Safer Communities Officer (Licensing)

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Are you looking for a role where your expertise in licensing legislation makes a real impact? We are seeking an enthusiastic and knowledgeable individual with proven experience and understanding of the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, and other relevant licensing legislation. You will bring a flexible approach, effectively tackling a diverse range of issues and adapting to new and emerging areas of work.

We value strong communicators who can build effective relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders, both internally and externally. Your ability to negotiate, persuade, and gain agreement will be vital for developing productive partnerships across the public, private, and voluntary sectors.

If you are detail-oriented, committed to delivering high-quality licensing services, and able to manage sensitive matters with professionalism and discretion, while thriving in a fast-paced environment, we would like to hear from you.

The position requires experience and knowledge of licensing law, legal procedures, and priorities to administer and enforce local authority licensing regulations, with a focus on community safety. You will interact with applicants and external contacts, including licensees and their representatives, taking initiative, and working independently to deliver efficient licensing services in a fast-paced setting. You will enforce licensing in line with legislation and Council policy by handling complaints, performing inspections, and interviewing involved parties. The job also includes preparing reports, evidence, statements, and providing testimony as required.

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

We are seeking a candidate with knowledge and experience in the area of licensing and Community Safety. You will demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities and workloads with confidence. You understand how to manage sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism and discretion. Your strong attention to detail ensures you deliver high-quality administrative support. You consistently meet performance standards, maintaining accuracy and efficiency across all core business processes.

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Good numeracy and literacy with a minimum of GCSE A-C including Maths and English. Able to attend meetings in the evenings, to work outside normal office hours and to work beyond minimum hours when required to achieve deadlines. The job is subject to a basic DBS check.

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs. Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Richard Lockett (richard.lockett@lewisham.gov.uk).

Diversity: Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email LewishamWorks@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.