Job summary
The Local Government Engagement Division has a reputation for excellent stakeholder management and problem solving across Whitehall. Our twin priorities are making sure that local councils are involved in the cross-government policy development cycle, and that critical information flows freely between Whitehall and the local government sector.
Job description
This role needs an individual experienced in outreach and stakeholder management, communications and emergency response management with a detailed understanding of local government.
They will be responsible for two teams within the Local Government Engagement division � a communications and products focussed team and a team of relationship managers spread across the country, comprising of around 25 people.
Key Accountabilities
1. Ownership of strategic engagement with council Chief Executives, including DG chaired discussion with regional lead chiefs
2. Advising and managing the delivery of ministerial and senior official engagement plans with local�government, including establishing and running a new leaders council, and oversight of briefing, speeches and�webinar activity�
3. Influencing policy teams across government to ensure better join up on policies impacting local government and local delivery is factored into mission delivery and wider policy making at an earlier stage.
4. Senior Responsible Officer for departmental plans to support councils targeted by cyber-attacks, and ownership of departmental playbook into responding to a Covid 19 variants of concern.
5. Working with departmental and Whitehall contacts to ensure councils�are able to respond to major incidents including public health emergencies, humanitarian crises, the death of a monarch and other emergencies such as the recent violent disorder.
6. Overseeing engagement plans with local government for the delivery of significant national events (for example the Coronation of King Charles III).
7. Managing and overseeing relationships with senior officials in local government sector body organisations.
8. Overseeing key communication channels for the department, including quality controlling a sector wide bulletin delivered daily to 8k subscribers, advising on official�correspondence and supporting other departments to communicate effectively with the sector.
Person specification
You will think strategically, and you will be able to articulate persuasively the team�s objectives and purpose, including to Ministers.
You will be an inspiring, confident and empowering leader, and a team player with a wide range of colleagues.
You may have worked in senior government policy roles, be a leader in the Local Government sector or have a strategy background with a keen interest in the issues we work on.
We particularly encourage applications from those of an ethnic minority background and those with disabilities, as well as those based in locations outside of London, who are underrepresented at this level in MHCLG.
As one of the Department�s senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service leadership behaviours. These can be found in the Civil Service Leadership Statement which is available at: ��
Essential Criteria
9. Successful leadership and management of strongly performing teams with high levels of employee engagement, and of building rapport and providing effective �soft� leadership to peers and seniors
10. Experience of decision making in a complex environment, with strong professional judgement including in crisis response situations
11. A proven ability to communicate complex messages clearly, succinctly and with impact � presenting effectively to a range of stakeholders
12. A track record of driving successful delivery at pace through a team and managing risks effectively
13. A good understanding of the wider political and policy context around local government and how it may impact the work of the team
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �75,000, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes �21,727 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. � Learning and development tailored to your role
� An environment with flexible working options
� A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
� A Civil Service pension