Partnership and Engagement Officer

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

Join us as we build a brand‑new Engagement Team at Lewisham. We’re looking for someone who can bring their excellent communication skills, strong stakeholder management experience and deep knowledge of engagement methods and statutory requirements to help define how the Council listens, learns and works with its communities. If you can confidently advise on complex policy issues and thrive in a dynamic, political environment, this is your opportunity to shape something new from the ground up.

What’s the role?

As our Partnership & Engagement Officer, you will help ensure the Council genuinely understands and reflects the views of our residents, partners and stakeholders. You’ll support and lead engagement programmes across the organisation, provide expert guidance on consultation practice, and contribute to the ongoing development of Lewisham’s engagement framework. Working with colleagues across the Chief Executive’s Directorate, Communications, senior leaders and the Lewisham Strategic Partnership, you'll use a range of engagement tools, methods and analytics to shape decision‑making, improve accessibility, and strengthen how the Council connects with its communities.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for a confident engagement professional who brings both expertise and enthusiasm to this brand‑new team. You’ll have a solid understanding of engagement approaches and the statutory requirements that underpin effective consultation, alongside excellent communication skills that help you translate complex issues with clarity and impact. You’ll be someone who builds strong, productive relationships with stakeholders across diverse services and communities, and who can offer informed, credible advice on complex policy matters when it’s needed most. Above all, you’ll be flexible, collaborative and motivated by the chance to shape how Lewisham listens, engages and evolves.

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• Evening and weekend working is required for this job

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CV’s.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Rachel Pierce rachel.pierce@lewisham.gov.uk

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Salary

£49,155 - £51,228 per annum (PO3)

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email LewishamWorks@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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