Teqniq is searching for a Senior Research Officer Ruling Group to work in the public sector.
37 hours per week.
3 months contract.
09:00-17:00

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading and organising the work of the support team to the Senior Leadership Team and other Members of the ruling group - providing clear direction and advice to ensure that the needs and priorities of the group are met (including oversight of the team’s workload, priorities, officer deployment, quality assurance, and supervision, development and welfare needs).
• Direct line management of the group’s Personal Assistant to Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmen.
• Providing strategic advice and support to the Senior Leadership Team and relevant Members through:
• A proactive programme of research in connection with current and possible future policies of the workplace.
• Commissioning and drawing on research, information, and intelligence from within the workplace.
• Drawing on published research, policy development, and intelligence from external bodies
• Analysing and interpreting a range of data, including statistical, financial, and attitudinal data.
• Responding to a wide range of sensitive issues as they arise and progress-chasing, trouble-shooting, and problem solving on behalf of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the workplace and the Cabinet Member - Business Management.
• Undertaking specific projects and other areas of complex work for the group, including research and preparatory work for the Annual Workplace Budget and special or one-off projects such as a Local Government Boundary Commission for England boundary review and Public Inquiries.
• Preparing speeches, presentations, responses to questions at Full workplace meetings, Motions, briefing notes and other advisory material.
• Supporting the Leader and Deputy Leader and other Members in preparing papers etc for presentation at workplace meetings and other meetings where appropriate, including outside bodies.
• Advising members on scrutiny activity including researching evidence and preparing relevant documents in line with legislative requirements and Central Government guidelines.
• Supporting the Leader and Deputy Leader of the workplace and the Group Business Manager in the effective management of business and effective use of Member time including:
• organising events - for example, Group Away Days;
• attending committee, pre-agenda and Group meetings and providing support and advice as required;
• assisting as necessary with the committee appointments, apologies and the ‘substitutions’ management process;
• attending meetings and providing support such as agenda production and taking notes of Group meetings (including Annual General Meetings and pre-Full Workplace meetings);
• assisting with the process for appointments to outside bodies;
• helping to identify and meet Member development needs opportunities and issues.
• Supporting Members in items of casework referred by them including:
• direct contact with constituents/customers (often requiring a high level of political sensitivity and diplomacy);
• liaising and negotiating with departmental colleagues and other service providers as appropriate;
• ensuring high quality and timely responses within appropriate deadlines.
• Pro-actively supporting and developing Members in the efficient and effective use of ICT, including first-line advice on the use of hardware and software packages and encouraging effective communications with constituents and the County’s residents, including through the use of social media.
• Managing the information of the Group in a secure and legally compliant manner, with due regard to the high level of political sensitivity and confidentiality of this work.
• Working with minimal supervision, organising and prioritising personal workload to meet the requirements of the Senior Leadership Team and other Group Members alongside other management responsibilities.
• Providing input and advice to assist multi-disciplinary projects within Democratic Services, the wider Department and the workplace as a whole.

• Leading and organising the work of the support team to the Senior Leadership Team and other Members of the ruling group - providing clear direction and advice to ensure that the needs and priorities of the group are met (including oversight of the team’s workload, priorities, officer deployment, quality assurance, and supervision, development and welfare needs).
• Direct line management of the group’s Personal Assistant to Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmen.
• Providing strategic advice and support to the Senior Leadership Team and relevant Members through:
• A proactive programme of research in connection with current and possible future policies of the workplace.
• Commissioning and drawing on research, information, and intelligence from within the workplace.
• Drawing on published research, policy development, and intelligence from external bodies
• Analysing and interpreting a range of data, including statistical, financial, and attitudinal data.
• Responding to a wide range of sensitive issues as they arise and progress-chasing, trouble-shooting, and problem solving on behalf of the Leader and Deputy Leader of the workplace and the Cabinet Member - Business Management.
• Undertaking specific projects and other areas of complex work for the group, including research and preparatory work for the Annual Workplace Budget and special or one-off projects such as a Local Government Boundary Commission for England boundary review and Public Inquiries.
• Preparing speeches, presentations, responses to questions at Full workplace meetings, Motions, briefing notes and other advisory material.
• Supporting the Leader and Deputy Leader and other Members in preparing papers etc for presentation at workplace meetings and other meetings where appropriate, including outside bodies.
• Advising members on scrutiny activity including researching evidence and preparing relevant documents in line with legislative requirements and Central Government guidelines.
• Supporting the Leader and Deputy Leader of the workplace and the Group Business Manager in the effective management of business and effective use of Member time including:
• organising events - for example, Group Away Days;
• attending committee, pre-agenda and Group meetings and providing support and advice as required;
• assisting as necessary with the committee appointments, apologies and the ‘substitutions’ management process;
• attending meetings and providing support such as agenda production and taking notes of Group meetings (including Annual General Meetings and pre-Full Workplace meetings);
• assisting with the process for appointments to outside bodies;
• helping to identify and meet Member development needs opportunities and issues.
• Supporting Members in items of casework referred by them including:
• direct contact with constituents/customers (often requiring a high level of political sensitivity and diplomacy);
• liaising and negotiating with departmental colleagues and other service providers as appropriate;
• ensuring high quality and timely responses within appropriate deadlines.
• Pro-actively supporting and developing Members in the efficient and effective use of ICT, including first-line advice on the use of hardware and software packages and encouraging effective communications with constituents and the County’s residents, including through the use of social media.
• Managing the information of the Group in a secure and legally compliant manner, with due regard to the high level of political sensitivity and confidentiality of this work.
• Working with minimal supervision, organising and prioritising personal workload to meet the requirements of the Senior Leadership Team and other Group Members alongside other management responsibilities.
• Providing input and advice to assist multi-disciplinary projects within Democratic Services, the wider Department and the workplace as a whole