Engagement Lead

Positions   1 Band / Grade   A2 Salary   £56,180 - £66,497 per annum Contract Type   Fixed Term Contract Length   2 years fixed term with possibility of extension or permanency Working Pattern   Full Time Location   Hybrid (on-site and remote) Leave entitlement   Starting at 30 days per annum, pro-rata Closing Date  

4th February 2025 at 23:55

Interview Date(s)   Interview dates to be confirmed. Job Description   Engagement Lead Job Description.docx – 926KB Opens in a new window
Converted File Engagement Lead Job Description.docx.pdf – 428KB Opens in a new window Additional File   House of Commons Benefits and Support.pdf – 581KB Opens in a new window  

House of Commons

The House of Commons is a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system. 

Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.

Staff Benefits

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including: 

• 30 days’ annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year). 
• Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. 
• Access to training and development. 
• Flexible working. 
• Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan.

Introduction 

The Engagement and Culture team (previously the Cultural Transformation Team) was established in February 2019 following the Dame Laura Cox report into bullying and harassment of House of Commons staff. The Team supports the Commission and the Commons Executive Board on culture and behaviour in the House, including implementation of the UK Parliament Behaviour Code. The team also supports the organisation to bring the House values to life through our actions, behaviours, policies and practices. Its remit was broadened in 2024 to include improvements to the working lives of the Commons’ estate-based workforce and staff engagement.

The Engagement and Culture Team is part of the Governance Office. The Governance Office plays a central role in the House Administration by supporting the governance of the House of Commons. We make Parliament happen by supporting our Member-led governing body, the House of Commons Commission, and other governance bodies across the House Administration. We promote the development of excellence in governance, delivering key corporate functions including parliamentary safety, information compliance, strategy development, business planning, organisational performance management, risk management, assurance, engagement and culture, insight and internal audit. Our team promotes a common direction through the strategy, enables better decision-making and ensures compliance with the highest governance standards.

The Role 

We are looking for a highly organised person to deliver coherent, co-ordinated and innovative staff engagement campaigns which connect all colleagues to our organisational purpose and culture, the work of the Chamber and Committees and our work providing excellent services to Members. Initial focus will be on the we make Parliament happen campaign.

Everyone who works for the House Administration helps make Parliament happen, but sometimes it can be difficult for colleagues in all Teams to feel a connection to the Chamber and Committees, or the work of Members. Through an integrated communications and staff engagement campaign, we want to ensure all colleagues feel part of Parliament and understand how together we make Parliament happen.

The Engagement Lead will set priorities for engagement and provide strategic co-ordination of activities across Teams to deliver the flagship We make Parliament happen campaign which supports implementation of the House Strategy. They will lead projects within the team which build an understanding of and connection to the institution of Parliament across multiple staff touchpoints, with a particular focus on staff groups which have reported particularly low scores on ‘connection’ and understanding of ‘purpose’ in the most recent Working Lives survey results. The postholder will be tasked with leading on other programmes to engage staff in organisational priorities, as required and as these develop.

This is a new role, and we are looking for a proactive self-starter, who is confident navigating a complex stakeholder environment, working in partnership to deliver outcomes and embedding new approaches.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Translate strategic aims, referenced in the Cultural Transformation Team Review and those provided by the Commons Executive Board (CEB) and other governance bodies, into a planned programme of work for specific engagement projects, policies, or initiatives, across teams within the House Administration and in collaboration with the Parliamentary Digital Service and the House of Lords Administration where relevant.
• Be a visible leader on engagement best practice, learning from internal and external bodies, and ensure standards are adhered to.
• Advise the Clerk of the House, CEB and other senior stakeholders on the Engagement strategy, demonstrating a strong understanding of the political context we work in and the needs of different staff groups.

Skills and Experience 

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Ability to communicate clearly, confidently and persuasively at all levels both orally and in writing, including engaging and inspiring others about the future of the organisation. Ability to gain and maintain the trust and confidence of others at all levels.
• Experience of delivering cultural or behavioural change within a complex organisation showing an understanding of reputational risks, opportunities and managing the perspectives of the whole parliamentary community, including different staff audiences and Members.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into a practical programme of work and to deliver against milestones, prioritising and reprioritising as needed. Experience of measuring impact and managing projects.
• Ability to work successfully within a team whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity and inclusion, including understanding the needs of colleagues in different roles, including those in non-desk based and operational roles.
• Ability to respond quickly and pragmatically to changing circumstances, including stakeholder feedback and resistance. Ability to work collaboratively with others to develop creative solutions to problems.

Next Steps and Additional Information

• CV & Supporting Statement – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500 word limit. 

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Please ensure that you anonymise your application by removing any identifiable factors from your CV or Supporting Statement.

We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.

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