INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.
Job title: Policy Development Officer
Salary: PO2 £38,626 - £41,511
Hours: 37
Contract: Full time temporary 12 months
Location: Merrion House
As a Policy Development Officer in the Financial Inclusion Team you’ll be at the forefront of supporting the development of innovative partnership-based projects and initiatives to address financial exclusion and tackle poverty in Leeds. This role is temporary for 12 months.
You will support the team in taking forward a range of specific work areas and projects related to addressing financial inclusion and poverty.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As a Policy Development Officer you will bring to the role:
- Experience of coordinating and taking forward projects and initiatives from development to implementation in a service area relevant to the post.
- The ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
- Experience in working in partnership with a diverse range of partners.
- Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly to produce and present verbal and written reports.
- Experience of navigating the Councils Governance and Decision making processes.
- Significant understanding of Financial Inclusion, Poverty and Inequality and Welfare Benefits policy
About the role
As our next Policy Development Officer you’ll be part of a dynamic team which focuses on developing work to address financial inclusion and poverty and inequality through an evidence based and collaborative partnership approach. Our work requires the ability to work across council services, external organisations and elected members to achieve positive outcomes for the people of Leeds.
The role is integral to the Financial Inclusion team. The City’s approach to Financial Inclusion is long established. This depth of knowledge and experience means that in times of economic hardship and reducing public sector budgets, the Council remains well placed to continue to deliver projects and initiatives that make an active difference to the lives and prospects of Leeds residents. Work areas are wide ranging and include managing government funding programmes, working with council services, partner organisations including advice agencies, Leeds Credit Union, and food aid providers to support the local welfare offer across the city, and managing the Leeds Money Information Centre website and social media accounts. The work of the team is varied and challenging.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Amy Kingsbury, Senior Policy Development Officer, 0113 5350721, amy.kingsbury@leeds.gov.uk
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
The purpose of the Policy Development Officer role is to co-ordinate and assist with a range of policies, strategies, projects and initiatives designed to tackle poverty and inequality and address financial inclusion in Leeds. The work of the team covers poverty, financial inclusion, food insecurity and addressing gambling harms.
This role will involve working across council services and partner organisations, including liaison with government departments and other local authorities. In addition, supporting with building a strong evidence base for the work undertaken.
The post holder will be part of the Financial Inclusion Team, reporting to the Senior Policy Development Officer.
Responsibilities
- To support the co-ordination of Financial Inclusion Projects for Leeds City Council through working across council service and in partnership with organisations across the city.
- To co-ordinate and manage the Financial Inclusion Projects to meet the objectives of the Best City Ambition and comply with guidance set out by national government.
- To prepare and present verbal and written reports as required.
- Provide progress updates to the senior management teams within the service.
- To communicate how the work is being delivered across a range of audiences, including council services, external organisations, government departments and the general public.
- Represent the City Council at meetings and events.
- To establish monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks. Assuring the good quality, accuracy and timeliness of statutory monitoring returns.
- Monitoring budgets and making appropriate recommendations.
- Managing social media and website content on the city’s work on financial inclusion.
- To develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external partners and other stakeholders to achieve corporate objectives.
- To provide advice relating to the work of the service to elected members and council officers to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
- Deal with all types of enquiries from stakeholders, assisting with correspondence, appeals, compensation requests and complaints.
- To support the coordination and management of the delivery of projects to support financial inclusion, and development of financial inclusion policy.
- In liaison with other agencies, contribute to the assessment and evaluation of financial inclusion initiatives working with partners across the Council and externally.
- To support the development of policies and strategies designed to tackle poverty and inequality and address financial inclusion.
- Produce research and analysis of issues, drawing on relevant qualitative and quantitative information, and present in engaging formats which are easily understood by a wide range of audiences.
- Contribute to making the economic case for initiatives that support economic, social and financial inclusion and poverty alleviation initiatives.
- Maintaining effective communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council good practice and in ways which support open, responsive and accountable government.
Qualifications
Degree or equivalent qualification or significant experience in a field of financial, social or economic inclusion and financial support schemes.
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
Skills Required
- Ability to make an effective contribution to internal and external meetings to arrive at a positive outcome.
- Ability to identify conflict amongst stakeholders.
- Ability to analyse research and information and understand its relevance to the work disciplines of the team.
- Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
- Ability to understand competing priorities when delivering on a range of projects.
- Ability to work within, as well as support, a team.
- Ability to demonstrate competence in the use of IT and use of social media to promote the Council’s work.
- Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly to produce and present verbal and written reports.
Knowledge Required
- Good understanding of local government working and of public sector values.
- Good understanding of service delivery issues within the context of the public sector.
- Good understanding of theory and practice of the following areas:
- Financial Inclusion
- Poverty & Inequality
- Welfare benefits and welfare benefit reform
Experience is required in;
- Coordinating projects and initiatives in a service or operational area relevant to the post.
- Achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
- Undertaking research and analysing relevant literature.
- Taking forward initiatives and policies from development to implementation.
- Working effectively with others to deliver projects across disciplines.
- Working in partnership with a diverse range of partners on relevant projects.
- Attending and presenting at meetings.
- Budget monitoring and raising orders.
- The Council Governance and Decision-making processes.
- Relevant experience in at least two of the following fields:
- Financial Inclusion
- Economic policy
- Welfare and benefits policy
- Poverty and social inclusion policy
- Project management of financial, social or economic inclusion related projects or regeneration projects.
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
