’s strategic priorities.

The Assistant Project Sponsor will support Project Sponsors to develop the overall strategy, direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of specific projects, within budget and according to strict deadlines, whilst ensuring consistency with business strategy, commitments and goals. This role offers an opportunity to develop a career path in project management.

In possession of a degree or relevant professional qualification, this role will assist Project Sponsors to manage key aspects of major projects/programmes whilst also taking on minor projects individually. An ability to build good working relationships with stakeholders and contractors is essential to success. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong background in energy surveying, with a working knowledge of energy consumption metrics, including kW usage and demand profiling. They will have proven experience in conducting energy efficiency and energy-saving surveys, identifying opportunities to reduce consumption and improve building performance.

The role requires familiarity with current government funding schemes and grant programmes that support energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives, and the ability to incorporate these into project planning and delivery. A practical understanding of energy management principles, data analysis, and reporting will be essential to support informed decision-making and drive sustainable outcomes.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for assessing requirements and outcomes for projects, translating them into realistic, measurable and structured project plans.
• Responsible for ensuring the project/programme adheres to Council policies and guidance and reflects best practice.
• Responsible for contributing to the development of strategies and plans to effectively manage stakeholder expectations.
• Ensuring successful delivery of quality project outcomes within agreed constraints, in support of function Business Plans.
• Manage stakeholder interests and priority, risks and costs associated with the projects, representing the Council at consultation and information events.
• Contributes to defining and agreeing the project scope with the Project Sponsor(s).
• Determining key deliverables, managing the budget for schemes typically under £500k and delivering regular progress reports.
• Develop and deliver key project control documentation, ensuring compliance with agreed guidelines to enable audits to be carried out.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to deliver work streams and projects to agreed quality criteria and parameters.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject and/or alternative professional qualification (e.g. Project Management, Construction, Surveying, Architecture, Civil Engineering) or equivalent by experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and developing knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Knowledge and understanding of project management methodologies e.g. Prince 2, or demonstration through experience.
• Knowledge of developing and maintaining an agreed project plan, including key milestones.
• Proven track record of assimilating complex information to inform effective decision making.
• Good communication skills with evidence of producing written reports and delivering presentations.
• Ability to build strong relationships and partnerships which encourage collaboration and engender delivery.

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.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

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.