Principal Strategy Officer - Internal Only

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with economic development or town centre management experience to join Southwark’s Local Economy Team as Principal Strategy Officer. You will provide programme management and leadership capacity on the delivery of a council wide programme on town centres and high streets, supporting delivery of action plans and the development of business networks across our key town centres. You will also support broader programmes of delivery on employment, skills and business support.

You will work with the Head of Economy on the development, implementation and review of the Council’s approach to town centres. You will work in partnership to develop, implement and evaluate key strands of the programme including governance, monitoring and reporting, and providing advice and guidance to key internal and external stakeholders.

You will play a key role within the Council for developing an effective council-wide framework on town centres. You will liaise with and be the key contact for the Council with external strategic partners, and other bodies and agencies to build and maintain networks of strategic influence that create a positive impact on the Council’s approach to supporting the local economy.

About Southwark

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

About you

You will be an experienced economic development or town centre management professional with a passion for putting our communities at the heart of everything that we do. You will be dynamic, strategic and able to develop innovative solutions to challenges relating to supporting the local economy. An understanding of the key economic, political, and social issues that affect communities in Southwark, and the role of local government in this context is a must.

You will have experience managing teams in a large complex organisation with a strong focus on delivering outcomes for communities and businesses. You will be managing significant programmes of delivery as part of our Economic Strategy 2023-30. Success in building and sustaining effective relationships with political stakeholders, senior officers and representatives of government, statutory agencies, commercial or community organisations and/or other local authority partner organisations will be required.