Public Path Order and Development Officer

Permanent, Full Time

£35,250 to £41,470 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 24th May 2026

Essex Highways (EH) is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country: 5,000 miles of roads and around 5,000 miles of footways and PROW. EH is a delivery partnership between Essex County Council (ECC) and Ringway Jacobs. This role will work within the Essex Highways Partnership to help deliver road maintenance, street lighting, drainage and flooding, winter travel, road safety, traffic management, highway development, bridges and structures, grass and vegetation, bus stops and bus shelters, public rights of way and roads strategies for users of Essex highways.

The role is responsible for all aspects of PROW Public Path Order Casework, including being the formal ECC representative at public inquiries. Detailed assessment of strategic Planning Applications for Public Rights of Way, accountable for all stages relating to Public Path Orders. Liaison and negotiation with public bodies, solicitors, developers, land agents and the public relating to Definitive Map. Competent and robust decision making to reflect ECC policy and legislation.

Accountabilities

Responsible for providing official representation from the PROW team in relation to all planning matters for which ECC is consulted, including major strategic infrastructure proposals, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), Development Consent Orders (DCO) and other major developments. Providing detailed often complex assessment of PROW impact and offering crucial feedback, including provision of solutions and mitigation strategies to the Strategic Development, Transport for future communities, Garden Communities, New Settlements, Growth and Development and National Infrastructure planning teams. Advising on scope and negotiating appropriate strategies where PROW have been included in movement strategies or as sustainable transport options. Advocate on enhancement and protection of walking and cycling access in the planning process.
Responsible for producing and implementing Public Path Orders at all procedural stages, including making recommendations to the Chief Officer to enable strategic decision making. Drafting and advertising of subsequent legal Orders. Accountable for the cost recovery associated with Public Path Orders, including invoicing and ensuring accurate records of fees are maintained for audit.
Accountable for preparing the Council’s bundle for written representations, public hearings or public inquiries if there are objections to Orders and give evidence and be cross-examined as an expert witness in courts of all levels and public inquiries to execute the Council’s legal responsibilities in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Organise and arrange public inquiries and hearings as required by the Planning Inspectorate.
Time critical liaison with developers, agents and highways development management by providing expert, professional advice in the making and confirming of PPOs under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Highways Act 1980 to protect the legal integrity of the routes on the Definitive Map.
Accountable for registration of Landowner Deposits and Statements, along with publishing a register thereof in accordance with statutory requirements. Responsible for ensuring cost recovery and adherence to legal requirements, including display of notices on site and accurate recording of submitted documentation.
Responsible for managing the fee invoicing of Traffic Regulation Order costs in relation to Public Rights of Way Orders to ensure cost recovery. Accurately recording invoices and liaising with ECC finance and customers to ensure swift payment. Referring on cases where payment is outstanding.
Provide timely and accurate specialist advice to senior leaders/members/local councillors and the general public on definitive map and PROW related matters. Responding to complaints to meet relevant targets and provide high performance standards.
Contribute to updating and enhancement of the Definitive Map and associated databases, to ensure the records are maintained to reflect changes associated with PPO’s and information relating to Orders in progress is available for land charge purposes in accordance with statutory obligations.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Educated to RQF Level 5 (foundation degree) or equivalent by experience.
You must have excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and organise a broad and evolving workload effectively, working on your own initiative to meet deadlines. Experience of problem solving and innovation and ability to be flexible and adaptable in challenging circumstances.
Understanding of impact of large projects or developments on public services, especially highways, ability to think creatively about opportunities to improve walking, equestrian and cycling access where funding might be available.
Proven negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build internal and external working relationships. Confident to robustly present policies, legislation and practices to stakeholders, and able to defend legislative demands when faced with challenge during project delivery.
Willingness to mentor new team members as required to impart specialist expertise.
Whilst experience of working with the Definitive Map, relevant legislation, and/or digital mapping is desirable, on-the-job training will be provided and we welcome applicants with relevant transferrable skills, e.g. planning, highways or previous experience in a PROW team. This is a specialist role and requires continual monitoring of legislative changes, guidance issued by Defra as well as other changes which may affect processes.
Good political awareness
Membership of IPROW is desirable (Institute of Public Rights of Way).
Willingness to travel throughout the county to attend site visits including liaison with user groups.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

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.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

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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