Role Overview
A strategic placemaking position focused on shaping vibrant, sustainable and people-centred neighbourhoods. The role leads public realm improvements, cultural activations, and nature-based interventions that strengthen local identity, support economic vitality and enhance wellbeing. Working within a small, fast-paced organisation, the postholder collaborates with partners across public, private and community sectors to deliver high-impact projects across streets, open spaces and under-used urban assets.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead the end-to-end delivery of placemaking, public realm and greening projects, from concept and brief development to procurement, contract administration and completion.
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Drive a pipeline of capital and non-capital interventions, including small-scale enhancements, cultural installations and public art commissions.
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Develop evidence-based proposals and investment cases for nature, biodiversity and climate-positive initiatives.
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Maintain and manage a live database of potential public realm and environmental improvements, ensuring prioritisation aligned to organisational strategy.
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Support the effective management and activation of organisation-owned or managed assets, with a focus on long-term cultural and community use.
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Build productive partnerships with local authorities, landowners, cultural institutions, transport bodies and funders to co-design and co-deliver projects.
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Contribute to funding bids, business cases and grant applications to unlock external investment.
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Work closely with communications colleagues to share project outcomes, promote activity and highlight the organisation’s placemaking impact.
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Represent the organisation in stakeholder forums and collaborative workstreams.
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Support organisational insight through improved data gathering, monitoring and reporting.
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Line-manage an operational staff member responsible for on-the-ground greening and maintenance.
Candidate Profile
A creative and pragmatic placemaking practitioner with a track record of delivering public realm projects and collaborative urban improvements. Brings strong project management capability, good design judgement, and confidence working with a range of stakeholders. Thrives in a small, innovative organisation where flexibility, partnership working and hands-on delivery are central.
Key Skills & Experience
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Experience delivering place, public realm or streetscape projects using recognised project management tools and processes.
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Ability to identify opportunities and convert ideas into practical, funded projects.
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Skilled in developing strategies, action plans or research that inform decision making and programme development.
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Proven partnership experience across public and private sectors, with the ability to secure buy-in, influence delivery and support co-funding.
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Experience preparing briefs, managing consultants, and overseeing capital or environmental works.
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Understanding of policy areas relevant to public realm delivery, including active travel, sustainability, safety, inclusion, arts and culture.
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Familiarity with statutory consents processes such as planning, highways licences or related permissions.
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Experience contributing to business planning and aligning annual priorities with longer-term strategic objectives.
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Experience managing staff or supporting others’ development.
