INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Social Cohesion Programme Manager

Salary: PO4 *GBP*44,711 - *GBP*47,754

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

About the role

Leeds is a city known for its warmth and inclusivity, celebrating the diversity of its communities. From the early migration that helped build our city to offering sanctuary to those escaping conflict, Leeds has a proud tradition of welcoming people from all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs.

As a Social Cohesion Programme Manager you lead on the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the council strategic social cohesion strategy 2025 2028.Lead and support the planning, development, and delivery of social cohesion projects. Promote positive dialogue and interactions between different groups, faiths, cultures and ages, and encouraging the development of strong community leadership.

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 Social Cohesion Programme Manager, you will bring to the role:

• Ability to facilitate workshops, plan, chair and contribute to a range of meetings.
• Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust, and confidence.
• Ability to work effectively with other teams, services, and directorates to deliver cross-cutting projects.
• Ability to motivate, inspire and develop staff where required on the social cohesion agenda across the council.
• Experience of leading or contributing to multiple projects and pieces of work, maintaining a focus on delivery and quality and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.

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 please contact Geoff Turnbull ongeoffrey.turnbull@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 *GBP*38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To contribute to the development of policy around the council social cohesion agenda.

To provide advice, guidance and support to council services on the social cohesion agenda including ensuring legal compliance.

To assist Elected Members deliver support to the social cohesion agendas.

To support the council external facing engagement around social cohesion including through the council Equality Assembly and Hubs and hate crime boards and working groups.

To build and maintain successful relationships with a range of partners on the social cohesion agenda.

To support the council performance reporting and governance processes against social cohesion.

To develop and support the council communication of the social cohesion agenda both internally and externally.

To support the delivery of a range of celebratory and awareness raising activities throughout the year on the social cohesion agenda.

To enable Safer Stronger Communities to deliver major service improvements with our partners and other Council services.

To ensure that project objectives are delivered on time, within budget and to expected levels of quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the development, delivery and continuous improvement of the council strategic social cohesion strategy 2025 2028.

• Lead and support the planning, development, and delivery of social cohesion projects, ensuring they align with the council strategic goals.

• Development of an action plan that leads to the mitigation of risks identified through the corporate cohesion risk register.

• Engage with local community members, including under-represented groups, to encourage participation in community activities and build trust.

• Develop and promote positive dialogue and interactions between different groups, faiths, cultures and ages, and encouraging the development of strong community leadership.

• Work closely with local authorities, the police, schools, the third sector, and other stakeholders to create collaborative networks and develop initiatives that promote social cohesion.

• Support mediation and conflict resolution efforts between different community groups and local institutions, helping to foster understanding and reduce tensions.

• Organise and manage community events, workshops, and forums aimed at fostering dialogue and cultural exchange.

• Track project outcomes, compile reports, and evaluate the impact of initiatives, ensuring the continual improvement of project delivery.

• Deliver workshops and training sessions to educate partners and communities on diversity, inclusion, and the importance of social cohesion.

• Act as a point of contact for social cohesion issues, maintaining clear, open channels of communication with partners and the public.

• Maintain accurate records, manage project budgets, and ensure compliance with organisational policies and relevant legislation.

• Provide advice, guidance and support to the councils Elected Member Community Safety Champions.

• Support delivery for specific areas such as Council of Sanctuary, Intercultural Cities (ICC), and Strong Cities Network and respond to key challenges in the city as they arise.

• Identify and respond to community tensions through a coordinated multi-agency response and preventative work.

• Lead the work of the ICC Steering Group and its work programme and priorities.

• Represent the council on outside bodies and at events including partnerships with faith leaders, local government peers, other public sector bodies, national government and third sector partners.

• 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 and promoting the values, standards and equality policy of Leeds City Council.

• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

• To keep abreast of policy developments and changes to government guidance and be able to adapt to emerging changes to the delivery of service.

• To undertake and contribute to organisational and service process reviews.

• To contribute to the delivery of change through analysing current practice and recommending improvements.

• To manage competing priorities, ensuring consistency of approach with a key focus on delivery and quality.

• To prepare briefings, reports, policy documents, publicity and other materials, and to deliver these in ways that meet the needs of different audiences.

• To lead, contribute to and support meetings, including daily stand-up meetings, strategic boards, working groups, as required, including agenda planning and preparation, attendance at meetings and minuting where appropriate/required.

• To undertake line management of project and administrative officers as and when required.

• To work in partnership, and build good working relationships, with other council services and external bodies as required.

• To keep abreast of developments, internal and external, which have implications for Safer Stronger Communities, and the Council as a whole.

• To carry out all assignments with minimum direct supervision and in accordance with specified work programmes, project briefs, and timetables.

• To maintain a high level of confidentiality.

• To carry out duties in accordance with the Council Values.

All other duties considered commensurate with the post.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Ability to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

• Ability to work to specified work programmes and timetables.

• Ability to make swift decisions and judgements.

• Ability to work on own initiative.

• Ability to respond to emerging system requirements and changes

• Ability to facilitate workshops, plan, chair and contribute to a range of meetings.

• Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust, and confidence.

• Ability to work effectively with other teams, services, and directorates to deliver cross-cutting projects.

• Ability to motivate, inspire and develop staff where required on the social cohesion agenda across the council.

• Good understanding of the transformation agendas for Safer Stronger Communities.

• Understanding of the demographics of the city of Leeds.

• Understanding of public sector and local government issues.

• Understanding of Hate Crime including legislation and policy.

• Understanding of EDI including legislation and policy.

• Understanding of data and analysis to help solve problems and develop processes.

• Understanding of service delivery issues across Leeds City Council services.

• Experience of working on the cohesion, equality and/or hate crime agendas.

• Experience of leading, managing and contributing to a variety of projects relating to transformation and service improvement, and delivering them on time, within budget and to agreed quality standards and reporting through appropriate governance structures.

• Experience of database systems, analysis and reporting.

• Experience of identifying and managing risks associated with projects or programmes.

• Experience of leading or contributing to multiple projects and pieces of work, maintaining a focus on delivery and quality and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.

• Experience of writing reports and delivering presentations to a very high standard. And communicating clearly with diverse audiences.

• Experience of line management or of leading staff assigned to project teams.

• Experience of delivering change through analysing current practice and recommending improvements.

• Experience of working on projects that have delivered customer focused outcomes.

• Experience of dealing with matters which are highly sensitive and confidential.

• Experience of taking forward initiatives from development to implementation.

• Experience of managing competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.

• Experience of contributing to partnership working involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

• Experience of working on complicated and challenging agendas where a range of stakeholders may have competing priorities and negotiating the best way forward.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics

• The post requires a high degree of political and equality sensitivity
• 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 equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies 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.

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