Help shape good lives in the heart of London

At Southwark, our Strategy and Communities department leads work that puts residents at the centre of the borough's future. If you are motivated by meaningful impact and want to help shape what comes next, we'd like to hear from you.

Messages from our leadership

Thank you for your interest in Southwark Council.

Southwark is an iconic London borough with a strong identity, rich cultural diversity and deep community roots. It is a place defined by energy, opportunity, and a shared commitment to improving lives.

Our approach to public service is simple: we focus on what matters to our residents. In the years ahead, we will make smarter use of data and insight, embrace innovation in how we deliver services, and build on the borough's unique strengths.

At the same time, we will sharpen our focus on tackling inequality, even as we navigate reduced funding and growing demand.

We are looking for independent thinkers who can turn ideas and evidence into real change. People who are curious, collaborative and committed to using insight to understand our communities. People driven to make a meaningful difference to the everyday lives of our residents.

If that sounds like you, I look forward to welcoming you to Southwark.

Althea Loderick
Chief Executive of Southwark Council

Rhona Cadenhead, Assistant Chief Executive, Strategy and Communities, Southwark Council.

Strategy and Communities is an ambitious and evolving department that is focused on turning strategy into meaningful delivery.

We are looking for people at all stages of their careers who share our values, bring fresh thinking, and are motivated to make tangible differences.

These jobs are ideal for people who believe, as we do, that better services and outcomes are achieved when they are designed with and for the people we serve.

In these roles, you will work alongside some of the most respected partners in London, including our highly impactful voluntary and community sector, leading universities and innovative businesses. Together, we are building practical, outcome-focused partnerships that support our residents to live good lives.

We are driven to strengthen our evidence base for decision-making and early intervention, helping to shape a fundamental rethink of how local government operates.

In a newly designed department, these roles are an opportunity to contribute to a council which is ambitious for its people and its place.

We look forward to hearing from you if you want to be part of a purpose-driven organisation where your work will have a direct impact on people's lives.

Rhona Cadenhead
Assistant Chief Executive, Strategy and Communities, Southwark Council

Strategy and Communities recruitment

We use insight, partnerships and resident voice to understand what people need, challenge inequality and empower services to deliver real, lasting impact.

We're looking for strategic thinkers who can turn ideas and evidence into action. People who are curious, collaborative and want to make a real difference in local government.

What we're building

Our ambition is clear: to embed residents' experiences in every decision we make and build a culture that reflects the changing needs of Southwark's people.

This is an opportunity to join a department that works across the borough to help shape policy, services and outcomes through insight, strategy and strong collaboration.

Signpost in Southwark Park with several arrows all pointing onwards, with trees and buildings in the background.

About Southwark Council

Southwark is a bold, diverse borough at the heart of London. We are ambitious for our communities and committed to delivering great public services, strong neighbourhoods, and opportunities for everyone.

Strategy and Communities team

We're building a team that turns resident experience, evidence and partnership working into action across the borough.

Campaigns & marketing
Content design & storytelling
Digital, social & channels
Strategy & partnerships
Community engagement, research & evaluation
Data, insight and performance
Service design & business analysis
Change and transformation

Meet the teams

The Communications team

It's a truly exciting time to join our award-winning communications team.

From creative campaigns and super socials to pioneering public affairs, each day you'll make a real difference to local lives.

You'll grow your skills and career working alongside hugely skilled colleagues in our dynamic multi-disciplinary team.

And you'll be in the heart of London, telling the stories of our more than 300,000 residents in our brilliant, bustling borough.

We're looking for strategic thinkers, trusted advisers, and brilliant communicators who bring creativity, resilience and political acumen to work and develop across a range of roles - media, campaigns, content and internal communications.

The Change team

Southwark's Change team plays a key role in delivering major improvements across the council. We are delivering a new, cross-council portfolio that brings services together to solve some of the borough's most complex challenges.

Our work aims to improve services and outcomes for residents, while also helping the council be financially sustainable.

We focus on making services more efficient, better connected, and designed around what residents actually need.

We bring together expertise in service design, business analysis, programme delivery and assurance to support change from start to finish. By working closely with teams across the council, we help identify problems, use data and insight to shape solutions, and deliver programmes that support Southwark's strategic priorities.

The Strategy, Insight and Performance team

The Strategy, Insight and Performance team combines strategy, data, performance, and community insight into one function. Our job is to help the council make evidence-led decisions based on data, research, and residents' experiences.

Strategy and Partnerships
We develop the council's corporate strategy and plans and create the tools to track impact and outcomes. We scan national policies and public-sector trends and build partnerships across sectors to support shared priorities in Southwark.

Data, Insight and Performance
We manage the council's performance framework and improve how data is used. Our work includes strengthening analysis skills, improving access to real-time information, and turning complex data into practical insight that supports good decisions.

Community Insight
We focus on understanding what residents need and how they experience services. We use research, surveys, and engagement to ensure decisions reflect community voice. We also work closely with the voluntary and community sector to improve outcomes through grants, commissioning, and shared insight.

Find out more...

Staff member reading a children's book during a Rhyme Time session with young children at Canada Water Library.

Working here

Discover our culture, what it's like working here, and why Southwark is a borough full of opportunity and challenge.

Find out more

Exterior of Borough Market at night with warm lights illuminating the historic market building and people walking nearby.

Our offer

Explore our benefits, support offer and the reasons to join a council invested in people and place.

Find out more

Useful links and documents

Southwark 2030

Find out more about Southwark's long-term vision and priorities.

Read document

End of Term Report

Find out more about what Southwark has delivered between 2022 and 2026, and the difference this work is making to residents’ lives.

Read document

The Good Landlord Plan

Find out more about how Southwark is improving homes and housing services, putting residents at the heart of everything it does.

Read document

See our current job vacancies

Explore the latest roles across our Strategy and Communities department.

See our vacancies