Senior Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager – Oxford Street Transformation

Good Growth

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

About the team

Oxford Street Transformation Programme Team. This team is being established to deliver on the mayor’s ambition for Oxford Street as set out in his joint announcement with the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on the 17th September 2024.

The Mayor of London’s Oxford Street Transformation Programme will deliver a premier shopping and leisure destination, that reflects its place at the centre of a global city, attracting tourists and locals alike, and generating significant economic activity.

A flagship project demonstrating the Mayor’s commitment to high streets and to London's global status proposals include:

-        Creating a pedestrianised boulevard to unlock the full potential of the street, creating beautiful public space and allowing for activation with a curated offer that promotes an attractive activity and trading offer

-        Piloting innovative ideas using smart data to inform cultural and social programming and business support

-        Delivering a greener, more sustainable and climate resilient district – showcasing innovation in environmental and ecological design, supporting circular economy principles

-        Creating an inclusive neighbourhood that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, removing barriers to participation and accessibility

-        Harnessing exemplar design that showcases the best of London’s talent, assets and opportunities – a place that Londoners feel proud of and those coming to London want to visit, invest in and return to.

At the end of the 2-year fixed term there may be an opportunity for these roles to transfer into any MDC that is established, subject to consultation and confirmation of the detailed organisational design.

About the role

1. To lead the development and delivery of the overall communications strategy for Oxford Street transformation programme, including through working with senior colleagues in the Mayor’s Office, External Relations, the wider GLA and senior colleagues at functional bodies including Transport for London (TfL).

2. To identify, develop and maintain the core partnerships and stakeholder relationships necessary to achieve the Mayor’s objectives for Oxford Street, including securing consensus and support for the proposals for the transformation of the thoroughfare and its potential long-term management through a Mayoral Development Corporation (and the resulting economic, social and environmental benefits).

3. To support the overall delivery of the transformation programme through the development and implementation of effective public engagement and consultation processes, consistent with legal requirements and Mayoral objectives.

4. To provide high level communications advice to the Mayor’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner and the wider Mayoral team, and to co-ordinate and proactively develop relationships to aid the successful delivery of the Mayor’s green transport policies.

What your day will look like

1. Work with senior marketing, communications and policy colleagues in the Mayor’s Office, External Relations, TfL and private and third sector partners to ensure an integrated strategy is developed and implemented to communicate the Mayor’s proposals for the transformation of Oxford Street and their anticipated benefits.
2. Identify the challenges and solutions for delivering and communicating the Mayor’s proposals for Oxford Street, including through the engagement of internal and external polling, research and behavioural insight teams to develop in-depth institutional understanding of the current public sentiment around the future of central London and its visitor and wider economy.
3. Develop a strategy to engage and influence high level stakeholders in support of the Mayor’s proposals for the transformation of Oxford Street, including business groups, the culture, tourism, retail and hospitality sectors, landowners, NGOs, charities, local businesses, BIDs, boroughs, Parliamentarians and community and campaign groups, with a particular aim of working with them to communicate the policies effectively to the public, and groups we have traditionally struggled to reach.
4. Reporting into Mayoral Director of Communications and Assistant Director External Relations, oversee strategic campaign and communications planning to ensure maximum alignment of messaging, targeting and research, and best value for money on communications activity related to the pedestrianisation and wider transformation of Oxford Street.
5. Work with policy leads in the GLA and TfL to ensure the effective delivery of the public consultation processes needed to implement the transformation project, consistent with legal requirements and the Mayor’s objectives.
6. Ensure that all internal and external communications from the GLA and TfL in relation to Oxford Street are fully aligned with the Mayor’s objectives and wider aims and messaging.
7. Manage staff and resources allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethic and Standards.
8. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
9. Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

1. In-depth knowledge and experience of strategic communications in a large, high-profile organisation regularly in the media eye.
2. Significant experience of developing strategic communications strategies and plans in a high-profile organisation.
3. Experience of high-profile public consultation and public engagement exercises, and ability to generate consensus through partnership building and stakeholder engagement.
4. A strong knowledge of opinion research methodologies.
5. A deep understanding of complex political environments and significant experience at a high level of operating effectively within them.
6. Ability to demonstrate a high level of analytical and constructive thinking to cope with the varied and challenging situations required by the role.
7. An understanding of how the GLA’s wish to take a strategic lead in combating discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity throughout London can be enhanced and supported by this role.

Please find the full Job Description here

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you’ll need to submit:

·          an online application

·          a Word statement (1,500 words) outlining how you meet the essential criteria as well as the competencies outlined in the advert.

If you have questions about the role and wish to talk to someone please contact [email protected] . If you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact [email protected]

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: Friday 20th  December 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements.

Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview.

Additional information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Secondments

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria before applying. You must: 

• be on a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
• have successfully completed your probation period and be performing to the required standard for your current role; and
• have completed at least 18 months’ service with the GLA 

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.

If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment.  For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.

IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract that is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.

If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application.