Our sister company ‘Soundings’ is recruiting

July 2019

Engagement Consultant: Public Engagement and Consultation

Location: London, Shoreditch EC2A

About Soundings

“Better Places through Active Participation”

For over 15 years Soundings has worked with Londoners to shape the capital in meaningful ways, on some of the most significant and challenging sites. We are the acknowledged field leader in public and stakeholder engagement and consultation. (new website currently under construction due for launch September 2019)

We are looking for highly motivated, experienced and ambitious individuals who are looking for something more than conventional consultancy to support our expanding business and creative teams. You will bring knowledge of the planning and regeneration process, experience of community engagement methods and be able to demonstrate delivery of high quality visual and written communication materials tailored to audiences.

We are involved in a large range of public and private sector built environment projects. These include large scale urban regeneration, estate regeneration, neighbourhood plans, placemaking cultural strategies, town centre plans, one off development sites through to public realm projects amongst others.

Recent / current projects include: Canada Water Masterplan, for British Land; Brent Cross South, for Argent, Northfields Alperton Masterplan, for St George (planning award), Marion Gasworks, for St William; Gascoigne Estate, Barking, for Be First; Colchester Borders for Colchester Council, Peninsula Hotel, Hyde Park Corner, for Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels Group; Berkeley Square, for Grosvenor; and the Royal Docks Cultural Placemaking Strategy and OAPF for the Royal Docks Team, TfL and the GLA

About the job

Engagement Consultants are a vital part of our team and we are looking for an enthusiastic and natural communicator with excellent written and oral communications skills to work across a range of consultation and engagement projects. This will be combined with an understanding of the role of consultation and engagement in community planning. Knowledge of planning, urban design, local government and/or architecture is an advantage but not essential.

You’ll be involved in extensive community outreach, working in teams and independently; both in the office and ‘on the ground’. You will have the opportunity to devise creative techniques to increase participation in the design and development process. You’ll also be required to create high-quality communications to help ensure clarity of information and maximum engagement.

Key Skills Required:
– Strong research skills and ability to gather insights into community and place

– Excellent writing and communication skills across multiple media formats

– You must be comfortable dealing with people in public, enjoy public interaction and be a good listener

– Have a keen eye for detail

– You will have used, or be prepared to learn, InDesign to support the production of graphic presentational materials

– Event planning and excellent organisational skills

– Database and analyse feedback – report writing

– Confidently organise, attend and record meetings and events with a range of stakeholders

– Handle other office duties as appropriate

Added value:
– Experience in community consultation and engagement, or through postgraduate studies

– Understanding of social media and online communications

– A knowledge of/interest in planning policies on a local and national level

– Youth engagement experience and/or working with groups seldom heard

Key qualities:
– Proactive – take initiative to add creativity to consultation projects/events

– Energetic and friendly – willing to proactively engage with a wide range of people

– Good time management – ability to prioritise own work

– Collaborative – projects often involve working as part of a larger consultant team that consist of architects, the
council/developer and various other practitioners related to a development /regeneration project
– Flexibility – including working across multiple projects and some evening and weekend events

Salary:
£ 22,000 – £28,000 per annum, depending on experience
Six months probationary period, permanent
25 days annual holiday (plus public holidays)

Application Process:
Please provide a CV with cover letter to:
Kallista Omotosho c/o recruitment@soundingsoffice.com
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by directors
Starting date as soon as possible