Job Purpose:

·         To be responsible for project coordination to the London Innovation and Improvement Alliance (LIIA) programme, working with Directors, senior officers and services across the London region.

·         To have a specific focus on working closely with all London local authorities to ensure the effective operation of the LIIA programme.

·         To be responsible for ensuring effective stakeholder involvement, consultation and communication relating to the programme.

Principal Accountabilities

1.    To provide project support to enable the workforce priority to progress in accordance with the project plan.

2.    Act as the primary point of contact providing operational support to the London boroughs in the implementation, performance management and success of the London Pledge

3.    Provide regular reports to Directors of Children’s Services and Practice Leaders to demonstrate the performance of the initiative, including performance against agreed targets and success measures

4.    Engage with Managed Service Providers and the agency supply chain to ensure dissemination of information and ensure accountability against agreements

5.    Engage with sub-regional governance groups and hiring managers, in order to enhance engagement with the agency supply chain and improve contract delivery

6.    Build strong relationships with the LA sub-regional governance groups, Managed Service Providers and agency supply chain, offering support and training to support promotion and understanding of the London Pledge.

7.    Delivery formal presentations to sub-regional governance groups preparing both planned and ad-hoc reports as requested to demonstrate the performance of the London Pledge

8.    Understanding and informing clients of Matrix Business strategy o Identification of additional opportunities

9.    To assist with the preparation of draft reports for the steering group, project and programme boards

10.  Support the dissemination of information across the region via the website, newsletter and email distribution lists

11.  To plan and facilitate workshops as necessary to progress the project

12.  To deal effectively with internal and external customers and partners, receiving and responding to incoming communication.

13.  To support LIIA / ALDCS in regional and national projects for quality and service development, as required.

14.  London Councils is committed to, and champions, equality and diversity in all aspects of policy and employment.  All employees are expected to understand and promote equality and diversity within their work.

15.  To take care at all times to uphold health and safety at work for self and others.  To observe London Councils Health and Safety policy and related procedures at all times. 

16.  To uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct in line with the expectations of a local government officer and to lead staff to adhere to such standards in order to uphold the reputation of London Councils and local government in London. 

17.  To adhere to London Councils’ policies, procedures, regulations and protocols.

18.  The post holder will be required to occasionally work outside normal office hours.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

LIIA Principal Project Officer

Qualifications and experience

·         Proven track-record of successful project support within a multi-disciplinary public or private sector organisation

·         A sufficient level of knowledge and experience of working within a recruitment environment, either from the private sector agency market or internal recruitment industry with an understanding of supply chains and the mechanisms by which organisations engage agency resource

·         Experience of working effectively to develop, implement and monitor clear standards of performance and service delivery outcomes.

·         Experience of working with senior managers to ensure a high-quality service is offered.

Knowledge

·         Knowledge of the social worker profession and industry would be beneficial

·         Understanding of the workings of local government and the challenges set by the new local government agenda within the financial, legal and political context

Skills and Abilities

·         The ability to collaborate and effectively communicate as part of a team to achieve project objectives with and through partners.

·         Strong organisational skills and ability to plan effectively to support project and programme activity

·         Time management: efficient use of own time and planning the time of others to optimise programme capacity and efficiency

·         Skilled use of various IT and software packages to support programme oversight and development

Personal Characteristics

• An inclusive team player;

• Political sensitivity;

• Outstanding interpersonal skills to relate effectively to London Councils’ elected members, partners, colleagues and staff;

• Aspiration to excellence.

Other factors

Strong personal commitment to London Councils’ Equal Opportunities Policy – and understanding and support of the implications of equal opportunities and diversity in London local government’s policy areas