Assistant Project Manager

Fixed Term / Secondment (12 months), Full Time

£33,475 to £39,382 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 26th February 2026

*Please note this is a hybrid-working role, with a requirement to work in the Chelmsford office 1-2 days per week, depending on business need.

Please note this opportunity will be offered as a 12 month fixed-term contract or secondment.

Essex County Council is delivering a range of innovative and exciting projects and is seeking experienced professionals to help bring these to fruition. Our work spans a variety of priority areas that support the Council to:

• Strengthen family resilience and stability and achieve educational excellence and high standards for all children and young people.
• Create services that drive excellent customer experience through partners, co-locations and digital interactions.
• Deliver the Adult Social Care vision of people living life to the fullest.
• Lead behaviour change and implement the infrastructure needed for a net zero Essex by 2050.
• Drive efficiency and effectiveness to enable service excellence.

The Assistant Project Manager plays a key role in supporting the successful delivery of tasks aligned to projects, programmes, or portfolios. You will help ensure the smooth running of project activities by supporting the Project Manager through the application of project management processes and by coordinating business management tasks and actions on their behalf.

Additional responsibilities may include reporting on and monitoring a portfolio of work in support of a Head of Transformation Delivery, as well as leading small projects or managing workstreams where required.

The ideal candidate will have experience working within a project management environment. You will be organised, able to prioritise effectively, and possess strong communication and interpersonal skills. Experience of engaging and collaborating with stakeholders at various levels across an organisation is essential.

Accountabilities

Responsible for ensuring robust systems are in place to enable effective planning and scheduling within a project, programme or portfolio.

Responsible for managing project controls effectively to ensure all reports provide an accurate update on project status and highlight any specific concerns on progress.

Responsible for ensuring key operational activities are conducted efficiently in a timely manner whilst ensuring compliance and adherence to critical business processes, such as Health and Safety.

Responsible for documenting resource requirements and plans for projects/programmes/portfolios. Make recommendations to actively manage workforce planning for Project Managers and enable decision making on the best resources for each project based on current capability.

Work collaboratively with a broad and diverse group of internal and external stakeholders including senior management.

Responsible for effectively monitoring specific project spend and provide information required to support business case sign-off to ensure both Project and Programme Managers are kept up to date on progress.

Responsible for taking the lead on highlighting potential areas for risk and escalating as appropriate to the Project/Programme Manager, recommending ways to mitigate such risks.

Responsible for leading specific workstreams within projects to ensure delivery of agreed outcomes within time, cost and constraints. This will include design of workstream and delivery approach.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to A level or equivalent by extensive experience.

Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area. For example, APM or Prince 2 foundation.

Experience and evidence of involvement in project management.

Experience of working with a broad range of individuals at different levels within the organisation and engaging with them, finding ways to overcome obstacles.

Keen to engage with others and learn from them.

Experience of working within a political environment with knowledge of a public sector setting and involvement in a large, complex environment.

Good planning and organisation skills, determination to meet deadlines.

Curious manner, innovative approach in looking for alternative solutions.

To read more about us please visit: Corporate Services - Working for Essex

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

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.

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here. 

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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