Senior Adviser (Workforce) in Reading

Salary: £76,042 Per Anum (Excluding London Weighting)

Pension: Defined benefit (Local Government Pension Scheme)

Location: London/Home based

Contract: Secondment/fixed term 1 year

About us

The LGA is the national voice of local government. We work with councils to support, promote and improve local government. We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We aim to influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils, so they are able to deliver local solutions to national problems. The LGA provides a range of practical support to enable councils to exploit the opportunities that ‘sector-led improvement’ provides.

The Workforce Team delivers direct guidance and support to councils, fire authorities and other organisations on a wide range of matters pertaining to the two million employees in the sector as well as representing the employers in more than a dozen national collective bargaining frameworks. We also generate income through bespoke commercial activity and engage in policy and lobbying work on behalf of LGA members on workforce matters such as capacity, funding, diversity, social care reform and employment law.

The role

We have a full time senior adviser role to recruit (job share flexibility is an option), delivering workforce support within our grant funded work and/or commercially delivered projects, with a particular focus on Equal Pay and Equality Impact Assessments. General employment/HR skills are important, in addition, income generation is a key facet of the role of a senior adviser and the post holder will be expected to contribute to the team’s commercial objectives. While the LGA is based in Westminster, many of the workforce team are based at home, travelling for the role as necessary.

The position is required to support immediate delivery needs. The organisation is consulting on its operating model. The grade and responsibilities are subject to confirmation. Priority consideration may be given to employees at risk where they have the required qualifications and experience.

The requirements

This role is primarily about developing solutions and problem solving; just as important is the ability to respond and adapt to a quickly changing environment and political context, learn on the job and think creatively about risks and opportunities that are presented to you. Your ability to grasp issues and new concepts quickly will make you stand out. Experience of equality legislation and its practical impact on the local government workplace, job evaluation schemes, workplace mediation, OD/HR support and pay and grading issues would be an advantage.

Knowledge of the sectors with which the LGA works is key, as is experience of stakeholder management and positive working with elected members, commercial clients and the civil service. Understanding of employment law, local government and HR practice would be an advantage. Line management experience and budget/project management skills, alongside the ability to pick up complex issues and present convincingly in person and in writing, working with political sensitivity, with the ability to exercise discretion and judgement when dealing with politicians and officers at every level are all important factors in this role.

Job Description

To apply for further information and to apply online please visit http://jobs.local.gov.uk. Before applying for any internal vacancy, LGA employees should discuss the opportunity with their current line manager.

Closing Date: 5pm, Monday 27 April

Interview Date: Wednesday 6 May

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit. As a Disability Confident Leader, the LGA values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community.

Our benefits

LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).

Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.

Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals.

The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.

Family friendly policies.

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga.

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other
• how we work with our members and stakeholders
• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

• Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.
• Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.
• Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.
• Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.