About us at Hounslow
We'd love you to join us at the London Borough of Hounslow! Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be.
We are an outstanding council, serving an outstanding borough. With brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture, we've built strong partnerships which have transformed how we serve one of London's most diverse boroughs. Hounslow is the world in one place and full of potential. We are stepping up for our residents like never before.
About The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our Engagement Team, which operates at the corporate heart of the Council, as a Strategic Engagement Officer. In this role, you'll be primarily working on developing and delivering innovative engagement initiatives to support Hounslow's diverse communities. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in community engagement, strategy development, and collaborative working within a dynamic and supportive environment.
About the Role
As a Strategic Engagement Officer, your main responsibility will be to support operational teams around the organisation to ensure that our residents' voices are integral to the Council's decision-making processes.
You will:
- Develop and deliver engagement services that advance Hounslow's strategic priorities and meet regulatory requirements.
- Work alongside consultation colleagues to support the corporate consultation and engagement service.
- Help Council services develop engagement plans and models, including co-production and partnership models.
- Cultivate relationships with new and existing communities and stakeholders to ensure their participation in the democratic process.
- Lead the development of a forum for residents and stakeholders, chaired by an elected Member.
- Support community-led groups to ensure they have robust governance and meaningful engagement with the Council.
- Host forums for officers and partners involved in engagement to share best practices and foster collaborative relationships.
- Embed the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion strategy in all engagement and consultation activities.
- Apply deliberative democracy and participatory research methods to policy development.
About The Team You'll Be Working In
The Engagement Team operates within the part of the Council where strategic decisions and key corporate functions are managed and coordinated. You will have the vital role of ensuring that resident voices are central to our decision-making processes. Reporting to the Corporate Consultation and Engagement Manager, you will work alongside our two Engagement and Consultation Officers and Youth Participation Coordinator, and a range of officers supporting engagement across the Council.
Our team is dedicated to delivering impactful engagement services by supporting different service areas around the organisation with consultation and engagement activities. We ensure that they advance Hounslow's strategic priorities, meet regulatory needs, and are evidence-based.
Our team plays a crucial role in:
- Promoting Resident Engagement: Ensuring that the diverse voices of Hounslow residents are heard and considered in Council decisions.
- Supporting Council Services: Assisting various departments in developing and executing effective engagement and consultation plans.
- Fostering Community Relationships: Building and nurturing genuine relationships with local communities and stakeholders.
We are seeking a passionate and proactive individual to join our team as a Strategic Engagement Officer. The ideal candidate will:
- Be a self-starter with a strong commitment to community engagement and a genuine interest in making a positive impact on the lives of Hounslow residents.
- Demonstrate the ability to build and nurture relationships with diverse communities and stakeholders, ensuring inclusive and effective participation in the democratic process.
- Have experience in supporting residents and stakeholder forums and ensuring they have a credible voice in decision making.
- Have strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and data-driven reports.
- Show an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity, and inclusion, and be able to integrate these principles into all aspects of engagement and consultation.
- Exhibit creativity and adaptability in developing and implementing innovative engagement strategies and models.
- Be comfortable working collaboratively with colleagues, sharing best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in engagement methodologies.
Please note: This is a hybrid position. There is no fully remote option for this position. The successful candidate will live in, or have access to, Hounslow during working hours. The successful candidate will be expected to attend, on occasion, in-person meetings/events with local external stakeholders either at our office in Hounslow House or another location in the borough. These meetings may take place on evenings and/or weekends but Time Off in Lieu will be provided.
Read more about the work you'll be doing in the Role Profile.
Closing date - 12 August 2024
To apply, please click "Apply Now".