Graduate Policy Officer Birmingham 2024

Do you have a passion for policy development and a desire to contribute to the growth and evolution of the West Midlands? If so, we have the perfect role for you.

The West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking a Graduate Policy Officer to join our Insights Team within the Education, Health, Skills, and Communities Directorate.

As a Graduate Policy Officer, you will be instrumental in supporting evidence-led policy and programme development, helping shape the future of our region. This two-year role will offer you extensive professional development and exposure to a wide range of projects and policy-focused work in a local government setting.

About the Insights Team

The Insights Team plays a crucial role in supporting policy development and evidence-based decision-making across various areas, including adult skills, economic development, employer services, and health.

We are looking for an individual who embraces a participative, curious, and creative approach to solving complex issues, and is who eager to contribute their ideas and expertise to our team.

About the role

In this two-year role, you'll receive training and exposure to a wide range of project-based and policy-focused work. As a Graduate Policy Officer, you will play a pivotal role in contributing to the development of economic and social policies that impact the region. Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting research and analysis to inform policy and programme development.
• Identifying and summarising research and policy developments for use in policy briefings, reports, and other communications.
• Producing weekly directorate insights briefings on key external developments, such as Central Government announcements, Think Tank pieces, research, and upcoming events.
• Delivering briefings and presentations internally to the Insights Team and key stakeholders.
• Providing administrative support for policy projects, including coordinating meetings, taking notes, and supporting stakeholder events.

About you

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a desire to learn and grow in either data analysis or policy development roles. Graduate calibre, or with equivalent experience, you will be able to communicate effectively with various audiences and produce engaging reports and presentations.

Your excellent organisational skills enable you to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines effectively. To be successful in this role, you should meet the following criteria:

• Hold a degree or other level 6 qualification in a relevant subject (for example; social science, political science, mathematics, economics, finance, or statistics, or another which involves the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data), or you have equivalent experience in data analysis or policy development.
• Exhibit excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage varied workloads and meet deadlines effectively.
• Showcase analytical abilities, with the skill to derive essential insights from data.
• Exhibit problem-solving skills and a willingness to identify effective solutions to challenges.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Possess the ability to communicate data insights to non-technical audiences.
• Show a commitment to continuous learning and professional development, including the willingness to develop analytical and presentation skills.

If you are ready to embark on an exciting journey of policy development and contribute to the growth and success of the West Midlands, we encourage you to apply for the position of Graduate Policy Officer. Join us in making a real difference to the region and its communities.

Why join us?

As part of our team, you will work in a friendly, collaborative, and multi-disciplined environment. We are committed to your professional development and support your growth throughout the two-year role. Your contributions will have a direct impact on the West Midlands' prosperity and growth, making a real difference in the lives of people in the region.

How to apply

On clicking‘apply for this job’, you will be prompted to create an account. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV, which will be used to auto-populate your profile.

Please note, we do not see your CV once you have applied. Make sure you include details of your education history and qualifications. To apply for this role, you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• Describe the quantitative and qualitative research elements of your degree (or equivalent qualification).
• How would you approach conducting research and analysis to explore a policy issue? Provide an example of when you have undertaken a research and analysis project in the past.
• Embracing a participative, curious, and creative approach is crucial to solving complex issues. Describe a time when you contributed your ideas and expertise to address a challenging problem? How did your approach lead to a successful outcome?
• Policy Officers often need to produce briefings on key government developments, research, and policy updates. Being able to apply the features of a good briefing is important for undertaking the role. Using an example, can you describe a time when you have needed to brief an audience on an important topic area – how did you go about producing it and what were your relevant considerations?

There is no word limit, but we would encourage you to be as clear and concise in your answers.

We will review your application carefully and be in touch to let you know if you have been shortlisted for interview. We are holding interviews week commencing 15 th July, at our office in Birmingham.

Reasonable adjustments

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk). We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Hybrid working, location and working pattern

We believe hybrid working is the best way for our organisation to fulfil our commitment to a modern, agile workplace while continuing to provide a great service to our customers. Hybrid working means having flexibility between working in the office and at home on agreed days, where a role allows.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane. It is expected that you can split your time between the office and working remotely, with at least 3 days a week spent in the office.

Creating an inclusive workplace

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace that reflects the communities of the West Midlands region. We believe that building a team with varied backgrounds and experiences will benefit us as an employer and enhance our work.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying. If your values align with ours and you are dedicated to working towards a future that we can all be proud of, we would love to hear from you.

Right to work in the UK

Applicants will need to evidence that they have the legal right to work in the UK. If we make an offer of employment, we will need to check that you are eligible to work in the UK before you start work.

Thank you for considering joining our team at WMCA. We look forward to receiving your application and the opportunity to work together towards our shared goals.

---