Policy Officer for Healthy Weight and Physical Activity

Southwark Council’s Public Health Division is advertising for a policy officer to lead on tackling obesity, encouraging residents to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and to move more.
This core focus of this role is on the delivery of the Healthy Weight Strategy and action plan, as well as tackling the obesogenic environment and wider determinants of health. Progress is made through partnership working and development of policies and interventions. Commissioning and performance management of healthy weight services tailored to the population is a focus, in addition to supporting internal and external partners to address inequalities in levels of physical activity within the borough.
The role will involve working across the Public Health Division, wider council, ICB, NHS and community partners in the provision and improvement of public health services. A strong commitment to addressing the wider determinants of health and tackling health inequalities is expected.
About Southwark:
We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
About You:
A fundamental role, the post-holder will lead on and input into major policies and programmes. You will gain comprehensive experience of working independently on politically complex projects within an enthusiastic and high functioning public health team.
You will be highly organised and be comfortable working within a fast paced and reactive environment where the focus is on the delivery and management of multiple programmes and projects to high standards within tight timescales.
You must have excellent communication, partnership, analytical and report writing skills. Ideally, you will have several years’ experience working in a local authority public health department, including experience of commissioning services and managing service performance.