Senior Strategy Officer

The role

Southwark Council is seeking an ambitious and forward-thinking Senior Strategy Officer to lead transformative projects within our Local Economy Team. This is your opportunity to influence policy, drive strategic initiatives, and engage with key stakeholders to create lasting change.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and manage research, policy development, governance, and business planning projects.
• Provide strategic advice to senior Council officers and partner organisations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders.
• Align projects with Southwark Council’s strategic goals and priorities.
• Develop and oversee the successful delivery of key projects, managing risks and securing critical outcomes.
• Produce and present reports to senior leadership, committees, and partnership bodies.
• Stay ahead of national and local policy developments, ensuring Southwark remains a leader in strategy and innovation.
• Represent the Council in key internal and external meetings and working groups.

What You’ll Bring:

• Expertise in at least one of the following: Research and Policy Development, Governance, Community and Business planning, Commissioning, or Performance assessment.
• Strong understanding of public sector modernisation and its impact on strategy and partnerships.
• Knowledge of policy and strategy networks and information sources in England.
• Proven experience in delivering strategic projects within complex organisations.
• Background in local government or similar multi-functional environments across public, private, or voluntary sectors.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to solve complex problems and drive change.
• Strong communication skills, with experience in report writing and presenting to varied audiences.
• This role offers flexible home working blended with travel into our London Bridge HQ.

Additional salary details

Southwark is a borough that thrives on diversity, confidence, and ambition. With over 120 languages spoken and a young, multi-cultural population, we are committed to delivering a fairer future for all. This is more than a job, it’s a chance to shape the future of Southwark.

Here’s why we feel our role stands out:

• High-Impact Leadership: Be at the forefront of strategy and policy, shaping Southwark’s economic and community growth.
• Collaborative Influence: Work closely with senior leaders, government bodies, and partners to deliver innovative solutions.
• Diverse & Dynamic Projects: Oversee multiple high-profile initiatives that will directly impact residents, businesses, and communities.

About Southwark Council

Southwark Council is 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 such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many 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.

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Salary Range: £44,430 - £51,663

Recruitment timetable

Application Closing Date: 11.59pm on the 16^th of April 2025

Interview Date: W/C The 28^th of April 2025

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities.

This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative.

We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, in which case we will move the key dates for the process. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.