We currently have an exciting vacancy within our Policy team, this is your opportunity to shape local government policy, lobby national government and impact Trafford residents’ lives. The Council’s Policy Function sits within the Business Intelligence Unit, which is part of the Strategy and Resources Directorate. The Policy Function is a responsive, high performing service that develops policy, is aware of forthcoming policy changes, analyses policy legislation and undertakes external horizon scanning to help Council leaders make policy driven decision, as well as evaluate and measure the success of the policies over time.
Your Main Priorities
- Support the Senior Policy Manager to provide strategic and policy development, advice and guidance to enable more effective working practices for the delivery of Council priorities, corporate plan and strategies.
- Use initiative to take ownership and drive change to implement policy that delivers measurable and improved outcomes for residents.
- Support with policy research and analyse of policy legislation to ensure proactivity and robust measures are in place to enable effective organisational decision making.
- Work in partnership with council services to ensure key activity and legislation from Central Government, and at both a GM level and locally are interpreted and communicated in the most appropriate format to all relevant areas of the Council and partners (e.g. Integrated Settlement, Cost of Living).
Key duties
- Support the development of the Corporate Plan and the effective embedding of the strategic priorities across the Council services and wider.
- Influence a corporate approach to policy and strategy by building networks to continue to establish the policy function in the Council.
About the Role
- Develop and maintain effective, positive, and proactive relationships with a range of stakeholders (Council, GMCA, strategic partners, external organisations such as LGA) to input into effective business processes, policies and strategies.
- Provide evaluation of policy and strategy advising on issues such as the benefits, risks and potential implications and communicate changes to the wider community.
- Keep up to date with social, political and economic developments and lead on an evidence-based approach to policy and strategy development through research, benchmarking and gathering and analysing data, giving consideration to local and national standards.
- Work with the Business Intelligence Unit (Intelligence & Insights, Modernisation) to provide the necessary insights and trends, to develop policies and deliver corporate priorities.
- Design, organise, and facilitate workshops and provide advice for members and officers to assist in policy development and produce reports on the outcomes and findings.
- Proactively horizon scan to identify opportunities for Trafford, including external funding opportunities and relevant external policy developments
- Produce and present high quality briefing papers, reports, consultations and presentations for numerous groups within the Council and external partners.
- Carry out all duties with due regard to confidentiality and data protection regulations.
- Undertake such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the level of this post.
About you
Qualifications and Professional Development
- Degree or equivalent/ experience in a related subject
- Personal commitment to continuous self-development
Experience and Knowledge
- Demonstrable practical experience of supporting policy development within a working environment
- Understanding and knowledge of research, engagement techniques, processes, and procedures
- Experience of providing policy reports based on customer requirements
About You
- Experience of working with, and building effective working relationships with, a wide range of stakeholders, internally and externally;
- Excellent knowledge of research, analysis and survey techniques;
- Experience of supporting the organisation and facilitation of workshops and of administering meetings and minute taking;
- Understanding of local government and the political context;
- Knowledge of a range of IT applications used for data analysis and statistics and the ability to present findings, being mindful to a wide range of audiences.
You will have flexibility in terms of hybrid working at home and in the office.
Skills and abilities
- Excellent communication, engagement and relationship building skills.
- Proactively keep up to date with current legislation, being aware of any changes and their subsequent impact and to assist the Senior Policy Manager to ensure delivery of these;
- Ability to effectively interpret, analyse and summarise key policy and changes at short notice and/or to set deadlines;
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to collate, analyse and interpret complex information effectively including financial information;
- Commitment to a high level of accuracy and attention to detail;
- Committed to providing excellent customer service;
- Ability to multi-task, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines.
One year contract.