Community Engagement Manager (East)

UCL Eastman Dental Institute; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A higher education institution is seeking a Community Engagement Manager (East) for a 6-month maternity cover. This role focuses on implementing community engagement strategies in East London, connecting academic staff and local communities. Responsibilities include designing events, advising on best practices, and managing budgets. Qualifications include experience in community engagement, project management skills, and strong communication abilities. The position offers 41 days of holiday and a pension scheme.

Benefits

41 days holiday

Defined benefit pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

On-site nursery

On-site gym

Enhanced parental leave

Employee assistance programme

Discounted medical insurance

Qualifications

• Experienced community and public engagement professional.
• Strong background in developing and delivering partnership initiatives.
• Good understanding of public engagement best practices.
• Familiarity with East London’s communities and civic landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of community engagement activity in east London.
• Design and manage events, workshops, and engagement opportunities.
• Train and advise academic colleagues on best practices.
• Broker partnerships with local authorities and community groups.
• Oversee community engagement budgets and identify fundraising opportunities.

Skills

Community engagement expertise

Partnership development

Project management

Excellent communication

Interpersonal abilities

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a Community Engagement Manager (East) to join UCL Cultural and Community Engagement on a 6-month maternity cover basis, with a start date in January.

This role will be based primarily at UCL East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with some travel to our Bloomsbury campus.

In this key position, you will lead the delivery of UCL’s community engagement activity in east London. You will be responsible for implementing the UCL East Community Engagement Strategy, developing innovative programmes that connect UCL academic and professional staff, students and local communities, and supporting a culture of collaboration and inclusion.

You will design and manage events, workshops, and engagement opportunities; train and advise academic and research colleagues on best practice; and broker partnerships with local authorities, community groups, and cultural and educational partners. You will also oversee community engagement budgets, identify fundraising opportunities, and report on activity and impact.

This is a dynamic and outward-facing role that will see you representing UCL across the Olympic boroughs, ensuring our work aligns with both community priorities and UCL’s institutional strategy.

This role is available as a 6-month FTC or secondment for internal staff.

About you

You will be an experienced community and public engagement professional with a strong record of developing and delivering partnership-based initiatives in Higher Education and diverse urban contexts. You’ll have experience of working with academic and research staff, communities, local authorities, and voluntary sector organisations, and be adept at bringing people together around shared goals.

You will have a strong understanding of public engagement and creative engagement practices, with experience of developing or supporting cultural projects that engage communities, within Higher Education.

You will be skilled in project and relationship management, with excellent communication and interpersonal abilities and a collaborative, inclusive approach. You will have a good understanding of best practice in public engagement within higher education or the cultural sector and be confident managing budgets and reporting on outcomes. Familiarity with East London’s communities and civic landscape would be a distinct advantage.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below :

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On‑Site nursery (Bloomsbury campus)
• On‑site gym (Bloomsbury campus)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme : Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance