Principal Policy Officer

Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units:
Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills and Employment and Health, Children and Young Londoners.

The Strategy and Policy team manage strategy, policy and governance arrangements within the GLA’s skills and employment unit, which runs a range of flagship programmes to deliver high quality adult education in London.

The team includes a range of responsibilities, including strategy planning, policy development and communications, as well as governance and stakeholder engagement.

We are looking for a dynamic and skilled Principal Policy Officer to join our friendly Strategy and Policy Team. You will have a successful track record in policy and programme design and development.

You will need strong networking and stakeholder management skills in this role as you will be working with a range of local and national government stakeholders.

You will need strong planning and project management skills to manage multiple competing priorities at any given time. At times the work can be fast paced, so you will ideally be adaptable, and able to deliver high quality work to tight timescales.

Extensive knowledge of skills and employment policy in London, nationally and internationally is preferred.

• To lead skills and employment/economic development strategy and policy development in London. Work closely with local and national government stakeholders, and others to develop shared policy positions and lobbying priorities.
• Take a central role in the GLA’s work on devolution, and support the joining up of work by the different teams involved in devolution and skills matters within the GLA and across the GLA group.
• Brief the Mayor’s Office on policy relating to employment and skills in London and national government policy responses.
• Ensure that relevant employment and skills commitments made in the Mayor’s Manifesto, London Growth Plan and Inclusive Talent Strategy
• Manage GLA relationships with local and national government stakeholders; and identify and develop options for the Mayor to influence and promote London specific activity by these delivery organisations.
• Provide high quality client support for relevant senior stakeholders in the GLA, including:
  • drafting timely responses to Mayoral questions and correspondence
  • providing concise briefings and responses to questions
  • providing meeting management and secretariat functions for key meetings
  • representing the GLA at external events and meetings
  • making timely responses to the London Assembly’s scrutiny function.

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

• A substantial knowledge of economic development policy with particular expertise in skills and employment policy.
• A successful track record, in a high-profile organisation, of influencing and shaping policy and ensuring its implementation.
• Knowledge and understanding of, and ability to operate successfully at a senior level in a complex organisational or political environment.
• Experience of project-based work including planning and monitoring delivery against plans.

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

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement
• Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and…