Fixed Term 12 months
With a new administration this is a time of change at Ealing. The council is committed to being an ‘open, transparent and inclusive organisation’. To achieve that vision we need to improve our engagement with local communities to hear differing perspectives and build confidence in the council and in the way change is managed in the borough.
The council is currently reviewing its organisation wide approach to engagement. An independent commission on racial equality in the borough has been held over the last twelve months and its recommendations place a key emphasis on improving trust and engagement between the council (and other partners) and local communities.
Ealing is one of London’s most diverse communities. Sadly, like many London boroughs the lives and opportunities of our residents are not equal across characteristics like race, gender or disability. COVID has shone a spotlight on those exiting inequalities and building deep engagement and trust will be critical to the post COVID recovery of the borough.
With a new permanent chief executive joining us in summer 2022 structures may change but our commitment to increasing engagement will not. We want to learn by doing and this role will provide senior leadership capacity to take forward the response to both reviews and drive culture and system change in the way the organisation understands and delivers engagement and acts to narrow inequalities.
This is not primarily a delivery role, although we will want a can-do attitude, it is about bringing commitment, passion and expertise to catalyse change across the organisation.
You might be working in local government already, in the third sector or in a think tank environment. What matters most is your passion and expertise to help ensure that the council is more effective at listening to, and acts, on the feedback of local people. In particular you will have the commitment and credibility to champion engagement with communities the council has traditionally found it harder to hear from including some ethnic minority groups, the disabled and younger residents.
The council is committed to increasing the diversity of its senior leadership team and we would welcome applications to this role from diverse candidates. We are also open to considering a part time role (at least 3 days/week) if it means we can attract the best person for the role.
The council is currently working primarily remotely however, given the focus of the role we would anticipate a regular presence in Ealing will be required when this is possible. We are ideally looking for someone who can join us as early in the financial year as possible.
This role is deemed customer facing and as such you must have a command of spoken English which is sufficient to enable you to effectively perform the role. This requirement relates to Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016.
This role is subject to Ealing Council’s enhanced vetting process.
For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Kieran Read readk@ealing.gov.uk 020 8825 6395
Our council plan 2021-22
Independent Race Equality Commission report
Salary: £76,398 – £80,562 pa inclusive.
To apply: Interested candidates should send a CV and statement (no more than 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role to Kieran Read Director of Strategy & Engagement by close on Monday 7 March.