Job description
Our client Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council are currently looking for a Good Relations Officer to join their team based in Coleraine and Limavady Office.
This role is part time hours - per week
Main Purpose of Post
To provide wide ranging support to ensure achievement of the aims and objectives contained within the Good Relations strategy and action plan.
To carry out the day to day co-ordination and delivery of identified priority areas and associated programmes within the Good Relations Strategy ensuring that all actions are fully implemented, results monitored and evaluated, maintaining effective, efficient service delivery.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Under the direction of the Good Relations Manager, implement the Good Relations Strategy and Action Plan for the Borough. This strategy should make provision for cross-community issues, cultural diversity issues, and include actions/activities addressing all Section 75 groups.
2. Assist and input into appropriate research and consultation with relevant individuals, bodies and organisations with a view to assisting in the preparation of the Good Relations Strategy and Action Plan for the Borough in accordance with current guidelines provided by The Executive Office and with the approval of Council.
3. Provide a Good Relations perspective to other Council Departments and to promote the mainstreaming of Good Relations throughout the Council's functions and in its strategic planning process.
4. To seek, where necessary, avenues of internal and external funding to implement projects.
5. To directly engage with key stakeholders, including representatives and groups, to develop and undertake projects which will improve good relations and to organise activities which seek to broaden awareness of cultural diversity through innovative approaches.
6. Establish and maintain appropriate links between Council and other Community and statutory stakeholders to establish effective relationships and working structures, in order to identity and prioritise Good Relations issues and opportunities for collaboration.
7. To identify, design, deliver or arrange training opportunities for local community representatives, groups, elected members, staff and other interested parties to enable them to examine values, attitudes and beliefs within a good relations context.
8. To either facilitate directly or provide third-party training, support and advice on reconciliation, good relations, and community relations.
9. To develop and promote new and innovative experimental approaches to Good Relations work/programmes.
10. To implement Council's Good Relations grant aid programme, provide advice to groups on the funding process and assist in the assessment of applications from groups wishing to deliver good relations projects within the Borough.
11. To report to the Good Relations Manager and any relevant Council group and to prepare reports as necessary.
12. Support the Good Relations Manager to develop and manage the Council's Good Relations Programme budget, preparing estimates, monitoring expenditure and preparing financial draw down claims for submission to Funding Bodies.
13. Administer programmes and put in place systems to record information for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
14. Supervise and co-ordinate the work of staff and volunteers at events where appropriate.
15. Make suggestions, organise and market events, conferences, dialogues and exhibitions which seek to broaden awareness of cultural diversity within the Borough, focussing on religious, political and racial differences.
16. Contribute to corporate management through participation in meetings with Councillors, Council Officers and other working/consultative groups or specific project teams as necessary to promote good relations policy and activity throughout Council.
17. Network and meet with other Good Relations Officers to provide and discuss issues of mutual and regional interest to identify possible regional projects and initiatives.
Essential Criteria
Applicants must, at the closing date for receipt of applications, possess:
18. A degree level qualification.
And:
19. Demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, a minimum of two years' experience in at least two of the following:
20. implementing Good Relations;
21. engaging with Communities in Good Relations initiatives;
22. regional or local development initiatives
And:
23. Demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, a minimum of two years' experience in each of the following:
24. (a)assisting in strategy development and implementation; and
25. (b)project management
Alternatively, consideration will be given to candidates who do not possess the required educational qualification but who can demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, that they have at least four years' experience in the areas outlined at 2 and 3 (a) - (b) above.
Plus
Experience in the use of Microsoft Office applications to include: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
26. An understanding of the legislative framework governing the work of the department, specifically Section 75 (2) of the NI Act.
27. An understanding of issues impacting on service delivery.
An understanding of the workings of local government and the wider environment in which it operates.