Job title: Senior Localities Officer (Pride in Place)
Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839
Hours: 37
Contract: 2 years fixed-term
Location: Reginald Centre
As a Senior Localities Officer (Pride in Place) you’ll thrive on working directly with communities, partners and elected members to turn long‑term investment into real, visible improvements in neighbourhoods and people’s everyday lives.
It’s not about process‑driven project delivery, it’s about building trust, amplifying local voices and helping communities shape and deliver their own priorities.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About You
- Experience of delivering projects or programmes in localities, neighbourhoods or community‑based settings, working with a wide range of partners
- Strong skills in community engagement and involvement, with the ability to work inclusively and build sustainable local relationships
- Experience of working in a partnership or multi‑agency environment to achieve shared objectives
- The ability to analyse local information and data to inform priorities, shape projects and improve outcomes
- Confidence in communicating clearly with residents, partners and elected members, including preparing reports or briefings
We particularly welcome applications from people who live in, work in, or have strong connections to the Pride in Place neighbourhoods of Middleton Park Avenue, Armley New Wortley, Farnley East and Seacroft North Monkswood, as local insight and lived experience can be a real strength in this role. However, this opportunity is open to all applicants who can demonstrate the skills and experience required.
About The Role
This is a unique opportunity to be at the heart of the Pride in Place Programme, one of the most significant long‑term neighbourhood investment programmes currently operating in Leeds. The programme puts local people at the centre of decision‑making, with up to £20m of investment per neighbourhood over ten years.
As our next Senior Localities Officer, you’ll be the lead officer for a Pride in Place neighbourhood, supporting the Neighbourhood Board and Independent Chair, leading local engagement, and helping to develop and deliver a shared 10‑year vision and regeneration plan.
You’ll work closely with residents, community groups, businesses and council services to turn priorities into projects that make a tangible difference on the ground.
The role is integral to our Locality Partnerships and the wider Safer Stronger Communities team, working alongside the Localities Programme Manager and other officers supporting neighbourhood improvement across the city. Together, you’ll help ensure that investment is well‑governed, inclusive, locally informed and delivers lasting benefits for Leeds’ communities.
What We Offer You
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
Job Description
Job Purpose
- To implement locality working through activity that supports the delivery of Council priorities and the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board priorities
- To deliver projects designed to improve outcomes in priority neighbourhoods, Pride in Place neighbourhoods and wards
- To contribute to the implementation of the city’s ambition for locality working set out in the Leeds Ambitions
Responsibilities
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Principal Accountabilities
- To facilitate and participate in Council partnership programmes that support the delivery of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board and Council’s priorities to deliver better, integrated, and more responsive and local services.
- To actively drive improvement initiatives by contributing to cross council projects in priority neighbourhoods/ wards or Pride in Place neighbourhoods working collaboratively with Elected Members, partners and council services.
- To work with Elected Members, partners, service users, and the community in ways that are open, inclusive, responsive and accountable.
- To work as a team for Leeds to achieve excellent outcomes for residents and aim to be a part of the best council in the UK.
- To develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders, and partners underpinned by the Council’s Values.
- To provide local advice relating to the work of the City to the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, Elected Members and Council officers to manage risk and to support them in their respective roles.
Specific Responsibilities
- Manage and implement local change programmes in Pride in Place neighbourhoods, priority neighbourhoods/ wards taking responsibility for specific improvement work and its successful delivery.
- Analyse complex information from a range of services and develop local projects with LCC directorates and partners to address local needs.
- Involve local people and build sustainable engagement in Pride in Place neighbourhoods, Priority Neighbourhoods/ wards. Building the capacity of local people to do things for themselves.
- Contribute to collaborative problem‑solving activities, challenging existing local services and enabling and supporting their improvement.
- Implement neighbourhood improvement activities and support effective local project management to improve effectiveness of services and outcomes for residents.
- Promote the implementation of the city’s ambition for locality working as expressed through the Best City Plan.
- Management/supervision of staff as required.
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification or with commensurate operational experience in a locality working setting.
- Understanding of local government political systems.
- An understanding of the current issues facing local government.
- Key partners including police, health and the voluntary sector.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of community involvement challenges and effective approaches.
- Knowledge and understanding of multiple deprivation issues within priority neighbourhoods.
Essential Requirements
- Ability to manage and monitor performance effectively and set clear objectives.
- Ability to make an effective contribution to internal and external meetings.
- Ability to take forward initiatives and policies from development to implementation.
- Ability to prepare clear and objective reports for a range of audiences.
- Ability to improve service quality and support a culture that drives up standards and performance.
- Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
- Ability to communicate and engage with a wide range of audiences through a number of channels, including social media.
- Working on service delivery coordination issues.
- Working on community / neighbourhood issues to achieve prescribed objectives.
- Working in a multi‑agency setting to achieve shared objectives.
- Producing and implementing plans, monitoring and evaluating plans against objectives.
- Working with politicians, organising and servicing meetings involving elected members and / or key stakeholders.
- Developing projects and funding bids / packages of support.
- Collating and analysing data to monitor service delivery and identify local needs.
- Undertaking community involvement activities.
- Experience of managing and controlling project budgets.
- Experience of working effectively with others to deliver cross‑sector or cross‑service projects.
- Experience of responding to customer or community needs.
- Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council.
- Willing to take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policies.
- Ability to resolve conflict.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Ability to work outside normal hours as appropriate.
Essential Behavioural and Other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city.
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti‑discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
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