Economic Growth Officer in Essex

About the Role

Tendring District Council is seeking a motivated and forward-thinking Economic Development Officer to help deliver our ambitious Economic Development Strategy and support sustainable growth across the district. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in regeneration, skills development, business growth and inward investment, working with local businesses, landowners, developers, funding bodies and key partners to drive prosperity for Tendring.

Principal Activities

• Develop and implement projects that respond to the aims and objectives of the Council’s Corporate Policy and Tendring4Growth as they relate to the economic growth of the district.
• Play a key role in promoting enterprise and innovation within Tendring’s business base to maximise productivity and encourage business growth.
• Develop and maintain a GDPR-compliant business database, secure a robust and detailed knowledge of the district’s businesses, and use the database to facilitate effective communication, promote B2B networking via meetings, business seminars, other events and social media.
• Take the lead role in providing management, monitoring and performance information on projects pursued by the Economic Growth and Enterprise Team.
• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with the principal funding bodies.
• Work across the organisation and with the Council’s key partners to secure funding to facilitate the delivery of projects and programmes that respond to the Council’s economic growth priorities.
• Attend internal and external meetings and events with public, private and voluntary sector partners as required.
• Work with FE and HE providers to ensure that the resident population has the skills necessary to respond to the needs of the business community.
• Support businesses to enhance the skills of their workforce through effective networking with schools, colleges and universities.
• Work with the public, private and voluntary sectors to secure the renewal and renaissance of the district’s principal settlements.
• Actively participate in local, regional and national networking/action planning meetings and events to promote Tendring.
• Develop and maintain an effective knowledge of available business support programmes and facilitate access to loan and grant funding as appropriate.
• Develop and deliver business events and conferences designed to promote enterprise and productivity and secure business growth.
• Provide business intelligence to advise and inform corporate, planning and economic policy as required.
• Work jointly and departmentally to align services in support of business growth.
• Carry out other duties as may be assigned by the Growth and Enterprise Manager.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Contribute to high-quality management standards and best practice across the service, reflecting the values of the Council.
• Achieve good performance on relevant indicators, both local and statutory, and ensure employees understand the aims and objectives of the service.
• Ensure that employees can relate their work to the Council’s overall corporate strategy and priorities.
• Adhere to the Council’s policies, procedures and schemes.
• Maintain high-quality corporate and service standards and best practice.
• Keep up to date with and implement any changes, new or amended legal requirements, internal and external policies or any Council or delegated decisions.
• Be prepared to attend evening meetings, work reasonable hours to meet deadlines, attend out-of-hours emergencies, and work limited weekend hours if necessary.
• Respond flexibly, positively and successfully to the ever-changing pressures associated with the role, adopting professional techniques and good practice at all times.
• Protect confidential information and adhere to GDPR, Freedom of Information Act, and Council policies on confidentiality and storage.
• Hold a driving licence and have access to a motor vehicle at all times.

This job description is a guide to the duties the post-holder will be expected to undertake. It is not exhaustive and may change as working requirements dictate.

Main Purpose of the Role

To support the Economic Development Strategy in relation to regeneration and skills within the district, to deliver the Council’s priorities in relation to Tendring4Growth, to promote economic growth opportunities across the district through sectoral development and business support, to engage with the district’s indigenous businesses to help secure their growth and realise their full potential, to provide information, advice and guidance (IAG) to start-up enterprises and established indigenous businesses, to administer Government Funding to support businesses to develop, to work with landowners, businesses and commercial developers to secure timely and appropriate development of the district’s principal employment sites, and to secure relocation of businesses to the district.