London, UK
Community consultation and stakeholder engagement project lead
at Soundings
Soundings is seeking a community consultation and stakeholder engagement project lead to join its team in London.
Skilled project manager? Great communicator? Team leader? Graphics guru?
Background in community projects? Architecture? Urban design? Planning? Communications?
Passionate about giving local communities a voice in regeneration?
Want to help create better places through active participation?
About Soundings
Soundings is a community and stakeholder engagement consultancy with over 15 years’ experience working on some of the most significant and challenging built environment projects in London and the UK.
The role
This is a client-facing, role responsible for the day-to-day management of a small project team delivering high-quality work to time, scope and budget.
You’ll be working in a fast -paced environment, responsible for the development and implementation of consultation and engagement strategies for a wide range of projects ranging from
Youth workshops, design codes and urban greening
High-profile estate regeneration, future high street visions, and masterplans for major new neighbourhoods
This is a client-facing leadership role, supporting the directors and working closely with other project leaders across the business. You will lead client liaison, project management and also manage small project teams. The post holder will be responsible for delivering high quality projects to time, scope and budget.
As a senior member of the Soundings team you will also be a key player in helping shape the company culture, including internal social and career-development events.
Responsibilities:
- provide team-leadership, planning and strategic oversight on the end-to-end delivery of consultation and engagement strategies for urban change and rural projects
- support the Soundings ethos of producing innovative and effective approaches to engaging local communities in shaping their build environment
- manage small team to programme consultation events and create materials
- work closely with the client, the design team and, where required, key public and private sector stakeholders and partners such as land-owners, infrastructure delivery agencies and councils
- produce essential reports such as statements of community involvement, detailed consultation reports, and placemaking visions
- provide strategic input into project communications and public relations
- manage project budgets and projections
- devise and facilitate stimulating workshops with community groups, including young people and groups often underrepresented in the planning process
- lead meetings with stakeholders, councillors, officers, developers and high-level decision makers
- support and further the wider Soundings vision
Qualities:
- strong team leadership and management, including strategic foresight, and planning
- excellent data analysis (qualitative and quantitative) and report writing skills
- the agility to respond to changing project needs, manage tight deadlines, and keep a cool, problem-solving head under pressure
- great communications skills and a keen listener
- sensitive handling of challenging situations and conversations
- an experienced facilitator who can structure and chair meetings and workshops at all levels
- a good visual eye for designing clear, effective materials
- ability to develop strong working relationships with clients and communities, while building professional and stakeholder networks
- be comfortable in facilitating both online and in person engagement
- a team player who enjoys working in a studio environment
- an appetite to push the boundaries of effective community engagement
Knowledge and skills:
- educated to degree level, or above, in an industry- related field. This could be, but is not limited to planning, architecture, urban design, urbanism, strategic communications in relation to urban development
- minimum of four years’ experience (depending on context) in a similar role within the industry with proven experience of delivering consultation processes from end to end. Creative forms of engagement are particularly relevant
- good understanding of the UK planning process and/or urban design principles, and the role of engagement in delivering sustainable communities
- experience of embedding social value and of carrying out impact assessments is advantageous as is knowledge of digital engagement tools and prior experience in such a line of work
- strong Adobe Creative suite and Microsoft Office skills
What we offer:
- competitive salary
- 25 days holiday plus one day extra per year after three years’
- four wellbeing days
- medical insurance and health cash plan
- life assurance and income protection scheme
- hybrid working
- cycle to work scheme
How to apply
If you would like to apply for this position, please submit your CV along with a cover letter explaining your interest and suitability for the role in an email title project lead via the apply for job button below.
The deadline for applications is Friday 23 September 2022.
Due to the high volume of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted.
No agencies please.
Soundings is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and promote equality and inclusion. We welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background.