One year fixed term contract or secondment opportunity
Location: Home-based (expected to be based in the South West, or in close proximity, and able to travel to all parts of the region as required)
About the region and the role:
Supporting 33 local authorities and 5 fire and rescue authorities in the South West, a diverse and dynamic region including cities, rural and coastal communities stretching from Gloucestershire in the north to Cornwall in the far south and Swindon and Dorset in the east.
We are seeking an enthusiastic Adviser to be part of the Local Government Support (LGS) Team. This is an opportunity to support, promote and improve local government in the South West and provide direct support to the LGA’s peer challenge programme.
Reporting to the Programme Manager (South West) you will develop, commission and deliver improvement support to councils. Working closely with the Principal Adviser and Programme Managers you will also provide research and analysis, co-ordinate promotional activity, and carry out stakeholder engagement to support the national peer challenge programme.
This is great opportunity for someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about local government and wants to be personally involved in supporting improvement in councils, as well as helping to maintain and develop a high profile national programme that is a critical part of the LGA’s Sector-Led Improvement offer.
You will help design and deliver projects as part of that support offer, and develop and maintain relationships, partnerships and networks. You will help maintain promotional materials, and be responsible for collating and analysing a range of data including the demand for peer challenges and client feedback, and producing high quality briefings and reports that will inform the future development of the programme.
We need someone with an enquiring mind, who loves to research and find out about current practice and innovation in the sector and is able to produce clear and concise reports and briefings.
You will need to have a good understanding of local government and the challenges it faces. Experience of successful project management is essential, as are great communication and organisational skills and the ability to pull together briefings from a range of data sources and draw out the key issues. You will also need to have good analytical skills and be comfortable working on range of different projects concurrently. Also required is experience of organising and facilitating workshops or events. Practical experience of local government improvement activity would be advantageous. You will need to be politically savvy and be able to work with political sensitivity and discretion, gaining the confidence of senior officers and members.
To find out more about this role please contact:
- Emily McGuinness, Programme Manager (South West) 07770492776
- Paul Clarke, Programme Manager (South West) and lead for peer challenge 07899 965730
- Andy Bates, Principal Adviser (South West) on 07919 562849
Please note the job description is generic, with specific details regarding the role outlined above.
Closing date: 5pm, Friday 8 November 2019
Interview date: Thursday 21 November 2019 (interviews to be held in Taunton, Somerset)
As a Disability Confident Leader the LGA values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community