Placemaking Manager

Mattinson Partnership; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A strategic urban development agency seeks an experienced placemaking practitioner in London. The role involves leading public realm and greening projects to enhance community spaces. Candidates should have strong project management skills and experience in collaborative urban improvements. The position is ideal for those who thrive in dynamic environments and can engage with various stakeholders effectively. Full-time role with a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering public realm or streetscape projects.
• Ability to convert ideas into practical projects.
• Proven partnership experience across sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of placemaking and public realm projects.
• Drive cultural installations and public art commissions.
• Build partnerships for co-delivery of projects.

Skills

Project management

Public realm project delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Fundraising

Job description

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Role Overview

A strategic placemaking position focused on shaping vibrant, sustainable and people-centred neighbourhoods. The role leads public realm improvements, cultural activations, and nature-based interventions that strengthen local identity, support economic vitality and enhance wellbeing. Working within a small, fast-paced organisation, the postholder collaborates with partners across public, private and community sectors to deliver high-impact projects across streets, open spaces and under-used urban assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of placemaking, public realm and greening projects, from concept and brief development to procurement, contract administration and completion.
• Drive a pipeline of capital and non-capital interventions, including small-scale enhancements, cultural installations and public art commissions.
• Develop evidence-based proposals and investment cases for nature, biodiversity and climate-positive initiatives.
• Maintain and manage a live database of potential public realm and environmental improvements, ensuring prioritisation aligned to organisational strategy.
• Support the effective management and activation of organisation-owned or managed assets, with a focus on long‑term cultural and community use.
• Build productive partnerships with local authorities, landowners, cultural institutions, transport bodies and funders to co‑design and co‑deliver projects.
• Contribute to funding bids, business cases and grant applications to unlock external investment.
• Work closely with communications colleagues to share project outcomes, promote activity and highlight the organisation's placemaking impact.
• Represent the organisation in stakeholder forums and collaborative workstreams.
• Support organisational insight through improved data gathering, monitoring and reporting.
• Line‑manage an operational staff member responsible for on‑the‑ground greening and maintenance.

Candidate Profile

A creative and pragmatic placemaking practitioner with a track record of delivering public realm projects and collaborative urban improvements. Brings strong project management capability, good design judgement, and confidence working with a range of stakeholders. Thrives in a small, innovative organisation where flexibility, partnership working and hands‑on delivery are central.

Key Skills & Experience

• Experience delivering place, public realm or streetscape projects using recognised project management tools and processes.
• Ability to identify opportunities and convert ideas into practical, funded projects.
• Skilled in developing strategies, action plans and research that inform decision making and programme development.
• Proven partnership experience across public and private sectors, with the ability to secure buy‑in, influence delivery and support co‑funding.
• Experience preparing briefs, managing consultants and overseeing capital or environmental works.
• Understanding of policy areas relevant to public realm delivery, including active travel, sustainability, safety, inclusion, arts and culture.
• Familiarity with statutory consents processes such as planning, highways licences or related permissions.
• Experience contributing to business planning and aligning annual priorities with longer‑term strategic objectives.
• Experience managing staff or supporting others' development.

213 The Print Rooms
164 - 180 Union St
SE1 0LH London