Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Officer in Chelmsford

This is a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 19 months. Interviews will be held on Thursday 26th August 2026.

The Team

Bring your passion, your ideas and your energy – Help shape the future of Public Health in Essex. At Essex County Council, our Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities team is driven by a shared belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live well and thrive. We are looking for people who care deeply about reducing inequality, strengthening communities and making a positive difference to everyday lives. This is a chance to be part of a supportive, ambitious team creating meaningful opportunities now, while also helping to re‑imagine and shape Public Health as we move through Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you’re motivated by purpose, collaboration and real‑world impact, we’d love you to join us.

Here’s what’s on the horizon:

• Community Empowerment: We’re all about building community capacity. Be part of a forward thinking and creative team that fosters resilience, collaboration, and positive change across Essex.
• Health Champions Wanted: Help support healthier choices and stronger communities. If improving wellbeing matters to you, you can play a real part in shaping better outcomes for our diverse population.
• NHS Collaboration: We’re breaking down silos by enhancing joint working with NHS colleagues. Together, we’ll achieve the ambitious goals set out in our Business Plan.

The roles that we advertise within our Public Health team aren’t just jobs; they’re opportunities to shape our county’s future. Help us build on our successes and expand our impact across Essex.

The Role

The Wellbeing and Public Health Officer plays a key role within the Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities team, supporting the day‑to‑day delivery of Public Health Priorities and the Public Health Business Plan. The postholder will work with a degree of flexibility and autonomy across the Community Wellbeing portfolio to ensure that the team meets its ambitions for Essex residents to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. This will include the successful development and delivery of priority projects aimed at building resilient communities and helping equip people to make healthier lifestyle choices. The postholder will lead on project planning and delivery. They will often be required to work as part of a multi‑agency, multi‑stakeholder team, and to ensure that priority projects are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget, whilst also ensuring that key Public Health principles such as assessment of need, reviewing evidence, engaging citizens, evidence of outcomes and effective evaluation are planned and delivered.

Accountabilities

• Take a clear and logical approach to collaborating with team members to define projects, plan timelines, identify risks, map, and engage stakeholders.
• Support the practical delivery of priority projects through leading on a range of activities such as organising and leading meetings, maintaining project momentum and direction, drafting project documents and presentations, arranging and facilitating stakeholder workshops, and producing action plans.
• Co-ordinating team members, experts, and external stakeholders to ensure that actions are progressed, and necessary work delivered in a timely fashion.
• Monitoring the performance of projects to ensure they are on track to be delivered on time and to cost as well as delivering desired outcomes.
• Working alongside partner organisations to deliver joint programmes of work and identifying further opportunities and efficiencies that can be achieved.
• Supporting the delivery of specific projects and activities that maximise our understanding of the impact and outcomes of strategic ambitions including the Caring Communities Commission and Local Government Re‑organisation.
• Supporting the development of, and use, of a range of evaluation tools and techniques that ensure the impact of activity is clearly understood and shared.

The Experience You Will Bring

Essential:

• Evidence of learning and professional development within a Public Health, or communities field aligned closely to the delivery of Public Health Priorities.
• Recent experience working within Public Health or a working on programmes of work closely aligned to the delivery of Public Health priorities, to include specific project experience.
• Evidence of recent experience working in a complex partnership environment with other Local Authorities and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector organisations to deliver positive health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Experience of successfully leading multiple, multi‑stakeholder projects delivered on time and to budget and being able to evidence outcomes.

Desirable:

• Experience of monitoring financial information in relation to Grants, contracting and commissioning.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Evidence of applying evaluation, research or impact concepts.

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.

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.

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.