THE county's first Police and Crime Commissioner has begun his search for a new Chief Constable.
Nick Alston has given prospective candidates just three weeks to get their applications in.
The selection process was sparked after current Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle announced his decision to step down from the top job last month.
Mr Barker-McCardle will leave in May and Mr Alston is looking for an "inspirational leader to replace him".
In a job advert posted on the Association of Police and Crime, Mr Alston said: "The PCC seeks a role model that all officers and staff will look up to and follow."
And after listing six key qualities that the applicants required, Mr Alston added: "Ticking off these attributes will be the easiest thing you ever do as the Chief Constable of Essex Police."
Government austerity measures mean that Essex Police has to cut £42 million from its budget by 2014, which has already resulted in more than 300 police officers losing their jobs.
