HAF-005400 – Cabinet Support Officer

ROLE DESCRIPTION

• To provide effective policy and administrative support to 2 to 3 Cabinet Members, to enable them to effectively deliver on their portfolio briefs and priorities as well as working as part of a wider team to support the Cabinet and the Administration collectively.
• You will provide essential support to the delivery of portfolio briefs and priorities to ensure that the Council is delivering a safer, stronger and kinder borough for everyone.
• You will do this through the support you will provide to the Cabinet Members and the Administration in delivering the ambitions that we want to achieve for our residents, working with our local businesses, voluntary and community sector and partners, reaffirming the six values of the organisation that influence everything that we do.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will need to:

• Provide flexible administrative and policy support to the Cabinet Members and the Administration in order to deliver the Council’s priorities and support executive decision-making and engagement with residents and stakeholders.
• Critical to this role is the ability to build strong and dynamic relationships across the organisation, instilling trust and confidence to be able to work proactively with service departments and members of the senior leadership team and an extensive range of external stakeholders and officers.
• You will ensure careful forward planning so that Cabinet Members and the Administration can effectively perform their duties, including, at times, undertaking research on behalf of the Cabinet member on a range of topics and identifying options for consideration by the cabinet member and collation of papers for meetings and summarising key information into briefing notes. Working with the cabinet member to improve the management of the Cabinet Member Briefings for the portfolio holder through the use of best practice
• Demonstrate the ability to use a high level of judgement to apply knowledge in ensuring that appropriate and relevant policy issues are highlighted in a timely manner to Cabinet Members, the Administration, Chief of Staff, The Leaders office and to provide support as needed to the Chief Executive’s Office.
• You will be responsible for and provide effective and comprehensive inbox management for the Leader’s Office and Cabinet Members, assessing and triaging enquiries and casework and acting on emails in an efficient and effective manner and deciding on appropriate actions. You will be required to act on behalf of the cabinet member, drafting responses where required, commissioning work from senior managers and ensuring this work is fulfilled to a high standard and meeting deadlines.
• You will take responsibility for the efficient management of Cabinet Members’ diaries, ensuring time is used to best effect and priorities are delivered.
• You will ensure that Cabinet Members meetings can run smoothly and effectively and that all necessary arrangements are in place including venues secured and attendees confirmed, agenda planning, distribution of papers, minute taking and action logging where relevant.
• You will maintain political awareness, sensitivity, confidentiality and discretion at all times and ensure extremely high levels of customer service are delivered to all stakeholders and proactive oversight in communicating the work of the Cabinet Members and the Administration, both within the organisation and in cooperation with the Council’s communications team.
• You will be responsible for ensuring all information provided to the Cabinet Member by all council officers is of the highest quality and demonstrates Hammersmith’s and Fulham values and aspirations.
• You will also be required to provide support to Lead Members whose remit falls under their Cabinet Member if required and to provide cover and support to the Leaders office.
• You will scope, facilitate and attend site visits for front line activity and public events with Cabinet Members when required) and be available to attend and support meetings outside of core office hours in line with the working patterns of Cabinet Members and the Administration and requirements of the function.
• Any other duties required by the role commensurate to the grade of the role.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Ability to produce and provide accurate briefing materials of a high quality
• Ability to demonstrate Member oversight of issues and delivery
• Ability to provide effective diary and meeting management
• Ability to demonstrate effective casework management
• Excellent analytical, written and verbal communication skills
• Confidentiality and political discretion
• Reliability, good judgement and a solution focussed approach
• Able to build excellent working relationships across a diverse stakeholder group.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL):

• The Leader of the Council
• The Chief Executive and the Senior Leadership Team
• Chief of Staff, Leader’s office
• Cabinet Members
• The Administration
• The Mayor’s Office
• Senior Managers
• Business Support Staff
• Communications and policy staff
• Members of the public
• External organisations
• Public, private and voluntary sector organisations
• Community leaders and community groups

ABOUT YOU

• Knowledge & Skills:
• A commitment to providing a service to, and improving outcomes for, local residents and communities
• Good knowledge of local government structures and functions
• Ability to understand and summarise information from service and policy briefings and reports
• Ability to write clearly and concisely for a range of audiences including residents
• Strong interpersonal skills, to build effective working relationships with stakeholders at a range of levels
• Highly organised with the ability to work to short deadlines and to prioritise effectively in a fast-moving environment
• Ability to work as part of a team collaborating with colleagues to deliver high quality work in a timely manner
• A high degree of political sensitivity and understanding of the need for confidentiality
• Experience providing administrative support – diary, agenda, email and correspondence management – to senior stakeholders in a comparable environment.

If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to rebeccabentum@carringtonblakerecruitment.com