Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) - Communications and Events Officer Newcastle upon Tyne, England
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Location
About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting new opportunity to join our Defra HR Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team and support and improve engagement between our EDI team, Defra Group Organisations, HR centres of Expertise and Employee Networks across Group - reducing duplication improving capability and impact.
Working with our Employee Networks and EDI working groups, you will strengthen our team presence, communication, and engagement – bringing to life the work of the team and that of our EDI boards and networks, towards building a thriving and inclusive culture for all our colleagues.
Job description
We are looking for someone with experience of managing multiple engagement, stakeholder relationships and events, across a complex organisation to be part of our team!
This post in the EDI team in Defra offers the opportunity to develop strong networks across our multi organisational group, strengthen skills and capability in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Profession, and in Human Resources overall.
The role of a Engagement, Communications and Events Manager (EDI) is an exciting new role within our EDI team.
Working with our Employee Networks and EDI working groups, you will strengthen our team presence, communication, and engagement – bringing to life the work of the team and that of our EDI boards and networks, towards building a thriving and inclusive culture for all our colleagues.
This role will suit someone who can navigate and build strong relationships with others, across differing professions and grades – confident in establishing relationships with people at all levels of our organisations. They should be a capable communicator, who can demonstrate how they have driven a complex engagement calendar across various channels and utilising a variety of tools (SharePoint, Teams, Face to Face) and delivering through others - such as internal communications, content, digital and other HR expert Services Teams.
This role will work alongside our Project Support Officer, to co-ordinate and establish a cross group community of interest for EDI colleagues and working groups, to build awareness of activity, share knowledge and progress actions in support of achieving our equality ambitions.
Additionally, you will be responsible for creating regular engaging communications to a range of colleagues, both internally (to our team) and externally to our Defra Group.
Person specification
The successful candidates key responsibilities are as follows:
- Planning, organising, and tracking a wide range of activities and events across our organisations – and promoting on our internal SharePoint and Intranet sites (working with relevant internal communications teams)
- Manage, Maintain, and update the EDI and Project Race SharePoint and intranet sites
- Bi-Weekly Regular communications to all Employee EDI Networks
- Support, with opportunity to lead, projects to embed EDI into communications and engagement across our Division, Profession and Organisations
- Confidently engage with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to generate engagement with EDI priorities
- Work with analysts and other colleagues to support annual and ad-hoc EDI insight campaigns – such as promotion of the EDI analysis of our People Surveys, Performance and Development or Ad-Hoc surveys as required
- Establish and maintain an engaging community of interest for EDI colleagues and working groups
- Create and co-ordinate an engagement calendar and programme of events for our team – particularly National Inclusion Week and Black History Month
- Provide input into briefing and other materials on EDI and resourcing as necessary
Other
- Build, develop and maintain strong working relationships, including with Diversity Champions and EDI leads across the Group, to work together to deliver objectives set in the respective strategies
- Support to the wider team and Division (Talent, Leadership, L&D) as required
Essential Criteria
The following skills, knowledge and experience are essential to the role:
- Experience of working in an HR environment with experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion – or equivalent experience
- Experience using excellent planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities and deliver multiple workstreams effectively
- Strong analytical skills. An ability to manage and analyse data, explain this in context and use this to develop and present recommendations
- Excellent stakeholder management, collaboration and relationship building skills
- Good interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style
- CIPD L3 or willing to work towards
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Experience co-ordinating communications and engagement events across multiple workstreams
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package and you will be given the chance to join one of two schemes. Alpha is a (DB) Defined Benefit pension scheme based on your career’s average earnings. As a member you accrue 2.32% of your earnings each month towards your pension pot, which is revalued in April each year to retain its value relative inflation. Partnership is a (DC) Defined Contribution pension scheme. As a member of Partnership you receive a ‘free pension’ meaning a scheme in which you do not have to contribute. We will contribute to your pension based on your age bracket. However, if you do choose to make a contribution towards your pot, we will match your contribution up to an additional 3%. Life assurance your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance
Annual Leave - We offer 25 days annual leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days) for fulltime new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions. Existing Civil Servants on pre-modernised terms will retain these.
Bank Holiday - You receive 8 public holidays a year together with an additional day to mark the Kings Birthday.
Staff Bonuses and Staff Recognition
We have a Staff Recognition Scheme, and in-year awards to reward exemplary work.
Bicycle Loan
We offer interest-free loans towards the cost of a bike and a Cycle to Work Scheme. This means we loan you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the loan period you have the option to buy the bike, saving 30% of the original cost.
Season Ticket Loan
We offer interest-free season ticket loans to you when you have more than three months’ service so that you have some help with the cost of purchasing train and bus season tickets and as well as station car parking.
Employee Discounts
You will have access to our discount scheme which offers savings at hundreds oftop retailers.
Give as You Earn
We are registered with the Give as You Earn scheme which enables you to make regular deductions directly from your salary in support of a chosen charity. This is simple and tax efficient.
Learning and Development
Everyone is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Civil Servants are encouraged to have a minimum of five days of learning and development each year.
We believe that you should have access to a range of learning and development opportunities to support you in your current and future roles. You will have accountability for your own learning as we encourage you to be an independent and motivated learner.
Civil Service Learning
We offer access to learning and development with world class providers through Civil Service Learning (CSL). CSL’s comprehensive curriculum offers a mix of different types of learning so that civil servants can learn in a way that works for them. The curriculum provides learning opportunities that cater for civil servants with opportunities that cover leadership and management, diversity and inclusion, personal effectiveness, working essentials plus professional development.
Mentoring and Coaching
Mentoring is an effective means of developing your career, boosting your confidence and empowering both the mentor and mentee. You will have the opportunity to voluntarily engage and work confidentially with a mentor or coach. We are also able to provide accredited external coaches on a case by case basis.
Apprenticeships
Some employees will find themselves able to convert onto an apprenticeship programme to gain nationally recognised qualifications through a programme oftraining and work experience.
Other types of development
Formal training can be supplemented by other development opportunities such as on-the-job development, job-shadowing, ted-talks or working with different project teams to your own.
Talent
We have a number of talent management schemes that aim to develop talented and high performing staff from all backgrounds.
Study Leave
To support educational, vocational or professional study activities you may apply for study leave.
Staff Wellbeing
We have various measures in place to assist with your physical and emotional health. Flexible working to allow for variations in your hours from day to day, suiting your needs, and where this is compatible with business needs. There is also further scope to work from home, compressed hours and more.
The Mental Health Network is an employee-led network which offers support, information and raises awareness of mental health issues.
Employee Assistance Programme is a free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice service available to our staff.
Our Occupational Health Service (OHS) provides a range of support services to help with the way you feel at work.
Other Benefits Include
Volunteering Each year, you will be entitled to three 3 days special leave with pay to volunteer. We encourage you to take up this offer as volunteering can be a great way to share skills with worthy charitable causes, while developing new insights and stronger links with the civil society sector.
Reservists - We fully support reservists and offer 15 days paid special leave for training.
You can join the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC). The CSSC organises a wide choice of activities throughout the UK, from art, gliding, abseiling and orienteering to cabaret weekends and quiz and curry nights. Members also gain access to hundreds of national and local offers, including free entry for you, one other adult and up to 6 children at English Heritage and Cadw sites and free entry for you and up to 3 children at RBG Kew. There are also savings at many high street stores, cinemas,
restaurants and historic houses. Further information is available at the CSSC website.
Our offices offer a range of different onsite facilities including staff restaurants, showers, cycle storage and fitness facilities.
Free access to Neyber which is a free Financial Education Hub and provides guidance on how to manage your finances including information on credit scores, pensions, buying your first house, becoming debt-free and much more.
Disability Confident Scheme for Disabled Persons
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. You should indicate this on your application form if you would like to be considered under this scheme.
Equal Opportunities
Defra values equality and diversity in employment. We are committed to being an organisation in which fairness and equality of opportunity is centralto the approach in business and working relationships and where the organisational culture reflects and supports these values. In Defra you have the right to a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, working hours, trade union membership or trade union activity.
Blended Working
Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750-word personal statement. Your personal statement should demonstrate evidence of how you meet the essential criteria as set out in the person specification section of the job advert.
Your CV should outline your career history, details of your qualifications and relevant key skills to the role.
Your CV details will not be assessed during the process, but will be used to support discussions at interview.
Interview
If you are successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the behaviours outlined in the job advert. The panel will also assess your strengths.
Sift and Interview Dates to be confirmed.
Interviews will be held via Video.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
If you are successful in your application and your base working location is London, please be aware that Defra’s Nobel House Office at 17 Smith Square, London will be closing in December 2023.
This means that Defra new joiners will be located alongside existing colleagues in offices a short distance away from Nobel House in our other office at 2 Marsham St, London.
To work from 2 Marsham Street, you will require the higher level of CTC clearance. Therefore, confirmation of appointment to the advertised post will be dependent upon successful CTC clearance being confirmed as part of pre-employment checks.
Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.
For information, our core Defra hub locations are:
- York – the Kings Pool
- Newcastle – Lancaster House
- London – Nobel House and 2 Marsham Street
Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.
All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.
Defra continues to support a blended working model and candidates are currently expected to attend their office base for 40-60% of the week.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offenses. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Full Time Only
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Higher Security Clearance
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission
