Communities & Skills
Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills and Employment and Health, Children and Young Londoners.
About the team and the role
Role 1 will be focused on the internal Improving Engagement Practice (IEP) programme, namely the ability of London’s diverse communities to feed insight into GLA policies and programmes and working closely with internal stakeholders to improve the quality and reach of community engagement across the GLA. Role 2 will work across IEP and community engagement to improve Black maternal health. Both roles will also deliver direct engagement with various ethnic and faith communities, through the Foundation of Engagement programme.
What your day will look like
1. Support on designing and delivering innovative programmes of engagement with London’s communities on behalf of the GLA.
2. To develop and share expertise in Improving Engagement Practice that position the GLA as a leader and innovator in community engagement.
3. To work closely with GLA colleagues and influence their community engagement plans so the GLA’s overall best practice increases.
4. Strategic co-ordination of the GLA’s engagement with London communities and their representative organisations as part of the Mayor’s programmes, especially in policy priority areas.
5. Develop a programme of engagement to effectively, coherently and consistently communicate the Mayor’s agenda to London communities and identify partnership opportunities on issues that matter to London’s communities.
6. Provide advice, briefings and reports to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, on issues pertaining to community engagement in relation to specific areas of Mayoral policy.
7. To use creative and innovative methods of engaging London’s communities, including new technology and community development approaches, and the related tools that will support GLA teams to do effective engagement.
8. Identify opportunities to work with London’s communities on issues that matter to them, and to feed insight from this into relevant GLA policy teams, and a GLA Community Insights Hub.
9. Lead engagement with particular underserved communities, part of the Foundation of Engagement programme.
10. Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities to reduce inequalities.
11. Manage resources allocated in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards.
Skills, knowledge and experience
To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:
· Experience of designing and delivering effective community engagement projects in a complex political environment
· Demonstrable experience of using new methods and technologies to improve community engagement, particularly with underserved groups
· Experience of work on a strategic, London-wide level in developing relationships with a range of London communities and organisations
· Evidence of continuous learning and improvement in gathering, using and communicating community insight to effect change in policy and practice
How to apply
If you would like to apply for the role, you’ll need to submit:
· an online application
· a Word statement (1,500 words) outlining how you meet the essential criteria as well as the competencies outlined in the advert.
If you have questions about the role
If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager would be happy to speak to you. Please contact the Head of Community Engagement at elisabeth.pop@london.gov.uk
Assessment process
Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.
If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview, that will include an assessment.
YES, shortlisted candidates will need to give an up-to-5-minutes oral presentation on:
· Your understanding of the GLA’s role on community engagement
· Your understanding of good practice on community engagement
The interview and assessment date is: TBC
Equality, diversity and inclusion
London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements.
Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.
Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview.
Additional information
Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.
Secondments longer than 6 months
If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria before applying. You must:
- be on a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
- have successfully completed your probation period and be performing to the required standard for your current role; and
- have completed at least 18 months’ service with the GLA
If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.
If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment. For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.
IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract that is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.
If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application.