Network Development Placement Year

Network Development Placement Year

Fixed Term, Full Time

£23,344 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 2nd April 2025

Do you have an interest in Highways and Transport and are looking to start a career in this sector? Are you an undergraduate looking to complete your placement year in a friendly and high achieving team? This could be the opportunity you are looking for!

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract for up to 12 months.

About Us:

As an organisation, we expect everyone who works here to be treated and to treat everyone else with dignity and respect.

We are proud to have been recognised as 'Excellent' by the Local Government Association (LGA). We were commended in all five areas of the Equality framework for local government, first awarded to us in 2012.

Benefits:

• Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities
• IT equipment and home-working equipment supplied
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group
• Disability Confident Leader: we are committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave
• A range of employee networks and communities to support staff and promote change. These include: LGBTQ+ Employee Network, Ethnically Diverse Employee Network (EDEN), Differently Adept Working Network (DAWN), Christian Network, Interfaith Forum, Young Person's Network & Many more!

The Role:

Working as part of Essex County Council's Network Development team, the Network Development Intern will be responsible for supporting input to and engaging with internal and external stakeholders on a number of major transport schemes. These schemes include those being promoted by Essex County Council, developer-led schemes which are being progressed to support sustainable growth across the county and schemes within Essex that are being developed by National Highways. The schemes have the potential to have a transformative effect on travel within Essex, and the postholder will play a supporting role in their successful delivery.

The Network Development team is responsible for the planning and development of major transport infrastructure interventions, ensuring their benefits are maximised for the users and residents of Essex. Current schemes include Beaulieu Park Station and the Chelmsford North East Bypass, the Army & Navy Sustainable Transport Package, Fairglen Interchange and the South Maldon Relief Road.

We also work closely with National Highways on major schemes on the Strategic Road Network, including the A12 widening scheme and the Lower Thames Crossing. Our role on these schemes is to ensure that the needs of our residents and businesses are clearly understood and taken into account.

Coordination and prioritisation of inputs from various teams across the Highways and Transport directorate, and more widely across ECC, will be essential. The postholder will be required to have good written and oral communication skills, a willingness to develop new skills and ideally an interest in transport and how it can support positive outcomes for residents and businesses across Essex.

What will you be doing?

The role will be varied, and the work will address the current priorities of the time, but the type of work you can expect to undertake on this work placement includes:

• ECC Corporate Governance E-Learning modules.
• Working with the service to gain knowledge and understanding of current issues, approaches and best practice in the planning and development of new transport schemes.
• Supporting the service with administration, such as meeting organisation, document management, internal/external communications, and project work.
• Supporting the service with research and analysis.
• Supporting the service with the identification, assessment and prioritisation of different schemes and options, including schemes which are at the early stages in their lifecycle.
• Communicating and collaborating with colleagues and customers, via email and phone.
• Attending meetings both online and in-person and fostering positive relationships with partners.
• Drawing together diverse skills and expertise around common goals, and building a collaborative, problem solving culture to deliver results.
• Prioritising tasks and resources to ensure tasks are completed in the most efficient manner, taking account of internal and external deadlines, whilst striving to provide outputs of a consistently high standard.

What we're looking for:

• Previous work or volunteer experience working within a customer service environment would be beneficial, but not essential as full training and support will be provided.
• Experience of working with IT systems including Microsoft Office, and willingness to learn new systems important.
• Builds effective working relationships with colleagues and customers across the functional area and wider organisation, which are collaborative to deliver effective customer service.
• Interest in strategic thinking and the ability to review, understand, and research technical information, with guidance.
• Good communication skills, able to assist in translating complex data and ideas into simple conclusions and clear recommendations for decision makers. This may include helping with report writing, data visualisation, workshop facilitation, and presentations.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use evidence to identify options, trends, problems, symptoms, causes, and effects.
• An innovative mindset - someone who can constructively challenge the way we operate.
• Ability to think strategically and keep an eye on future trends, with support.
• A motivated and proactive individual who can work well independently and is keen to grow their skills and develop themselves.
• Enthusiasm for and basic knowledge of public policy areas.
• Good time and project management skills, able to assist on multiple projects and issues simultaneously.

Essential Requirements for the role:

• You must be an undergraduate student in your second year.
• All disciplines considered but the following areas are most suited to the role: Human geography, Town planning, Civil engineering, Surveying.
• Willing to work from our offices based at County Hall, Chelmsford at least once per week.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

How to apply

Seize the day! Apply via the Working for Essex Website now!

You will need to submit your application online, which must include a supporting statement about what you feel you would bring to the internship and what you would like to gain from it. Please ensure your CV includes a list of 3-4 modules from your first year including grades, as well as the names of 3-4 modules that you're taking in your 2nd year.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

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.

Additional Information:

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.

If you have queries on this role or require further information, please email: work.placements@essex.gov.uk

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