Job Specifications
About The Borough
Found in zone 6 with good transport links in and out of London, Kingston is a vibrant and diverse university town which creates the rich sense of community shared across the borough and its Residents. Kingston boasts an idyllic riverside location, good shopping and great restaurants, as well as a mix of modern and historic town centre. Kingston has lots of open parklands and cycle routes that help connect the district town centres into an enjoyable place to live and work.
We are passionate about working closely with our residents and vulnerable groups to help them maintain their independence and create a balance between support and independent living.
About The Role
About the Role and our Ideal Candidate
This role supports the development of participation and engagement plans and activities across a wide range of projects aimed at improving access to services, enhancing service design and delivery, and strengthening the overall customer experience. The goal is to ensure that people in Kingston are able to maximise their independence.
You will also support service improvement initiatives, including:
Increasing the number of people we engage with, both digitally and face to face, while taking a more targeted and strategic approach to engagement
Actively engaging underrepresented groups to ensure that all voices are heard and that diverse needs are considered in how services are delivered
Improving how we close the feedback loop so that residents clearly understand how their input has informed decision-making
About You
Essential skills include the ability to work effectively with key stakeholders within and outside the Council. A strong commitment to personal and professional development is important in order to respond to the evolving demands of the role. You will also show innovation and creativity, actively contribute to positive cross-organisational communication and teamwork, and communicate clearly, confidently, and appropriately with colleagues using the most effective methods for the task. In addition, you should have a strong understanding of corporate engagement requirements, with experience in engagement planning, including designing processes and creating templates within a local authority setting. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies is essential, along with the ability to analyse engagement feedback and communicate results clearly. Experience in stakeholder mapping is also required.
About Us
We are a cross-council strategic function which supports the council’s priorities and delivers clear, authentic and timely messaging and engagement to build trust, share key information and encourage participation in council decision-making. Our team works across multiple disciplines, collaborating with service colleagues, councillors, senior leadership, partners and other external stakeholders. We provide expert advice on effective engagement and research, focusing on involving all residents and communities in shaping services and policy development. The role reports directly to the Corporate Participation and Engagement Manager in the Communications and Engagement service.
Our Offer To You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work life balance, some of which include:
A generous annual leave entitlement of 25-32 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade.
Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
Three volunteering days per year in Kingston
Hybrid working (dependent on the role)
Flexible and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks
Learning and development portal offering a range of courses
Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres
Interest free season ticket loans
Local Government Pension Scheme
Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
Electric vehicle leasing scheme
Confidential health & wellbeing and counselling support
Application Process
Apply online outlining what skills, abilities and experience you can bring which makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Please refer to the requirements outlined in the job profile when completing your application and check your CV details have been uploaded correctly in the relevant sections.
We understand and recognise the benefits of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace and are embracing AI where appropriate, to boost our productivity and streamline how we deliver our Counc
About the Company
Kingston Council is proud of its reputation as an authority which works with communities to agree priorities and to provide the services that matter most to people.
How people feel about a place, and their quality of life, is greatly influenced by its character and sense of community. What is special about the borough of Kingston is the combination of characteristics that amount to a unique offer. As a place we have been a destination of choice throughout our history.
And our future is as a destination too. As a borough, K...
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