Senior Board Officer

Description:

About the role

London’s skills and employment system plays a key role in supporting Londoners to get the skills they need to improve their lives and for London’s economy to thrive.

Our skills system is the highest performing in the country and the Mayor of London has recently reached the important milestone of having supported the participation of over 1 million learners through his adult education programmes, since taking control of London’s Adult Education Budget (AEB) in 2019. Through further devolution of powers, funding and decision making, we want to support even more Londoners to transform their lives.

We are looking for a skilled Senior Board Officer to join our friendly Strategy & Governance Team. The team manages strategy, policy and governance arrangements within the GLA’s Skills and Employment Unit, which runs a range of flagship programmes to deliver high quality adult education in London.

You will play a pivotal role in a small governance team, providing high quality secretariat and clerking support to the Unit’s senior stakeholder advisory boards and support the Skills & Employment Unit’s internal and external governance and decision-making processes, including the unique arrangements in place for the AEB.

This role is politically restricted.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

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Proven track record of success in managing formal Board and/or Committee meetings;

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The ability to interpret and apply governance best practice;

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A broad understanding of key policy and political issues affecting London and its governance structures;

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A successful track record in building strong collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders and politicians;

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A strong attention to detail; and

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The ability to consistently meet demanding deadlines in a pressurised environment.

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

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Up to date CV

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Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role. Please upload a personal statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

Please ensure your CV and Personal statement documents are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - (phone number removed))

Please note, if you do not provide both a CV and a Personal statement, you will not be considered for the role so please ensure the above has been submitted before the deadline.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment. The interview/assessment date is: week commencing 15 July 2024.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be

considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

Job Description

Principal accountabilities

-To provide committee services support to the Skills and Employment Unit to ensure that the meetings and agendas for the Unit’s stakeholder advisory boards, the internal Skills for Londoners Programmes Board, and any other body that the team is tasked to support, are organised and managed to the highest standards; to undertake the full range of related activities including managing work programmes, scheduling of meetings, preparation of reports and agendas, drafting of accurate records of meetings and the provision of support for the Head of Strategy & Relationships as required in accordance with the Directorate’s policies and procedures.

-To provide appropriate and timely governance, procedural and business management advice to the chairs and members of the relevant bodies and senior officers to enable the GLA to meet its legal, statutory and constitutional requirements in respect of its procedures and processes, timescales and business planning.

-To develop and maintain effective working relationships with appointed members as necessary in relation to bodies to which support is provided, officers within the Skills & Employment Unit, senior officers within the GLA and the Authority’s partner organisations, to ensure appropriate and effective management of business and continuous improvement in governance and meeting-related activities. This includes ensuring that all relevant people are properly briefed on key issues in advance of meetings, that early warning of issues is provided in a timely and effective manner and to initiate, co-ordinate and monitor action taken to implement decisions of committees and other bodies.

-To provide support for the Board Secretary – Skills & Employment in managing day-to-day business, servicing meetings as required and undertaking such related duties as allocated.

-Manage resources allocated to the job in accordance with the GLA’s policies and standards.

-Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities, and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.

-Carry out all roles allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards.

-Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Person specification

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

Proven track record of success in managing formal Board and/or Committee meetings;

Evidence of ability to interpret and apply governance best practice;

Broad understanding of key policy and political issues affecting London and the governance structures of London;

A successful track record in working with a range of stakeholders, building and managing relationships; and

Experience of consistently meeting demanding deadlines in a pressurised environment.

Behavioural competencies

Building and Managing Relationships

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Develops new professional relationships

Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement

Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action

Fosters an environment where others feel respected

Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals

Communicating and Influencing

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders

Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication

Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively

Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way

Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Strategic Thinking

…is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Works with a view to the future, prioritising own and others’ work in line with GLA objectives

Briefs and prepares team to accomplish goals and objectives

Communicates the GLA’s strategic priorities in a compelling and convincing manner, encouraging buy-in

Balances own team’s needs with wider organisational needs

Identifies synergies between team priorities and other relevant external agendas

Organisational Awareness

… is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the GLA and shaping our approach accordingly.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Challenges unethical behaviour

Uses understanding of the GLA’s complex partnership arrangements to deliver effectively

Recognises how political changes and sensitivities impact on own and team’s work

Is aware of the changing needs of Londoners, anticipating resulting changes for work agendas

Follows the GLA’s position in the media and understands how it impacts on work

Planning and Organising

thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables

Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones

Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work

Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard

Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

Problem Solving

…is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of view points and finding creative workable and timely solutions.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully

Proposes options for solutions to presented problems

Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving

Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems

Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving