JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Senior Policy and Engagement Officer Reporting to: DirectorofImprovement,EngagementandImpact Grade: PO5 Salary: £49,282 to £52,413 p.a. Location: Belfast Main purpose of job Reporting to the relevant Director, the post holder will be responsible for managing the work, staff and performance within the Improvement, Engagement & Impact team, including leading on recruitment of new team members as needed. The Policy and Engagement Team works to ensure the development and effective implementation of learning from the broad range of NIPSO investigations. This includes both maladministration investigations and local government standards investigations linked to the Code of Conduct for local Councillors. Duties of the team include conducting research, policy analysis and the development of outcome and impact measurements. It also involves understanding case decisions and case thresholds and using these to improve standards across both the Councillor community and public bodies. In addition to line managing the Policy & Engagement Officers (currently 3 posts), the post holder will support the Director to lead and develop a dynamic programme of wide external engagement. This includes public bodies, elected representatives, advocacy and support groups and other regulators and oversight bodies to understand issues with the delivery of public services, ensure the dissemination of learning from NIPSO investigations, improve service delivery and promote a culture of learning from complaints. The post holder will also lead on the delivery of a critical internal function with responsibility for a range of internal complaints related data collection and analysis including the production of annual statistical reports on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Deprivation Indices and Complainant Feedback. Summary of Principal Duties and Responsibilities Leadership Ensure effective daily line management and professional development of team members including mentorship as required. Participateintherecruitment,traininganddevelopmentofstaffwithintheirresponsibility area to maintain capability and ensure the delivery of NIPSO core objectives. Assist the relevant Directors in establishing an effective culture in teams consistent with NIPSO values. EnsuringtheNIPSOPerformanceManagementandMentoringFrameworkforstaffis undertaken on a timely basis. Proactively contribute to continuous improvement activity, taking the lead in quality or process improvement projects. Operational Performance Provide advice, direction and support to the team, ensure quality results and exceptional levels of customer service and stakeholder engagement while maintaining the independence of NIPSO. Allocate work to team members to ensure equity in the use of resources and best use of skills and experience. Ensureallwrittencorrespondence,reportsandpublicationsmeetNIPSOqualitystandards, providing clear feedback where necessary. Lead the work of the team, demonstrating and ensuring ethical conduct in all aspects of team activity, including but not limited to, stakeholder engagement, data collection, data protection, publication practices, responsible authorship and collaborative research and reporting. Develop and monitor a Team Workplan and ensuring that organisational standards and targets for the team are met and provide support as needed to ensure delivery of team objectives in line with the business plan. Support the Director of Improvement, Engagement & Impact with the planning and strategic direction of NIPSOs engagement, policy, and impact business plans. Governance and risk management Contribute to the annual operational plan to align the teams priorities with the NIPSO business plan. Contribute to the operational risk register for the team and assist the Director with themanagement of risk. Ensure that conflicts of interest in relation to work activity are managed appropriately at an operational level. Contribute to the management of the NIPSOs budget to ensure the effective use of resources and compliance with NIPSO delegated limits and procurement policy. General Responsibilities & Duties AdheretotheNIPSOvaluesoffairness,impartiality,openness,respectandintegrity AdheretoandpromotetheOfficepoliciesonEqualityofOpportunityandDignityatWork, demonstrating a commitment to the principles of equality, fairness and diversity in all aspects of work. Undertakead-hoc,cross-functionalprojectworksupportingthedevelopmentoftheOffice and service provision as reasonably requested by your line manager. To undertake any other reasonable duties within the postholders capacity. This job description is subject to review and amendment as the demandsof the role and the organisation evolves. Therefore, the postholder will be required to be flexible and adaptableandawarethattheymaybeaskedtoperformtasks,dutiesandresponsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description, but which are commensurate with the role. PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL CRITERIA Applicants must, as attheclosing date forreceipt of applications, beableto demonstrate by providing personal and specific examples on their application form that they have: Significant experience of working in a policy / engagement field to include a minimum of two years experience of team management in a policy / engagement field, with demonstrable ability to motivate a team and manage performance. Excellentpeopleandrelationshipmanagementskillsincludingexperienceofengagingwith a broad range of stakeholders (to include politicians) to influence change (AF, P, I). Excellent IT, oral andwritten communication skills with experience of translatingcomplex information into easily accessible reports, including a high level of proficiency using excel. (AF, I); Excellentorganisationalandplanningskills withtheabilitytoworkunderpressuretotight deadlines,managecompetingprioritiesandoperateinanenvironmentwithacomplexset of stakeholders. (AF, I) Experienceofmanagingbudgetsandundertakingprocurementexercises(AF) The post involves regular travel throughout Northern Ireland and the transportation and carrying of promotional materials on occasion. Applicants must therefore hold a current fulldrivinglicencewithaccesstosuitabletransportonappointment.Considerationwillbe given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants who have a disability and cannot hold a driving licence. (AF) DESIRABLE CRITERIA In addition to the above essential criteria, NIPSO reserves the right to only shortlist those candidateswhocanalsodemonstrate,byprovidingpersonalandspecificexamplesonthe application form that they have: Educatedtodegreelevel(orequivalent)(AF); Experienceof highprofile eventmanagementfordiverseaudiences(AF,I) Experience of contributing to organisational strategic planning in a managerial or leadership capacity (AF, I) SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Applicantsmustbeabletodemonstrateevidenceofthefollowingskills,competenciesandattributes which will be tested at interview and through a presentation task: OralandWritten Communication CollaborativeWorking AnalyticalandProblemSolving Continuous Improvement