Role Title Social Sustainability Executive
Location Marble Arch, London - travel required in London and the South East
Department Development / Social Sustainability
Reporting to Senior Social Sustainability & Public Affairs Executive
The Role
The role will work on a number of key development projects, with responsibility for driving and embedding our 2030 social sustainability strategy across the design and planning process and beyond to ensure our developments are connected into the communities and maximising sustained social impact that reflects local needs and aspirations - our place-based approach. The role is responsible for incorporating social sustainability in the project decision making and design through thoughtful community engagement and design to inform the design and delivery of a strategy and associated community investment programmes that integrate our developments into the local context and maximise the social, economic and health opportunities that they represent.
The role possesses a high level of autonomy, and will work on projects that span different stages of the development process, including planning and construction.
The role is responsible for developing partnerships in line with the social sustainability strategy, including with local authorities, charities and community groups, and for working alongside a number of disciplines at British Land, including development, planning, marketing and leasing.
We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience, including local government, third sector, public and private sectors.
Key Responsibilities
Lead delivery of social sustainability strategy on development projects
- Set the approach and strategic direction for delivering British Land's 2030 social sustainability strategy on development projects, so that local communities (new and existing) share in the success of our developments, and are connected to social, economic and health opportunities.
- Enable internal and external teams to embed and deliver a Place Based approach across planning and design, construction and operation, to maximise the social impact of projects. And embed social sustainability as core component of external project engagement.
- Develop and deliver planning and development phase community programmes with strong governance. Identify and forge partnerships with a diverse range of external partners from local authorities to grassroots organisations, to deliver programmes and enhance social sustainability outcomes.
- Support leasing, marketing and comms teams to incorporate a Place Based approach and embed social sustainability as a core component of external project engagement.
- Support the social sustainability team with the wider rollout of the 2030 Sustainability Strategy, as required.
Community engagement and skills strategy
- Provide strategic direction on planning application community engagement in support of the social sustainability strategy and successful planning determinations.
- Establish and embed an inclusive and consistent community engagement approach across all aspects of project activity, and support Communications and Marketing teams to embed local engagement content within wider project communications.
- Appoint and manage community engagement and social value consultants to deliver high quality and effective community engagement and maximise social impact.
- Advise, structure and negotiate socio-economic elements of s106 agreements to maximise impact and deliver value for British Land.
- Set the strategic direction and approach for delivery of community and skills commitments (incorporating s106 requirements) during construction, including employment and training in construction and end-use, local business support, culture and public art. Where appropriate, appoint and manage external partner organisations to develop strategies and lead delivery.
General
- Act as ambassador for development projects and British Land.
- Business planning, budget forecasting and budget management.
- Manage external consultancies, as appropriate.
- Other relevant tasks and workstreams as may be agreed.
Requirements
Personal qualities:
- A strong sense of vision and passion to deliver inclusive development and maximise socio-economic impact throughout all stages of the development process.
- A keen interest in the built environment.
- Aptitude to creatively problem solve in new situations and adapt when circumstances change.
- An excellent communicator that is comfortable with a diverse range of audiences and able to motivate teams and drive social impact.
- Comfortable working across multiple teams and with senior company directors.
- Strong strategic thinker.
Experience:
- Experience of working in a strategic role with internal and external stakeholders, ideally within the built environment industry, during planning and/or construction phases .
- Experience of working across the private, public and voluntary sectors.
- Experience of working with and within diverse local communities.
- Project management experience.
- Report and document writing.
- Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships (desirable).
- Experience of managing consultant teams and budgets (desirable).
Technical knowledge and skills:
- An understanding of the planning and development process, including political and commercial context and drivers, and s106 agreements.
- An understanding of local government, and local skills, employment and enterprise strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to forge and steer partnerships across different sectors, that are focused on maximising social impact.
- Demonstrated ability to build relationships and effectively communicate with a diverse range of internal and external audiences, at every level.
- Ability to take ownership of projects from inception in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
- Ability to prioritise own workload and set strategic direction for own work and that of others.
Expected Behaviours
British Land employees are committed to living our values and promoting an inclusive, positive and collaborative culture.
Bring your whole self
- Confident, pro-active, hardworking and highly professional individual.
- Treats everyone equally irrespective of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, religious or other philosophical belief, disability, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, or pregnancy or maternity.
Listen & Understand
- Seeks out, accepts and acts on feedback.
- Awareness of and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Smarter together
- Good team player, with positive attitude and eagerness to get involved.
- Self-starter who uses own initiative.
- Flexibility - able to deal with different levels of workload, remaining calm under pressure.
Build for the future
- Willing to learn new skills and tools.
- Works to a high standard and always strives to improve.
About British Land
At British Land we own or manage a high-quality UK commercial property portfolio focused on London Offices and Retail around the UK. As at 31 March 2022, the portfolio is valued at £13.3bn (British land share: £9.8bn) making us one of Europe's largest listed real estate investment companies.
Our strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of our customers and respond to changing lifestyles - Places People Prefer. We do this by creating great environments both inside and outside our buildings and use our scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them. This expands their appeal to a broader range of occupiers, creating enduring demand and driving sustainable, long-term performance.
Sustainability is embedded throughout our business. Our places, which are designed to meet high sustainability standards, become part of local communities, provide opportunities for skills development and employment and promote wellbeing.
We are a diverse , curious team that believes in shared success and enabling people to be themselves and work in ways they work best. Our small expert team works alongside other expert people on some of the most ambitious, innovative projects in the country, and we are com mitted to offering our people a rewarding career journey where you can shape how you grow. We provide a range of flexible working arrangements, operating both formal and informal opportunities to meet individual needs.
Our Places and People have a commit ment to treat everyone equally, irrespective of your age, sex, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, relig ion , gender expression , marital or civil partner status, or pregnancy or maternity. If you want to feel listened to and understood in an environment where your opinions count and your ideas are encouraged, you've come to the right place!
We are committed to improving the diversity and inclusivity of our team, so that we reflect and understand the people who work, shop, live and spend time at our places. It takes diversity of thinking, cultures..... click apply for full job details