Job Description

Your New Organisation:

Southend on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend.

Working for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovate environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work life balance. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

We are proud of our thriving graduate community and the continued success of our Impact Graduate Programme, which is highly regarded and actively supported by our senior leaders. With a strong and supportive network of current and former Graduates, you'll be joining a team that values innovation, learning and personal development.


Our graduates have played a key role in shaping services and delivering real change - and now, it's your turn. We are currently recruiting two graduates to join our graduate programme, with an opportunity to contribute to exciting regeneration projects, inform policy development and help shape the future of Southend.

APPLICATIONS VIA THIS SITE CANNOT BE PROCESSED BY IMPACT, SO PLEASE USE THE BELOW LINK AND NOT THE 'APPLY' BUTTON ON THIS PAGE

Graduate Management Trainee on Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme (Cohort 28) - Local Recruitment for Southend on Sea City Council - Local Government Association
Your new role:

Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme is a fast-track graduate programme for bright and passionate individuals who want to make a difference while excelling in their career. It offers the chance to work directly with communities, but also to influence policy at a senior level. All while earning a graduate salary and completing a leadership and management qualification.


We are looking for the next generation of leaders who have the passion and skills to navigate the biggest challenges facing communities and the sector. From sustainability, homelessness and unemployment to town centre regeneration, social care, and education, local councils are at the forefront of delivering real change.


As a Graduate Management Trainee on the Impact programme, you will work for two years at Southend on Sea City Council. Over a minimum of three different placements, you will have the opportunity to work on challenging projects in key areas of council life where you can make a real contribution and gain valuable, career-shaping experiences. You will be supported in these roles through mentoring and a fully-funded learning programme, culminating in a qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.


Impact is the only national graduate programme specifically for local government and has a high record of success with many graduates moving into management positions in councils after they complete the scheme. If you want a career leading change in the public sector, this is the programme for you.


What you'll need to succeed:

The Impact programme is passionate about recruiting graduates from all different backgrounds, universities and degree disciplines: our aim is to reflect the diverse communities that councils serve. We are looking for people who have the right values and attitudes and who can demonstrate their motivation for a career in the public sector. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary, and additional support is available for under-represented groups during our assessment processes, so all candidates have a fair chance of showing us their full potential.

The requirements

In order to apply for our local position for the chance to be our local Graduate Management Trainee, you must meet the following criteria:

You will have obtained a minimum 2.2 undergraduate degree by summer 2026 You must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the 2-year programme. Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor visas.

For more information on eligibility and right to work requirements please visit the Impact programme website.


Successful applicants will need to demonstrate their understanding of our key skills and behaviours through a competitive, multi-stage application process. Impact runs one national recruitment process each year and supports councils to run local and internal recruitment campaigns.


To apply as a local candidate, directly to Southend on Sea City Council, you must live, work or study within Southend on Sea, or be a Southend on Sea Care Leaver.


What you'll get in return:

When joining the council, you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities. They are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the "Why Work For Us?" tab.


What you need to do now:

APPLICATIONS VIA THIS SITE CANNOT BE PROCESSED BY IMPACT, SO PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW AND DO NOT CLICK ON THE 'APPLY' BUTTON ON THIS PAGE

All applications must be made directly via the Impact recruitment portal: Graduate Management Trainee on Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme (Cohort 28) - Local Recruitment for Southend on Sea City Council - Local Government Association



As part of the application process, you are required to complete a Situational Judgment Test which is the only assessment you will need to complete at this stage.


The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) presents you with 24 realistic scenarios that someone might experience in a role on the programme, along with multiple ways of responding. The SJT will appear after you have completed your application question, and you will need to complete the SJT before you can submit your application.


Instructions for the test:


This test is untimed, and it should be completed in one sitting. You will be taken to the assessment page after answering your application questions.


You will need to organise each scenario into the order of response, depending on what you are most appropriate or least appropriate to do for each of the 24 questions. There are detailed instructions within the form.

If you have any questions or require support completing your application or situational judgement test, please do not hesitate to contact

impact.support@local.gov.uk

before starting your application or test.

For further information please visit

Impact website

.