Licensing & Digital Media Officer

Fixed Term / Secondment Opportunity – 12 Months

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

Are you ready to be at the beating heart of one of London’s most vibrant and diverse local economies? As our Licensing & Digital Media Officer you won’t just manage administrative processes—you will actively shape, support, and celebrate the incredible traders and market sites that define our borough’s unique character. Operating within the Markets, Shop Fronts & Street Trading Service under the Climate, Homes & Economy directorate, this dynamic dual role bridges essential regulatory leadership with creative digital storytelling in a full-time position based at Ridley Road Office and market sites across Hackney.

On the Licensing & Business Support side (comprising roughly 60% of the role), you will act as the trusted foundation ensuring our market operations run seamlessly. Your core duties include delivering statutory licensing and registration functions under the London Local Authorities Act, issuing and renewing street trading licences within agreed service timescales, and maintaining auditable digital database records. You will guide prospective and existing local entrepreneurs through the licensing journey, reconcile licence payments, recover arrears alongside finance colleagues, and prepare documentation for the Officer Licensing Panel while supporting compliance and enforcement teams. Additionally, you will compile management statistics on occupancy and income, provide core administrative support across the service, and work flexibly on-site during trading hours, including required weekends and public holidays.

On the Digital Media & Communications side (making up approximately 40% of your responsibilities), you will unleash your creative flair to amplify the voices and stories of Hackney’s bustling market communities. Working in collaboration with the Strategy, Policy & Digital Development Manager, you will plan, film, edit, and publish engaging content across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to drive data-informed campaigns that boost footfall and trader applications. You will manage daily digital community interactions, highlight independent business vendors, mentor local traders to build their online marketing confidence, produce monthly performance analytics, and deliver priority campaigns around climate action and local economic recovery—all while ensuring strict adherence to accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and Hackney’s corporate brand guidelines.
Key Responsibilities

To succeed, candidates should possess administrative or licensing experience in complex public-facing settings with high accuracy in handling records and financial reconciliations, along with proven skills in digital media creation (using tools like Canva and Meta Business Suite) and strong communication skills to engage diverse local traders. You must demonstrate excellent organisational skills to balance compliance tasks with creative marketing, proficiency in Google Workspace and database tools, a commitment to equality and inclusion, and the flexibility to work weekend shifts on-site.

If you are ready to help independent businesses succeed, apply online at www.hackney.gov.uk/jobs-careers or contact hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk for support.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 12 November 2026 (22.59)

Interview date: TBC

Please note – we reserve the right to close applications early if we receive a high number of applications.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti-racist behavior.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk