Climate Action Engagement Manager

About The Role

Climate Action Engagement Manager

Fixed Term / Secondment (to March 2027), Full Time

£48,939 to £57,575 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 9th February 2026

• This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office 2-3 days per month, depending on business need.
  
  

Please note this opportunity will be offered as fixed-term contract or secondment to 31st March 2027.

Essex County Council (ECC) is committed to taking robust action on climate change and significantly reduce carbon emissions.

The Essex Climate Action Commission published its report ‘Net-Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral’ in July 2021, which set out a comprehensive plan for Essex to: reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 in line with UK statutory commitments; and to make Essex more resilient to climate impacts such a flooding, water shortages and overheating. The report’s recommendations are a comprehensive call to action for everyone and every organisation in Essex. ECC has a critical role to play, working in partnership with others to deliver a programme of action.

The Council set up the Essex Environment and Climate Action Programme to drive action both within ECC and across Essex more broadly and published its £200m plan in November 2021.

ECC

is working on multiple projects in partnership across Essex to develop a comprehensive, collective response to the report. Examples include the integration of net-zero standards into planning policy, the roll out of the grant schemes to support upgrading of fuel poor homes and active travel schemes across the county and the improvement in sustainable land use practices. Our plan is not exhaustive - the Commission’s report has milestones and recommendations that stretch out to 2050. ECC will continue to develop its climate action plan in the future.

The role will involve working closely with the Essex Climate Action commission, teams across ECC and wider partners across the public private and third sectors to drive collective climate action. The role will also be responsible for reporting on progress across the Council and the county of Essex on climate change including leading on production of ECC’s Climate Action Annual Report and reporting to CDP Climate Disclosure Climate Change - CDP.

Accountabilities

Influence and lead on partnership work with key partners across Essex including local authorities, health sector partners, other public sector organisations, universities, the private sector, communities and third sector organisations. Influence partnership work with national agencies that can bring benefits to the agenda in Essex working closely with the relevant teams within ECC.

Work with cabinet members, senior leaders and exp

ert teams across ECC, utilising partner perspectives and capacities to further extend and develop ECC’s strategic approach to addressing the climate crisis.

Maintain an up-to-date understanding of relevant national and local climate change legislation, policy and other relevant guidance.

Provide expert advice to teams across ECC and to key partner organisations to support development and delivery of effective climate action.

Seek out potential sources of funding to speed up the decarbonisation.

Support and develop partnership working, developing key projects to drive innovation and joint action at scale.

Work with partners to ensure effective tracking, evaluation and reporting on joint action to enable effective reporting on progress. Collate, produce and deliver key reports including CDP and the annual Climate Action report.

Drive engagement and publicity to promote the role of Essex in climate action, leading meetings, speaking at conferences and engaging in press activity, social media and stakeholder engagement as required.

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

The Experience You Will Bring

Educated to degree level in relevant environment/sustainability and/or equivalent by experience.

Good breadth of knowledge and understanding in low carbon buildings, energy, transport, waste, green infrastructure, water conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and wider sustainability measures.

Good knowledge and understanding of national climate policy and legislation including the Climate Change Act and broader national environment and climate policies and legislation such as the 25 Year Environment Plan, the Environment Act, The Future Home Standard, and annual reports published by national and international climate change bodies.

Experience of environmental delivery and/or partnership building, especially with environmental NGOs, the tiers of local government, business and local communities. Experience of working with political leadership and senior leaders.

Highly experienced communicator, both written and verbal, and have an ability to speak and inspire confidence in new approaches on complex topics with a variety of different stakeholders including local and national Government, Members, local communities, parishes, schools and other and relevant institutions

Experience of partnership working to deliver environmental projects and identifying and working on funding applications.

Have a good ability of utilising digital/social media to publicise climate action work.

Have a good ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.

Working understanding of the structure of local government and processes including procurement.

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer 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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