The Role

Digital Connectivity Lead - South London Infrastructure Programme

Can you lead a step-change in South London’s digital connectivity?

Improving digital infrastructure is a top priority for all five South London Partnership boroughs – to support economic recovery and business growth, and to help connect our residents and address digital inequalities.

This post will lead a team of two who will work with our five boroughs, infrastructure providers and wider partners to accelerate the role out of full fibre to premises and deliver other digital infrastructure improvements.

It will:

• support delivery of new digital infrastructure projects already in the pipeline and shape a strong forward pipeline of investment by providers together with any potential publicly funding, including cross-borough projects where appropriate;
• ensure the boroughs have the right systems and processes in place to encourage and enable digital providers to deliver new infrastructure that supports local communities and businesses, and fits with wider borough priorities;
• lead co-ordinated engagement with infrastructure providers to secure delivery of new infrastructure within our boroughs and additional community value; and
• identify and pursue wider opportunities for improving digital connectivity and delivering associated benefits for our boroughs, including through liaising with the GLA and counterparts in other parts of London.

The suitable candidate will:

• have a track record of working effectively with boroughs and commercial partners – ideally on digital infrastructure or related agendas;
• bring expertise, ambition, drive and credibility to lead the development and delivery of a two year programme of work that delivers tangible benefits (eg more households and businesses with full fibre to premises connections) and effective systems and processes within boroughs to ensure that a future pipeline of improved connectivity will be successful; 
• be results-focussed, with a track record of securing those results through forging strong collaborative relationships and partnership-working across organisations and sectors;
• be flexible and adaptable while being quick to spot and seize opportunities; and
• have strong programme scoping and delivery skills and be able to use these to support realisation of benefits.  

The South London Partnership is a sub-regional collaboration between Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames, Merton, Richmond-upon-Thames and Sutton Councils.  Together they make up a vibrant sub-region with 1.2 million residents and a £32 billion economy. 

The SLP team is hosted by Richmond Council and based in Twickenham, but our operating model expects regular working in other SLP boroughs.  Some home working and flexible working are both possible.

For an informal chat about the role contact Sarah Sturrock, Director, South London Partnership (director@southlondonpartnership.co.uk or 07985 528346) 

This is a fixed term contract for the duration of two years.

Important Information:

The South London Partnership team is hosted by Richmond Council.  These posts will be employed by the Richmond and Wandsworth Shared Staffing Arrangement (SSA).

Pre-Covid, the SLP team’s operating model expected regular working in other SLP boroughs as a way of ensuring we could best understand their different perspectives and priorities to help us forge successful and valuable collaboration.  As people are expecting to start returning to office-working more regularly, we anticipate some return to this flexible approach, balanced with some ongoing opportunities for home working if wanted.

The SSA recognises the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.  We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date:  Monday 20^th September 2021

Shortlisting Date: w/c 27^th September 2021

Interview Date: w/c 4^th & 11^th October

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams, including ethnic minorities and people with a disability.    

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils