Job Profile for Lead Economic Development Officer

Job Details

Job title: Lead Economic Development Officer

Salary/Grade: SMG1

Service: Economic Growth

Reports to: Corporate Director of Growth

Manages/Supervises: Economic Development Officer, Administration Officer

Job purpose

To lead on the delivery of the Braintree Economic Growth Strategy. Develop partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders and businesses to support economic growth. To lead specifically on the delivery of business engagement and sector development activities and projects for Braintree District and Colchester City Councils.

Principal Accountabilities

• To lead on the delivery of Braintree’s Economic Growth Strategy by identifying, planning, managing and delivering projects, alongside the economic development team, to deliver against the Councils economic development priorities.
• Lead the drafting of the annual corporate Business Plan for the economic development service in Braintree District Council (BDC).
• To take lead responsibility for the setting and monitoring of economic development related budgets in BDC.
• Responsibility for the commissioning and delivery of an economic evidence base covering Braintree and Colchester local authority areas.
• To undertake procurement and manage contracts for a range of public and business facing economic development projects.
• To engage with and support the Braintree and Colchester business communities, including direct engagement with key businesses to understand their support needs and exploring strategic economic and business opportunities (including but not exclusively Freeport East, Stansted Airport, the Lower Thames Crossing, development of Sizewell C). 
• Develop and maintain a Sector Development Strategy and Action Plan to support the development and growth of existing and future business sectors, across Braintree and Colchester local authority areas, linking in with inward investment activity at both authorities and others as required.
• To be an excellent communicator, promoting the business community to residents through the management of social media, website and other media outlets in partnership with the communications teams at Braintree and Colchester councils.
• To maintain excellent relationships and facilitate joint working with a range of stakeholders and partner organisations including, neighbouring authorities and Essex County Council and the soon to be established Mayoral Combined County Authority.
• To liaise informally and formally with elected Members in both Councils including providing written and verbal briefing and attendance and presentations at relevant committees.
• To work alongside internal teams in both Councils to ensure corporate projects create the environment for economic growth.
• Maintain a knowledge and awareness of sub regional, regional and national economic development policies, programmes and opportunities, in order to develop and guide effective delivery.
• Work with partners to identify funding opportunities and write bid documents and lobby for economic development projects as required.
• Support the Corporate Director of Growth to represent Braintree District at relevant strategic partnerships.
• As part of an integrated team, to support the Corporate Director of Growth as required, to deliver economic and regeneration priorities across the Council.

Corporate Accountabilities

• To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance. 
• Line management of economic development staff as required.
• To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• Any other associated duties detailed by Corporate Director or his representative.
• To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.
• Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business
  continuity and during civil emergencies.

To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

(Tested at application and interview stage)

Experience and Qualifications

• A proven track record of coordinating the delivery of strategic programmes and projects using appropriate systems and procedures.
• Experience of partnership working with external partners.
• A relevant degree or significant equivalent experience.
• Experience of working with the business community
• Experience of working in Economic Development.
• Experience of project working/project management.

Skills and Knowledge

• A working knowledge of the public sector and funding opportunities.
• Commercially minded with knowledge of local, regional, national and international economic and skills issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal service partners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with key external partners
• Ability to negotiate effectively with internal and external partners.
• Political awareness.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• An ability to express complex issues in a straightforward and concise manner.
• Fully IT literate with experience of developing project management systems desirable.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

Competencies

We test this at interview stage

Communicating Effectively 

Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation

• communicate with staff and colleagues in a manner which is clear, fluent, accurate and concise
• listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
• ensure two way communication is in place for staff, providing opportunities for staff to receive and give feedback
• hold regular face-to-face, group and individual meetings to update staff and to exchange information, learning and ideas, etc.
• ensure that all communications adhere to organisational and legislative requirements such as data protection, equalities, internal standards, etc.
• ensure that communications of all types with external contacts uphold the values and reputation of BDC
• good report writing and presentation skills (including via use of PowerPoint)
• to communicate effectively with Members and senior officers and ability to articulate complex financial issues both orally and in writing

Performing efficiently and effectively 

Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results.  Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems

• ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council
• plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders
• see tasks and objectives through to completion
• approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm
• strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability

Using and managing resources efficiently and effectively 

Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc.

• take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage
• use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness
• seek out ways to improve the use of resources

Engaging with the customer

Understand the needs and requirements of their customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services

• provide a helpful and friendly service to customers both internally and externally
• take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues
• make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”
• ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer
• seek feedback from internal and external customers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service you provide

Working well together

Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition

• co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals
• demonstrate consideration, and respect for other’s feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions
• maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council
• seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved
• demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others

Other conditions

• This post doesn't require a DBS check 
• This post isn't politically restricted

Job profile updated: July 2025

Values and behaviours

Our values and behaviours are an integral part of who we are; they are the guiding principles that should inform how we work together, support each other and make decisions.

Our organisation thrives on the dedication and passion of its people and it’s important that we embody these values and behaviours and they become a part of our organisational DNA.

Our vision

We will be ambitious, support each other and work together in new ways to achieve outstanding results

Our core values