Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs in London

This is a pivotal leadership role in our Communications and Campaigns service, responsible for overseeing the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of fully integrated, multi‑channel communications and influencing campaigns to drive participation, raise awareness, influence public behaviour, and to realise a range of defined strategic objectives. The postholder will oversee end‑to‑end delivery, ensuring campaigns are delivered on time, within budget, and meet all performance KPIs.

The role will also oversee, and be the driving force behind, Waltham Forest's public affairs activities, influencing the national political agenda on significant areas of relevance and interest to the Council, representing the Council in meetings with officials and politicians, both locally and in Westminster, and working with senior colleagues in sector bodies such as LGA and London Councils. You will make sure that our public affairs activity is responsive to opportunity, effective, and grounded in the achievement of tangible results.

You will involve people from multiple disciplines within the Directorate, across the wider Council, and the Borough as a whole, unlocking the full potential of people's technical skills and lived experiences, and fostering a culture of active participation and open dialogue. Together with your team you will develop innovative campaigns that resonate with our community and reflect the Council's values. You will work extensively with a wide range of internal stakeholders and be required to build exceptional senior level relationships.

Key to securing the evolution in culture and working practice required to make your brief a success will be effective influencing and presentation skills, the ability to formulate compelling arguments and the sensitivity and nous to work collaboratively across directorates and services. You will be required to have excellent project management and communications skills, and experience of working with digital specialists, multimedia producers and designers to produce high quality, effective and impactful assets.

You will develop a campaign infrastructure for the Council, including planning cycles, review and evaluation mechanisms, governance frameworks and tools such as campaign packs and guides, seeking to establish the means to promote consistency and best practice internally. You will also ensure that effective triage mechanisms guide the team's use of time and effort, making informed and sensitive calls on prioritisation whenever demands clash.

• Oversee and manage the prioritisation, planning and execution of campaigns for the Council to promote initiatives and services, influencing public opinion and policy, ensuring they are of the highest quality, align with corporate priorities and enhance the Council's brand and reputation.
• Deputise for the Director of Communication and Campaigns and support them in delivering an overall communication strategy and associated frameworks.
• Lead the development and implementation of public affairs strategies that align with the Council's overall objectives.
• Develop a strategy and regularly review an operational plan for integrated campaigns, engaging and securing buy‑in from senior colleagues.
• Oversee the operational aspects of campaigns, events and public affairs activities, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
• Energise, motivate and support the team to identify opportunities and develop meaningful campaigns that resonate with target audiences, generate enthusiasm internally and externally, and change hearts and minds.
• Ensure campaign plans have clarity on budgetary implications.
• Develop high‑quality, insight‑led approaches that deliver a step change in resident understanding, engagement and advocacy.
• Ensure each campaign identifies goals, target audience, primary channels, key messages and success metrics, and carries a coherent narrative framework utilising a range of engagement levers across a defined timeline.
• Support and, on occasion, manage the Council's crisis‑management efforts and campaigns through effective communication and the use of different channels.

• Significant experience and knowledge of internal and external campaign management, development and delivery.
• Significant experience developing and maintaining strategic narratives.
• Ability to work in an agile fashion to respond to internal or external crisis.
• Experience managing a team and providing guidance and support.
• Experience leading high‑profile campaigns that support the delivery of key strategic objectives.
• Direct experience developing and delivering effective strategies in at least three of the following disciplines: digital communications or marketing, public affairs, media relations, behaviour change.
• Experience and knowledge of different campaign approaches and methods.
• Experience evaluating and reviewing campaigns.
• Experience using insight and data to create communications plans.
• Experience in crisis management.
• Experience in planning and delivery of communications strategies and activities.
• Experience providing direct advice and briefing to senior managers and/or elected members on media and reputation issues.
• Experience working across a wide range of communications projects including media, campaigns, marketing and events.
• Experience working in a highly pressured environment and delivering results to tight deadlines.
• Experience and ability to manage a team to deliver high‑quality campaigns and projects.
• Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks.
• Satisfactory declaration of interest.

Candidates must hold a UK work authorisation that does not require sponsorship. The Council is a Home Office‑licensed sponsor but will not provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this role. Internal candidates will be considered first; candidates who self‑identify as having a disability will be considered under the Disability Confident scheme. The Council operates an anonymous shortlisting process to protect applicants’ personal information. The Council is committed to providing equal opportunities to all, opposing discrimination, and ensuring the workforce reflects the diversity of Waltham Forest. Flexible working arrangements may be considered where possible.