Technical Assistant
Permanent, Full Time
£25,959 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 10th August 2026
Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.
Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities, and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver sustainable development. We do that by enhancing and conserving the natural, historic, and built environment, and achieving well-designed places. The Technical Assistant will work with our consultants to support the delivery of our services.
The post holder will provide a diverse range of technical and administrative support, including undertaking supervised specialist tasks; information and data management; and communications and meetings.
This post will focus on supporting our specialist teams and will provide an opportunity to gain an appreciation of, and experience in, one or more environmental disciplines, with the potential to serve as a route into an environmental career.
The role requires an energetic, self-motivated individual with a good academic background and environmental interests; excellent communication and information management skills; good organisational abilities; a methodical, collaborative and client focused approach; and a keen desire to learn.
Place Services offers a dynamic working environment, with a focus on staff welfare and personal development that aims to retain and enhance our talent and so build a stronger and more effective team. To find out more about us please visit our website: https://www.placeservices.co.uk/
Accountabilities
- As a technical assistant, you will be responsible for supporting the operational delivery of our services by:
- Managing systems and information, including work records and data.
- Supporting the preparation of high-quality digital outputs, including reports, quotes, bids, tenders, event, learning and marketing material.
- Enhancing Place Services recognition and reputation through communications with our clients and members of the public, keeping our website up-to-date and managing social media posts.
- Supporting meetings and events, through hosting, note taking, calendar management and document circulation.
- Using specialist software and systems to raise purchase orders, issue invoices and analyse timesheets.
- Completing supervised specialist tasks.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Evidence of experience delivering technical and/or administrative tasks and activities in a business, planning or environmental context, including communications and meeting support.
- Experience of managing information and data recording systems and processes, with good attention to detail, and analytical and research skills.
- Awareness of wellbeing and H&S, with ability to undertake simple risk assessments, and to implement safe working practices.
- Excellent communication, ICT, and presentation skills with proven ability to translate information and data clearly, to different audiences. Able to use common software packages and, with training and under supervision, relevant specialist software such as Adobe Creative Cloud/GIS/AutoCAD, to record and present a range of data.
- Educated to RFQ level 2 (GCSE grades A*-C or 9-4) in at least English and maths, or equivalent
- Organised and methodical, with good time management skills and the ability to prioritise across a range of tasks and activities, meeting deadlines and delivering required outputs.
- Able to establish positive working relationships, to work as part of a team and with awareness of good client service.
- Ability to support continuous improvement and innovation to deliver purposeful change.
To read more about our business area, please visit: Policy, Economy, Investment and Property
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.
In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site.
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.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
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.
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 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
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email ami.fosker@essex.gov.uk
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