At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we are serious about tackling inequalities.  We want to create an inclusive, supportive and welcoming environment where people feel able to bring their whole selves to work.  We know that having a diverse workforce helps us understand our residents’ needs, ensures different ideas are brought to the organisation and helps us grow and develop. 

Feedback from staff about working here is overwhelmingly positive but we know that not all groups have the same great experience and also that we have an underrepresentation of some groups at senior management levels.  We’ve been working hard to change this, for example being part of the pilot Workforce Race Equality Standard in Social Care, but we’re still in the early stages of our journey.  Looking forward, we want to engage closely with internal stakeholders and external experts to better understand our challenges and determine areas for specific attention.  We are particularly focused on improving our workplace for colleagues from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

An opportunity has been created for a new team member to join our OD function, to focus on this work.  This is an exciting period for OD in the Shared Staffing Arrangement that supports the Councils.  We are embarking on a new ‘Great Employer’ programme, which aims to ensure the Councils are a true employer of choice for all groups of staff.   We are determined to become a renowned and diverse organisation of choice for people to work in, retaining and attracting the best people, and developing the skills and expertise needed for the future.

You’ll play a key role in all of this.  You’ll work closely with external ED&I experts to engage with stakeholders, analyse our data and determine and implement agreed actions.  You’ll be our internal expert on ED&I and will be the day-to-day contact for all ED&I queries related to staffing.  You may be in the early stages of your ED&I career, but will have relevant knowledge and experience and, most importantly, a great passion for improving the experience and representation of staff with protected characteristics. 

You will have experience of using appropriate project management techniques and methodologies. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external colleagues at all levels.  You will have strong analytical skills including the ability to evaluate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data and draw appropriate conclusions. 

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

In return, you will get the opportunity to help ensure Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are a great place to work for all our staff.  You will be able to use your expert knowledge and experience to bring new ideas for improvement and drive these through to achieve real change.  You will work in a friendly, supportive and professional team and will have opportunities to develop your own skills and experiences.  We are very open to flexible working and welcome applications from individuals who may wish to work eg part-time or compressed hours.  You will be based at Wandsworth Town Hall but can expect to spend up to four days per week working from home long-term if you wish.  You will also receive a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Job Profile

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