Senior Economic Development Officer

• Job_application_guidance
• Brentwood_Economic_Growth_Strategy_2025-2028
• Brentwood_Economic_Growth_Action_Plan_2025-2026
• Rochford_District_Economic_Growth_Strategy_2025-2028
• Rochford_District_Economic_Growth_Action_Plan_2025-2026

Please apply online via the link provided.

Rochford District Council is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.  People with disabilities will be offered an interview where they meet the Essential Criteria on the Person Specification.

It is our policy that if you have not heard back within 3 weeks of the closing date you should assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

(Starting salary dependent upon skills and qualifications, progression subject to satisfactory performance)

The OneTeam partnership

Rochford District Council and Brentwood Borough Council have formed an exciting strategic partnership, and the Economic Development Team provide support to both Councils.

About the role

Rochford District Council and Brentwood Borough Council have each recently adopted refreshed Economic Growth Strategies covering the period of 2025-2028. To deliver on Rochford and Brentwood Councils' ambitions, we are looking for a Senior Economic Development Officer to join our OneTeam that serves both councils.

Rochford District Council priorities include town centre regeneration, supporting growing businesses, skills delivery and sustainability. Brentwood Borough Council priorities include supporting start-ups, skills delivery and sustainability. For more information, please visit the Economic Growth Strategies and Action Plans for each Council (links provided below).

The role will involve

• Strategic and Operational Leadership: Supports and deputises for the Corporate Manager – Economic Development, leads on delivering economic development strategies, projects and feasibility work including those funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and assists with team management.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Representation: Acts as the key contact for external organisations (e.g. Essex County Council, business groups), leads on business engagement projects and works with stakeholders to secure support and funding for projects.
• Policy and Investment Development: Leads on drafting strategic economic development and regeneration policies, responds to inward investment enquiries and researches best practices for local application.
• Business Support and Financial Oversight: Provides proactive advice and signposting to local businesses, monitors budgets and manages financial processes including purchase orders and invoices up to £25,000.
• Corporate and Compliance Responsibilities: Works flexibly across Brentwood and Rochford councils, adheres to safeguarding, data protection, health & safety and equality policies, and supports emergency response efforts when required.

About the candidate

You will need to have experience of delivering economic development and/or regeneration programmes, strong written and verbal communication, good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, able to work within a friendly and supportive team, be well organised and able to deliver to tight deadlines and to maintain effective relationships with external and internal stakeholders.

Desirable qualities include local government and UK Shared Prosperity Fund experience, preparing reports and presenting to Council committees and insights on the Brentwood Borough and Rochford District business communities specifically.

Benefits of working for us

In return, we offer a generous annual leave entitlement, enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme, access to our employee assistance programme and staff benefits platform with discounts across a range of retailers.

This post is initially for a 2 year fixed term and may become permanent subject to funding.

For an informal discussion please contact Laurie Edmonds, Corporate Manager Economic Development, on laurie.edmonds@brentwood.rochford.gov.uk

This role will involve travel between Brentwood Town Hall, Rochford District Council’s offices at The Launchpad at Southend Airport Business Park, as well as networking venues around Brentwood Borough and Rochford District. You will be expected to attend networking events that take place outside usual working hours. There may be occasional weekend events to attend.

Please note – the successful candidate will be employed by Brentwood Borough Council.