Job Description

Job Title:

Essex Food Strategy Manager

Salary:

41,383

Responsible to:

Chief Executive Officer

Location:

Essex and Hybrid pattern to be agreed

Hours of Work:

36.5 hours, Monday to Friday

Contract:

Fixed term 2 years, extension dependent on funding

Benefits:

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

Annual Leave - 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays. Nest Pension - 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution. Heath Cash Plan - giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more. Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day). Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

The Active Wellbeing Society: Who we are

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working to develop healthy, happy communities living active and connected lives. Our vision is for a society where people have the autonomy, capacity, resources and skills to become the architects of their own destiny; where our individual wellbeing is recognised as being bound up in our collective responsibility to and dependency on each other; and where all of us feel empowered as agents of social change to make a difference - whether at an individual level or more widely.

By working collaboratively with communities we aim to bring about sustainable change on an social, environmental and economic level; to do the social knitting required to create stronger and more resilient communities and to support communities to identify, mitigate and remove the barriers that prevent them from living active and connected lives.

You may like to watch this introductory video which showcases the positive work of The Active Wellbeing Society: TAWS Launch October 2018 - YouTube

Key Requirements: What you'll bring with you

All criteria are essential, and your application will be assessed on all points detailed below.

Strategy and policy: Ensure that the Food Strategy links to the Public Health Investment programme and the individual component parts, to ensure benefits are maximised for those in most need and especially in relation to healthy, affordable food. Impact & Sustainability Focus: Evaluate initiatives for impact, scalability, and sustainability, ensuring legacy and longevity are built into programme design for the food system across Essex. Systems Leadership: Shape and grow the Strategic Affordable Food Network for Essex, working with the Affordable Food Network Coordinator and across systems to connect partners, influence policy, and drive cultural change (e.g., peer-to-peer collaboration). Public-Facing Representation: Lead high-profile communications, including network events, launch events, and LinkedIn presence, ensuring alignment with the programme's tone and strategic messaging. Influential Communication: Articulate the programme's impact, vision, and strategic benefits clearly to a diverse range of audiences, including commissioners, stakeholders, regional groups, and national funders. Chairing and Servicing Meetings: Lead and service strategic working groups (e.g. Affordable Food Management Group) with clarity and direction, ensuring all voices are heard and actions are driven forward. Impact and evaluation: Capture impact and learnings through quantitative and qualitative data, share and report on progress to the Network and stakeholders such as the Affordable Food Management Group and Commissioners. Reporting & Storytelling: Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and funding applications that tell compelling stories grounded in evidence, outcomes, and learning. Bring people with you on the journey and create followers and key supporters. Budget Management: Financial accountability and management of payments.

Experience, Knowledge and Values:

The below is a reflective of what you'll be responsible for.

Expert advisor: Knowledge and experience of creating and supporting affordable food schemes, food surplus work, and what healthy food options on a budget look like in reality. Partnership and system support: Clear skills in and experience of working in partnership on shared strategic goals. Leadership Agility: Able to balance strategic foresight with operational agility -- able to pivot and respond swiftly without losing sight of long-term aims. Stakeholder Engagement: Able to build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with internal teams, partners, funders, and community networks, acting as a key liaison and ambassador. Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills Analytical skills: Able to develop a strong evidence base for decision-making and funding cases; translate data and learning into strategy and forward movement. Driving licence
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months

Pay: 41,383.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Bereavement leave Casual dress Company events Company pension Cycle to work scheme Enhanced maternity leave Enhanced paternity leave Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance Private medical insurance Sabbatical Sick pay Work from home
Schedule:

Monday to Friday Weekend availability
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Colchester CO2 7NT