Active Essex Project Officer
Fixed Term, Full Time
£28,363 to £33,368 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Closing Date: 1st June 2026
Please note this a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity until 31st March 2028.
Active Essex is positioned within Essex County Council’s Adults, Public Health and Community Wellbeing team and is the strategic lead for sport and physical activity across Essex including Southend and Thurrock.
In July 2021, Active Essex launched “Fit for the Future” a ground-breaking 10-year strategy for physical activity and sport owned by the whole Essex eco-system. We now also now published an implement plan for “Fit for the Future”, which clarifies all of our delivery targets across the five strategic priorities and confirms Active Essex commitment to place based working underpinned by the principles of asset-based community development.
As Project Officer you will play a key role in implementing our strategy, supporting place-based working, and managing grant-funded programmes. Your work will be dynamic, adapting to the priorities of different places, funding received, and the impact we aim to achieve.
Your responsibilities will include collaborating with local stakeholders, developing system capacity, monitoring project delivery, and ensuring that our initiatives are effectively communicated and impactful.
Role Responsibilities
1. Support the teams by maintaining appropriate systems to ensure effective planning and scheduling of projects or programmes
2. Support the team by assisting them in maintaining project controls and producing project reports to ensure adequate and regular monitoring of project progress.
3. Responsible for programme/project file management using robust version control and organising programme/project boards and meetings, together with providing support to ensure efficient operation of day-to-day activities.
4. Supports the programme/project teams by being a main point of contact for responses to external requests for information and engaging with both internal and external contacts.
5. Supports the team with processing of grant agreements, payments which contribute to the compilation of budget updates whilst also ensuring updates of other tasks, such as, maintaining risk and issue logs and clearly documenting decisions
6. Supports the team with coordinating and monitoring data of evaluation survey and communications returns from delivery providers and participants
7. Support the team in organising meetings, boards, events and workshops by providing venue hire, catering arrangements, action/minute taking and attendance tracking, together with providing support to ensure efficient operation of day-to-day activities.
8. Supports the team by sharing any insights or escalating issues to ensure Relationship and Projects Managers are kept up to date.
9. Provide flexible administrative, project and event support across the county to assist delivery of programmes and priorities across the wider Active Essex team
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:
10. Educated to 'A' level or equivalent by experience.
11. Experience of using Microsoft Office and adaptable to use bespoke packages such as Canva and
12. Evidence of continuing professional development in a relevant area.
13. Experience in supporting delivery of projects within a fast- paced, high performing environment.
14. Demonstrable understanding of successful project delivery elements.
15. Proven collaborative working with partners through high-quality relationships.
16. Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) with strong interpersonal, influencing, and negotiating abilities.
17. High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
18. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
19. Experience working effectively within a team environment and liaising professionally with a wide range of contacts.
20. Knowledge of Holiday Activity and Food Programme, Active Essex Foundation, Place partnerships and wider Active Essex portfolio.
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. 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.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our .
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.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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.
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