In Bolton we have lots of exciting plans to invest in our borough, transform our services, and improve the life chances of our residents. Critical to the success of these activities are the voices of people who live, work, volunteer, visit, employ and invest in our borough. As part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the role also involves working with colleagues across the sub-region to deliver joined up approaches to consultation and engagement on shared campaigns. This role is about supporting colleagues across the council and partners to engage and consult effectively and systematically with our stakeholders. You need to understand how to:
Ask the right questions to give us meaningful data;
Analyse and draw conclusions from the feedback; and
Present the results simply, objectively and concisely to a range of audiences
to inform our approaches and ensure that they are people-centred.
Also key to this role is acting as the corporate lead on equalities on behalf of the Borough Solicitor and Head of Service, providing advice, guidance and training to colleagues, researching best practice, and producing strategic equality impact assessments on behalf of the organisation.
We’re looking for someone with a passion for ensuring that we are engaging as widely and inclusively as possible, and who wants to support us in making sure that our policies and services take on board the needs of a wide range of people, including those from disadvantaged groups. This is a busy and varied role and the ability to work flexibly and at pace is critical.
We are looking for someone with a formal qualification or a strong background in conducting primary and secondary research, who can undertake consultation, research, and engagement activities with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external. Ideally you’ll have experience of working in a fast-paced environment where you have successfully juggled numerous projects simultaneously and to tight deadlines. You will also need budget management skills and experience of generating income from consultation and engagement activities.
In addition, you’ll need to have good understanding of equalities legislation and best practice, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant and promotes best practice. You’ll be a strong communicator and able to deliver training to colleagues as required. Your ability to take a strategic overview and apply joined up thinking, whilst also being able to drill down into the detail and work accurately and systematically, will be critical.
This role sits within the Policy, Performance and Communication Division in the corporate centre in the Chief Executive’s Directorate and will contribute to work areas across the division; these include partnerships, events, marketing, communications, consultation, policy, transformation and savings, performance, and business planning. We work in a dynamic and fast paced environment where flexibility and collaborative approaches are key, both within the council, and across our local strategic partnership and with Greater Manchester colleagues.