Job Title: Policy and Engagement Officer Reporting to: SeniorPolicyandEngagementOfficer Grade: PO2 (NJCScale) Salary :£39,862to£42,839perannum Location: Belfast Main purpose of job The Policy and Engagement Officer will provide support to the Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact and Senior Policy & Engagement Officer to ensure the development and effective implementation of learning from the broad range of NIPSO investigations. This will include both maladministration investigations and local government standards investigations linked to the Code of Conduct for local Councillors. Duties will include conducting research, policy analysis and the development of outcome and impact measurements. It will also involve understanding case decisions and case thresholds and using these to improve standards across both the Councillor community and public bodies. The post holder will participate in networks established with 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 both maladministration and local government ethical standards to improve public services and standards of conduct and promote a culture of learning from complaints. Summary of principal duties and responsibilities: SupporttheDirectorofImprovement,EngagementandImpactinthedevelopmentand implementation of improvement, impact and learning from complaints in Northern Ireland on behalf of the Ombudsman; EstablishNIPSOasanauthoritativevoiceonlearninglessonsfromcomplaints; Work with the Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact and Senior Policy & Engagement Officer to ensure NIPSO uses its complaints investigations as an evidence base to shape NIPSOs contribution to policy, research, standards and broader lessons for change as well as measuring the impact of NIPSOs work; Support the Director of Improvement, Engagement and Impact in the development of outcome and impact indicators for NIPSO across the broad range of work to ensure achievement of outcomes; Assist in the development of appropriate and sound methodological approaches to research, reports and investigations; Assist in the analysis of evidence and identification of trends from NIPSO investigations and decisions to enable NIPSO to contribute to policy development for the improvement of public services and standards; Maintain a review of complaints and Code of Conduct decisions in other jurisdictions and feed them in to NIPSOs analysis of evidence and trends; WorkwiththeDirectorof Improvement,Engagement and Impact andtheSeniorPolicy & Engagement Officer in the collation, analysis and publication of key statistics, case digests, thematic reports, toolkits, guidance and other publications which ensure the lessons of NIPSOs work and its impact for learning and improvement across the public sector and in improving standards of conduct is understood and addressed; Presenttheworkandfindingsoftheengagement,improvementandimpactfunctionto a wide range of audiences; Engage with public bodies, political representatives, support and advocacy groups and appropriatenetworkstoensurethelessonsfromandimpactofNIPSOsworkisproperly and appropriately shared for the purpose of improving public services, standards of conduct and promoting a culture of learning from complaints; Promote NIPSOs engagement strategy to ensure those most disadvantaged and who find it hardest to engage with the complaints process are supported to engage with NIPSO and share their experience; Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, articles and other materials as required by NIPSO to support the complaints standards function; Cooperate with colleagues across NIPSO to ensure the most efficient use of resources to achieve strategic, business and operational objectives; Contribute to the annual business and operational plan on engagement, improvement and impact; and Any other duties commensurate with the main purpose of the role. General Responsibilities & Duties AdheretotheNIPSOvaluesoffairness,impartiality,openness,respectandintegrity; Adhere to and promote the Office policies on Equality of Opportunity and Dignity at Work,demonstratingacommitmenttotheprinciplesofequality,fairnessanddiversity in all aspects of work; Have due regard for your own safety and that of others, behaving appropriately at all times and reporting all accidents no matter how minor; Takeresponsibilityforthedevelopmentofownskillsandknowledgethroughproactive engagement in the internal performance review processes; and Undertake ad-hoc, cross-functional project work supporting the development of the Office and service provision as reasonably requested by your line manager. This job description is subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolves. Therefore, the postholder will be required to be flexible and adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description, but which are commensurate with the role PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL CRITERIA Applicants must, at the closing date for receipt of applications, be able to demonstrate by providing personal and specific examples on their application form that they meet the following essential criteria: Excellent people and relationship management skills and ability to operate in an environment with a complex set of stakeholders (I) Excellent oral and written communication skills and experience of translating complex informationintoeasilyaccessiblereports,consultationresponsesandothermaterials(AF, I) DemonstrableexperienceintheuseofITSoftwareandarangeofMicrosoftOfficetoolsto include Excel (P, I) UnderstandingofthecomplexpolicyenvironmentwithinwhichNIPSOsitsandexperience of contributing to influencing policy (AF, I) Researchskillsandunderstandingofkeyresearchmethodologies(I) Experienceofengagingwithabroad rangeofstakeholderstoinfluence change(AF, P,I) Experienceof engagementwithpoliticians(AF,I) The post involves regular travel throughout Northern Ireland and the transportation and carrying of promotional materials on occasion. Applicants must therefore hold a current full driving licence with access to suitable transport on appointment. Consideration will be 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,byprovidingpersonaland specificexamplesonthe application form that they have: KnowledgeofOutcomesBased Accountability(AF) Experience of influencing political representatives and senior decision makers on a wide range of policy issues (AF, I) Experienceofcontributingtothedevelopmentanduseofoutcomesandimpactindicators (AF, P, I). SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Applicantsmustbeabletodemonstrateevidenceofthefollowingskills,competenciesandattributes which will be tested at interview and through a presentation task: Oral andWrittenCommunication CollaborativeWorking AnalyticalandProblemSolving ContinuousImprovement WORKING FOR US Remuneration ThesalaryforthispostiscurrentlyequivalenttoNJCScalePO2 whichis£39,862to £42,839. Location Therolewillbebased atNIPSO,ProgressiveHouse,33WellingtonPlace,Belfast,BT16HN. Working Arrangements We operate hybrid working arrangements i.e. a mix of working from home and from the officewhich offers employees additional workstyle choices. Candidatesshouldnote that whilstwe do have aflexible approach,theoperational requirements are likely to require office based working a minimum of 2 days per week. Successful applicants also have the opportunity to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. Management will give full consideration to the flexible working request. However,noemployeecanbeguaranteedflexibleworking,andtheneedsoftheorganisationwill take priority. Working Hours Thepostisfull-time(37hoursperweek),subjecttoa probationaryperiodof9months. Pension The successful candidate will be eligible to join the NICS Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Annual Leave Annualleaveentitlementis25daysannualleave,plus12dayspublic holidays. Other benefits We have a generous occupational sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption leave/pay arrangements, as well as a suite of work-life balance policies. Employees also have access to an Employee Assistance Programme. We provide support for ongoing training and provide development opportunities for all staff. In 2022 we implemented a coaching framework to ensure all employees of NIPSO receive regular support and guidance from their line manager. SELECTION PROCESS Applications for the post can be made on GetGotJobs Portal through the follow Policy and Engagement Officer by clicking Apply below. Completed application and monitoring forms are to be completed no later than 12 noon on Monday 10 November 2025. Applicants who meet the shortlisting criteria will be invited to participate in a selection and assessment process. IntheeventofahighvolumeofapplicationsNIPSOreservestherighttoapplyadditionalcriteria in order to achieve a manageable shortlist of applicants. Reasonable Adjustments NIPSO are committed to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for all individuals. Applications from disabled applicants are welcome. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment and selection process, please contact us and we will work with you to find an accessible method for you to submit your application. Guidance notes for completing your application form NIPSO is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all job applicants. The information you supply on this application form will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used solely for assessing your suitability for the post. A candidate found to have knowingly given false information, or to have wilfully suppressed any material fact will be liable to disqualification from the process, or if appointed, to dismissal. All appointments are made on merit and in accordance with our Recruitment and Selection Policy. Any canvassing of officers directly or indirectly in connection with an appointment will automatically disqualify the candidate. Applications will only be accepted on the specific NIPSO application form. Incomplete application forms will not be considered. CVs, letters or any other supplementary material will not be accepted in place of, or in addition to, completed application forms and will not be made available to the shortlisting or interview panel. Pleasealsonote: Applicationswhicharereceivedaftertheclosingdateortimewillnotbeaccepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the completed form, together with the completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, is returned by the closing date for applications. Qualifications You will be asked to provide original qualification certificates (or, where you have mislaid your original certificates, a certified statement of results from the relevant awarding body) and proof of memberships etc. that are relevant to the post applied for before any offer of employment can be made. If you believe that your qualification is equivalent to the one required, you must provide specific evidence to demonstrate its equivalency in comparison to the qualification that was specifically detailed in the person specification. If you possess any professional qualifications, please include the full details and include the date of the award. If you have membership of a professional body, please include the name of the body or organisation, the type of membership you hold (e.g., student, associate, fellow etc.), the date when this grade of membership was obtained and the expiry date (if any). If the membership has lapsed, please state this. Experience It is necessary to state your exact dates and periods of employment as at the application closing date (month/year) because this is calculated to the nearest month for shortlisting purposes. The shortlisting panel will only consider the information asked for in each separate box on the application. You will be required to clearly demonstrate, by giving personal and specific details on your application form, how you meet the experience detailed in the person specification in the relevant box. If you do not supply sufficient information on your application form to clearly demonstrate that you meet the criteria, you will not be shortlisted. Conflicts of Interest Given the breadth of the Ombudsmans jurisdiction (namely her roles in investigating complaints about all public service providers in Northern Ireland and in investigating and adjudicating on alleged breaches of the NI Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors), it is important that any actual or perceived conflicts of interest are declared. On successful appointment, a pre-employment check will be to ask to consider and declare whether or not you have any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Any interests that would impact your ability to carry out the role independently may result in not being able to progress your offer of employment. For further assistance you may wish to consult the Northern Ireland Audit Office good practice guide on conflicts of interest. Selection and Assessment Process Shortlisting will take place during week commencing 10 November 2025. Candidates who demonstrate that theymeetthe essentialcriteria and if required,the desirable criteria, will be invited to attend a competency-based interview. Interviews, including a presentation, are envisaged to take place during week commencing 24 November 2025. Further details of the process will be provided to candidates invited to interview. A reserve list of candidates may be held for a period of twelve months and may be activated on a merit basis if a vacancy arises within that period. Principles of the Appointment NIPSO is committed to providing and promoting equality of opportunity and to the principle of recruiting on the basis of merit only. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their gender, including gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, having or not having dependants, pregnancy and maternity, religious beliefs, political opinion, race, ethnic origin, colour or nationality, sexual orientation, disability, age, Trade Union membership or non- membership or criminal records. All NIPSO offers of employment are conditional and subject to successful pre-employment checks and the successful applicant will be required to: providedocumentationtoconfirmtheiridentityandtheirrighttoworkintheUK provide documentation to verify information already provided on the application form, e.g. qualifications, professional registration, driving licence, etc. provideabasicAccessNICheck,whichthesuccessfulcandidatemust obtainandthecost of which will be reimbursed upon appointment provide satisfactory references, one of which must be from the candidates current or most recent employer provide a declaration on whether or not you have any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.