Senior Lead - Community Engagement (Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation)
Details
* Reference: SCC/TP/288644/4006
* Positions: 1
* Category: Policy
* Contract type: Fixed term
* Working hours: 18 hours per week
* Posted on: 14 October 2025
* Directorate: Resources
* Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, RH2 8EF
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this role is £40,898 per annum working 18 hours per week(pro rata to £81,796per annum FTE).
This is a fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity until 31 March 2027.
Our Offer to You
* 26 days holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years service and 31 days after 5 years service
* Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
* A generous local government salary related pension
* Up to 5 days of carers leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
* Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
* An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
* Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
* A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About the community engagement programme
Its an exciting time to work in local government, as we seek to implement the governments vision for simpler local government structures and more devolved power and funding to local areas.
Surrey is in the first wave of local government reorganisation, meaning that we are developing proposals for Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution (D&LGR), with options to split Surrey into two or three unitary councils following reorganisation. We are working towards the governments timeline of new unitary elections in May 2026, and new councils implemented in 2027.
There is much to do, and this role will play a lead role in the Community Engagement Workstream. Following direction from government to hardwire community engagement into local authority structures, the council is progressing work on a strengthened community engagement model with the development of Neighbourhood Area Committees (NACs). We are piloting four NACs across the county in preparation for the creation of new unitary councils. Our model builds upon work weve already done to support community participation and engagement in towns and villages. Multi-agency working is being embedded from the start, with a wide range of partners involved. Our pilots will take a test, learn and grow approach to exploring what works in localities with partners, supporting the development of a blueprint for the new unitary councils
Alongside the development of the model, the current councils community engagement functions will need to come together under new unitary structures, and this role will support SCCs part of this work.
Work context
This role will report to the Director of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. They will collaborate with a wide range of teams across the council, including teams within the Corporate Strategy and Policy service, Communities, Communications and Design and Transformation, alongside teams in all Directorates.
The role will work closely with the Senior Programme Manager (Community Engagement Workstream) to ensure the NAC pilot programme delivers agreed outcomes.
The role will be based out of Woodhatch Place in Reigate but will require the postholder to travel around the county and to attend some scheduled evening meetings to meet the demands of the role.
About the role
In this role you will act as the lead advisor on community engagement and empowerment to the councils Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation Community Engagement workstream, offering expert guidance to senior leaders, elected members, internal teams and partners.
You will provide expert advice into, and shape the development and implementation of, the Neighbourhood Area Committee pilots, ensuring they are aligned with corporate priorities and integrated into existing governance structures at a local and strategic level. You will lead at least one NAC Pilot area in the initial tranche and support the roll out to additional areas once the concept is tested. Youll provide expert input into the pilot evaluation and support the development of a community engagement blueprint for the new unitary authorities.
Building strong relationships with a wide range of partners from the public, private and voluntary and community sectors will be integral to fostering collaboration and trust in the Neighbourhood Area Committee (NAC) model, and you will be adept at this.
You will champion inclusive practices that reach underrepresented and marginalised communities, ensuring all voices are heard and valued within the NAC model. And you will support internal teams, elected members and partners to embed best practice through toolkits, advisory support and other means.
Shortlisting criteria
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours :
* Substantial experience developing and delivering community engagement and empowerment models involving public, private and voluntary and community sector stakeholders.
* Substantial knowledge and expertise of local government engagement and neighbourhood governance models and approaches.
* Proven ability to develop positive relationships with members, senior officers, and partners and experience of managing, influencing and negotiating in complex, political environments.
* Understanding of the key strategic issues facing local government, the wider public sector and partners
To apply for this role we invite you to upload your CV and respond to the following application questions (with a maximum of 250 words per answer):
* What are your motivations for applying?
* Tell us, and provide examples of, your experience developing and delivering community engagement and empowerment models involving public, private and voluntary and community sector stakeholders.
* Tell us about your knowledge and experience of inclusive practices that reach underrepresented and marginalised communities, and how you ensure all voices are heard and valued.
* Describe a time when you built or strengthened relationships with elected members/partners/stakeholders and what your personal impact in the situation was.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & OurLife at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
You can contact the programme team via Amy Cosgrave via email or on MS Teams.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 27 th October 2025 with interviews planned for early November.
Local Government Reorganisation
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of these new councils, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, were committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
J-18808-Ljbffr