Southwark Council’s Communications team, within Strategy and Communities, leads the council’s approach to communications, campaigns, media relations and digital content. The team works across the organisation to ensure that council priorities are communicated clearly, residents can access information about services and initiatives, and communications activity supports meaningful engagement and impact.
Why Southwark?
Southwark Council works proactively with the media to ensure residents receive clear and accurate information about council services and priorities.
What You’ll Be Doing
Lead on communications across all disciplines for Environment services, including Streets for People, street cleansing, waste and recycling, community safety, climate, regulatory services and leisure. Oversee investment in major local projects such as health centres, leisure centres and town centres.
Lead on strategic planning and relationships with Cabinet, Directors and service heads, as well as external stakeholders such as Veolia and Metropolitan Police.
Lead and manage teams of dedicated communications officers to deliver excellent communications to local people and stakeholders across all disciplines.
Collaborate closely with the wider communications team, including the Media and Communications manager and the Content Communications manager, to ensure accurate and consistent messaging across all channels, including digital and media.
Use data and insight to inform strategic planning for all communications and evaluate campaign results.
Play a key role in the council’s out‑of‑hours service on a rota basis, and initiate the council’s emergency communications plan when required.
Lead and deliver other projects and duties as directed in line with the overall communications objectives and needs of local people and the council.
Provide expert advice on tailoring and directing communications to the diverse community that lives, works in or visits Southwark.
What We’re Looking For
* Experience in leading a communications team across all disciplines
* Significant experience of digital and social media content creation and knowledge of how to tailor content for different social media platforms
* Significant experience of providing direct advice and briefing to senior managers and/or elected members on communications
* Significant experience of working in a highly pressured environment and delivering results to tight deadlines
* Experience of leadership, line management and supporting, mentoring and developing staff
* Experience of working with the media, both proactively pitching stories and managing inquiries and issues
* Experience of using insight and data to create communications plans and evaluate results
* Experience and understanding of how to handle communications for a business, organisation, public sector or third sector body in a crisis
* Proven ability to find solutions to communications problems and to take necessary action, using all available channels including digital, media and internal communications
* A good understanding of local government, the services provided by local councils, and the responsibilities a council has to its residents
* Excellent writing skills with a clear, concise and lively prose style, and the ability to write clearly for a range of different audiences
* Excellent oral communications skills and the ability to maintain effective relationships at every level of an organisation
Recruitment Timetable
Advert close date: 11:59pm on 26th April 2026
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 following criteria:
* Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
* Members currently in care, or who have previously been in care
* Individuals who consider themselves to be disabled or have a long‑term health condition
We welcome applications from members of Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Salary range: £54,360 - £61,686 per year
#J-18808-Ljbffr