Overview

Chief of Staff role at Essex County Council. Permanent, full time. Location: Chelmsford. Working style: Anywhere worker. Up to £89,154 per annum. Closing Date: 30 September 2025.

About the role

The role spans the entire organisation and does not sit in a specific functional area. It reports to the Assistant Chief Executive and is a key stakeholder to the Chief Executive. As Chief of Staff, you will act as the strategic anchor for the Chief Executive’s office, ensuring seamless operations and driving alignment across advisory, operational, and engagement functions. You will shape policy, identify opportunities and risks, and guide executive decision making in close collaboration with senior leaders.

Working alongside the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT), senior officers, and political stakeholders, you will lead the delivery of key programmes, strengthen external partnerships, and ensure effective communication and policy development. You will monitor progress, commission updates, and provide contextualised briefings that align with broader organisational and policy frameworks. This role will define significant issues facing Local Authorities and wider public sector organisations, ensuring the council is equipped with the capacity and capability to deliver innovative, impactful solutions. You will represent the Chief Executive’s interests, foster collaboration with other local authorities, government departments, and communications teams to enhance the Council’s visibility, influence, and strategic positioning. You will also support the Chief Executive’s engagement across Boards, Committees, and Advisory Groups, ensuring they are fully briefed and prepared for high-level discussions that shape the future of Essex and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of key programmes, strengthen external partnerships, and ensure effective communication and policy development.
• Monitor progress, commission updates, and provide contextualised briefings aligned with organisational and policy frameworks.
• Define significant issues facing Local Authorities and wider public sector organisations, ensuring capacity to deliver innovative solutions.
• Represent the Chief Executive’s interests and foster collaboration with other local authorities, government departments, and communications teams.
• Support the Chief Executive’s engagement across Boards, Committees, and Advisory Groups, ensuring briefings for high-level discussions.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Strong senior leadership experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment; strategic thinker with a delivery focus.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build trust with colleagues, senior officers and elected Members.
• Deep understanding of the current policy and regulatory environment in local government; experience at a senior level in a political environment; ability to navigate differing perspectives and cross-organisational views.
• Dedication to improving residents’ lives and passion for helping Essex fulfil its potential.
• Degree level education or equivalent.
• Benefits include generous annual leave (with option to purchase additional days), access to Local Government Pension Scheme, life assurance, up to 4 days of volunteering leave, and flexible working options.

Additional information

To read more about us please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health - Working for Essex

Why Essex?

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.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements, and to offering reasonable adjustments during the process. We also commit to interviewing all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements.

We value integrity and ethical behaviour and ask that you embrace our code of conduct and Nolan principles throughout recruitment and employment.

Next steps

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, please apply via the Working for Essex website. If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, please join The Essex Talent Community. For queries, please email alice.symes@essex.gov.uk.

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