Adviser Policy and Delivery

Supporting the Mayor, Deputy Mayors and lead advisors such as the Chief Digital Officer and Night Czar, the Mayor’s Office is organised into four small units:

Communications
Mayoral Operations
Policy and Delivery
Political and Public Affairs.

About the team

Jointly led by Natan Doron, Mayoral Head of Policy and Jamilla Hinds-Brough, Mayoral Head of Delivery. 

The Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit (MPDU) plays a critical role for Mayor, bringing together the Senior Advisors to the Deputy Mayors to oversee and drive delivery of the Mayor’s manifesto across portfolios, with a particular focus on the Mayor’s priorities. 

The MPDU works to ensure policy development is joined-up and coordinated across the GLA family. They provide steers on cross-cutting policy and delivery work, and lead the clearance of policy reports and documents. 

About the role 

This role sits at the heart of the MPDU, and would be suitable for those in entry-level policy, project management or campaigns roles across the pubic or charity sector, as well as anyone with an interest in being involved in a fast-paced political environment.

The main responsibilities of this role are:

To provide advice and support to the two Heads of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit (MPDU) including admin support, support with reviewing materials for sign off, ensuring MPDU output is of high quality and that MPDU meetings and processes run effectively. 
Assisting with the governance and effective running of priority cross-cutting policy forums, including the committees of the Mayoral Delivery Board. 
Supporting the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy to have oversight of the delivery of the Mayor’s priorities. 
Acting as a point of contact for Senior officers of the GLA group and policy teams seeking to engage with the MPDU.  

What your day will look like

Compiling briefings for colleagues in MPDU and wider Mayor’s Office on a variety of issues 
Supporting Heads of Policy and Delivery to keep on top of priorities for the day and week  
Attending meetings with senior colleagues, keeping a note of actions and ensuring they’re taken forward 
Supporting the Heads of Policy and Delivery to engage with, and to provide quick analysis and response to day to day policy announcements from government 
Working with officers across the GLA to progress policy development and programme delivery

Skills, knowledge and experience 

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

Experience of policy development within a local authority, government department or agency and/or large, multifunctional organisation with comparable scope, responsibilities, budget and resources.
An understanding of devolved government and experience of successfully working with politicians within a democratic process or a comparable high-pressure organisation.
Successful track record of giving professional advice and support in a relevant area, or group of areas, to and building effective and productive working relationships with senior managers and/or politicians. 
Successful track record of building effective, productive and relevant working relationships.
Successful track record of planning and organising the management of competing priorities in a comparable high-pressure organisation 

How to apply 

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

Up to date CV 
Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role. Please upload a personal statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

Please ensure your CV and cover letter/supporting statement documents are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345)

Please note, if you do not provide both a CV and a covering letter, you will not be considered for the role so please ensure the above has been submitted before the application deadline

Assessment process 

The application deadline is 29th Aug 2024 at 23:59.

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: 26 and 27 September 2024.

Equality, diversity and inclusion 

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits
GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.
In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information 
Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.  

Find out which DBS check is right for your employee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Full job description can be found below:

Adviser to the Mayor, Policy & Delivery

Purpose of Job 

To provide advice and support to the two Heads of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit (MPDU) including support with reviewing materials for sign off, ensuring MPDU output is of high quality and that MPDU meetings and processes run effectively.
 Assisting with the governance and effective running of priority cross-cutting policy forums, including the committees of the Mayoral Delivery Board. 
 Supporting the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy to have oversight of the delivery of the Mayor’s priorities.
Acting as a point of contact for Senior officers of the GLA group and policy teams seeking to engage with the MPDU.

Principal Accountabilities 

To provide and coordinate advice and support to the two Heads of the MPDU in the relevant policy areas to support them in the delivery of the Mayor’s priorities.
To provide high-level support to the Deputy Chief of Staff in their role as Chair of the Committees of the Mayoral Delivery Board
Helping to ensure the cross-cutting Mayoral priority delivery forums run smoothly and that materials are developed on time and to a high quality. 
Support the Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy to ensure that policy priorities are well understood across the organisation.
Contribute to the development of continuing strategic planning, research and analysis across the relevant areas of responsibility.
Act as a bridge between and within the team of Mayoral appointees and with the rest of the GLA and GLA Group on policy development, project management and monitoring performance management to give confidence to the Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy that the Mayor’s priorities are progressing in a timely and effective way.
On behalf of the Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy prepare, commission and review briefing papers, reports, and position papers to support meetings with internal and external stakeholders and the preparation of speaking notes, 
Monitor external policy developments and provide updates to the Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy and aid their speed of response to media, internal processes and other enquiries.
Contribute to and draft as necessary speaking notes and responses to correspondence on behalf of the Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy.
Working with the Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy, establish and maintain a range of key stakeholder relationships to ensure effective partnership working to deliver Mayoral priorities.
Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities, and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary cross- department and cross-organisational groups and project teams. 
Manage staff and resources allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethic and Standards.

Key relationships
 
Accountable to:    Mayoral Head of Delivery and the Mayoral Head of Policy
Accountable for:   Staff and resources allocated to the role.
Principal contacts:    Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Mayors, Mayoral Directors, Senior Advisers, GLA Executive Directors and Assistant Directors, the London Recovery team, policy teams in the GLA and functional bodies, internal and external stakeholders.

Technical Competencies

Experience of policy development within a local authority, government department or agency and/or large, multifunctional organisation with comparable scope, responsibilities, budget and resources. 
An understanding of devolved government and experience of successfully working with politicians within a democratic process or a comparable high-pressure organisation. 
Successful track record of giving professional advice and support in a relevant area, or group of areas, to and building effective and productive working relationships with senior managers and/or politicians. 
Successful track record of building effective, productive and relevant working relationships.
Successful track record of planning and organising the management of competing priorities in a comparable high-pressure organisation 

Behavioural competencies

BUILDING AND MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS
… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals. 

Level 2
•    Develops new professional relationships 
•    Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement
•    Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action
•    Fosters an environment where others feel respected
•    Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals

COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING
… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 2
•    Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
•    Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
•    Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
•    Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
•    Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

DECISION MAKING
… is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

Level 2
•    Takes decisions as necessary on the basis of the information available 
•    Makes decisions without unnecessarily referring to others 
•    Involves and consults internal and external stakeholders early in decisions that impact them 
•    Identifies potential barriers to decision making and initiates action to move a situation forward 
•    Demonstrates awareness of the GLA’s decision making processes and how to use them

PLANNING AND ORGANISING
… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 3
•    Monitors allocation of resources, anticipating changing requirements that may impact work delivery
•    Ensures evaluation processes are in place to measure project benefits
•    Gains buy-in and commitment to project delivery from diverse stakeholders
•    Implements quality measures to ensure directorate output is of a high standard
•    Translates political vision into action plans and deliverables

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 3
•    Expands networks to gain new information sources for research and policy development
•    Identifies and implements methods to ensure intelligence is of a high quality
•    Encourages others to analyse data from different angles, using multiple perspectives to identify connections and new insights
•    Tailors research investment in line with likely impact for Londoners and policy priorities
•    Retains a bigger picture view, ensuring research recommendations areappropriate and practical for the GLA and its stakeholders

ORGANISATIONAL AWARENESS 
… is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the GLA and shaping our approach accordingly.

Level 2
•    Challenges unethical behaviour 
•    Uses understanding of the GLA’s complex partnership arrangements to deliver effectively
•    Recognises how political changes and sensitivities impact on own and team’s work
•    Is aware of the changing needs of Londoners, anticipating resulting changes for work agendas
•    Follows the GLA’s position in the media and understands how it impacts on work

RESPONDING TO PRESSURE AND CHANGE
… is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift. 

Level 3
•    Clarifies direction and adapts to changing priorities and uncertain times
•    Minimises the pressure of change for the directorate, lessening the impact for the team
•    Uses change as an opportunity to improve ways of working, encouraging others’ buy-in
•    Keeps staff motivated and engaged during times of change, promoting the benefits 
•    Takes ownership for communicating change initiatives clearly, ensuring smooth implementation