Economic Development Officer

East Herts District Council; Hertford; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Up to 50% working from home

Free parking in offices

Job summary

East Herts District Council is seeking an experienced Economic Development professional to drive inward investment, regeneration, and SME growth across the district. You will be the first contact for businesses, promoting council services, grants, and growth support, while building strong stakeholder networks and delivering selected projects.

The role emphasizes collaboration, independent workload management, and delivery within budget, with opportunities for cross-department working and

Qualifications

• Experience of working with micro and SME businesses.
• Strong networking and communication skills.
• Ability to manage workload independently and deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Knowledge of inward investment, sustainability, marketing and PR in East Herts.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent with relevant related qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Leading work on developing the economy of East Herts through inward investment and regeneration.
• Developing and leading economic initiatives and projects to support business and SME growth.
• First point of contact for businesses, promoting council services and programmes such as grants, start-up/growth assistance, sustainability and networking services.
• Building relationships with business interest groups and stakeholders to maximise opportunities for economic growth.

Skills

SME experience

Networking

Project management

Public relations

Education

Degree-level qualification

Project management qualification

Business management qualification

Job description

Job Introduction

Are you a personally effective, proactive, customer focused relationship manager with a commercial focus? Do you enjoy working with businesses, building strong stakeholder relationships and delivering economic development projects who enjoys a dynamic, partnership-focused environment?

We are looking for someone like you to join our team! If we are a good fit for you, you will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects supporting business and SME growth, inward investment, sustainability and regeneration across East Herts, while working with businesses, employers and key public and private sector stakeholders.

What will you be doing?

• Leading work on developing the economy of East Herts through inward investment and regeneration


• Developing and leading economic initiatives and projects to support business and SME growth


• Working as a first point of contact for businesses, promoting council services and programmes such as grants, business start-up/growth assistance, sustainability and networking services


• Building relationships with business interest groups and key stakeholders to maximise opportunities for economic growth

About You

As an ideal candidate, you will have:

• Experience of working with micro and SME businesses, with an understanding of business relationship management, networking and cooperation


• Strong networking and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships and gain the trust and respect of stakeholders across public and private organisations


• The ability to manage your own workload, work independently and deliver projects effectively, on time and within budget


• Knowledge of inward investment, sustainability, marketing, promotion and public relations principles, with an understanding of the business profile in East Herts


• A degree-level qualification or equivalent experience, alongside relevant project management and/or business management or business relationship management qualifications

What can we offer you?

• Opportunities for growth and cross- department working, learning new skills and service areas


• 26-29 days annual leave rising to 34 days with 5 years' local government service


• Usage of our e-fleet during business hours for business-related visits


• Employee well-being programme


• Employee events group


• Regular opportunities to socialise with other teams within the council


• Flexible working arrangements, including flexi-time


• Up to 50% working from home for eligible posts


• Free parking in our offices and select council owned car parks during business hours


• Access to wellbeing and occupational health schemes such as the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)


• Local Government pension scheme


• Discounts at council-owned leisure centres


• Opportunity to network with colleagues across councils in Hertfordshire and the East Of England


• Professional environment where your career path really matters and your development is supported by the organisation

Interview and Application Details

Closing date: Sunday 11th October 2026 at midnight.

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 2nd November (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th November in 3/4hr slots between 1 and 3pm).

We as a council are ambitious. To find out more about our ambitions and what it’s like working at East Herts, hear from our employees on our careers site.

In accordance with council policy, new appointments will normally be made at the first SCP point of the relevant grade. If, at the offer stage, a candidate can provide clear evidence that their skills and/or experience align with a higher point within the grade, appointment at the next SCP point may be considered. Any such decision must be reviewed and approved by the Director.

Equal Opportunities

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, valuing diversity and maintaining a firm commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. We believe that creating inclusive environments leads to stronger collaboration and better outcomes in our work.

Find out more about our disability confident scheme.

Attached documents

• Economic Development Officer - JD PS 2026 (new format).docx -