Social Value Officer

Social Value Officer
Sector Local Authority
Location London
Work Pattern Full time permanent position
Hybrid working
Salary £52,000 plus benefits

We are working with a Local Authority in London to recruit a Social Value Officer for their Economic Development Team. This role offers a unique opportunity for someone with a background in project or programme management and social value to significantly impact the council's initiatives and improve residents lives.

As a Social Value Officer, you will be instrumental in implementing a renewed strategy to secure social value and economic benefits for our communities from major developments. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining robust processes to capture, monitor, and report on these benefits, primarily through Section 106 agreements. Collaborating closely with council’s Planning and Legal teams, you will ensure that the systems and processes in place are effective and fit for purpose.

Your role will involve collecting and reporting data on social value and economic benefits, ensuring timely and clear communication through appropriate governance channels. You will support the Strategic Lead – Social Value in developing and implementing a refreshed approach to securing economic benefits from major developments, working closely with the Economic Development Service and Planning team.

Additionally, you will assist developers and contractors in overcoming challenges related to capturing social value and economic benefits pledged through Section 106 agreements. You will also support the drafting of these agreements, focusing on economic benefits, and provide early-stage, pragmatic advice to the Planning team on securing these benefits from major developments.

Staying informed about relevant planning legislation and best practices for securing economic benefits is essential. You will maintain knowledge of the Council’s key areas of social value and economic benefits as outlined in the Industrial Strategy. Working closely with teams across the Economic Development service, you will align with Council priorities for securing social value and economic benefits from major developments. Ensuring your actions and decisions support the Council’s climate and ecological emergency declaration is also a key aspect of this role. You may be required to perform other reasonable duties as needed, commensurate with the grade and nature of the post.

As a Social Value Officer, you will be at the forefront of the council’s efforts to prioritise community well-being and social impact. You will have the exciting opportunity to manage key elements of a council-wide programme on social value, supporting effective partnership arrangements to advance key Council Delivery Plan priorities.

Your experience and skills

• You should have a solid understanding of economic development within a Local Government context and be familiar with securing social value and economic benefits through the Planning system, specifically Section 106 agreements and relevant legislation. Experience working within complex organizations and across departmental boundaries to achieve shared goals is important. You should be adept at gathering, analysing, and distilling complex information into clear, accessible summaries, with strong written and numerical skills to interpret data and convey clear messages.
• Demonstrable experience in project/programme management and reporting involving multiple stakeholders is essential. You should have experience preparing timely, informative briefings for senior stakeholders on complex topics. Exemplary time management and prioritisation skills in a busy environment with competing priorities are crucial. Proficiency in using Microsoft Office tools such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are also required.

If you have a background in these areas and are passionate about driving positive change, we encourage you to apply. Interviews to take place as soon as possible with a view to a start soon thereafter.