Digital Inclusion Project Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to help improve the quality of life for residents of Hull and the surrounding region. Hull City Council have made digital inclusion a priority as research suggests as many as 1 in 10 adults in Hull do not regularly connect to the internet, and around 1 in 3 residents would benefit from digital inclusion support. The benefits of being digitally included are well established, including significant financial and savings opportunities, improved health and wellbeing, and improvements to social lives and equality.

In a permanent role, the post holder will be responsible for the delivery of the Digital Inclusion Strategy, including:

• Implementing the Digital Inclusion Support Model with partners including Hull Libraries, NHS, and local VCS groups, supported with training and guidance
• Taking ownership of the soon-to-be-launched Digital Inclusion Triage Tool and Directory in partnership with East Riding Yorkshire Council and the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority
• Managing the Digital Inclusion Board and Forum to ensure all stakeholders are aligned on our strategic aims
• Leading on a Digital Inclusion awareness campaign to showcase to residents the benefits of getting online.

We’re looking for a motivated Project Manager who is:

• An effective communicator, able to engage with a wide range of people, including partner organisations, internal teams and residents
• Confident in the use of the latest digital technology
• Able to work independently and manage their own workload, and work as part of a team when needed
• Focused on putting the customer first
• Enthusiastic and keen to learn.

Reporting to the Customer Journey Programme Manager, the post holder will support delivery of the wider aims of the Customer Engagement Strategy.

The post holder will drive forward and deliver the multi-agency, regional Digital Inclusion Strategy, by leading a programme of works to identify and engage with residents who are not online. To identify the barriers to digital use and understanding what support is needed in the city for individuals.

The postholder will communicate and engage with senior managers across the region, a network of key voluntary community service (VCS) organisations, public sector partners and community groups to develop a cohesive plan and build resilience within neighbourhoods, developing assets and services to support local communities. The postholder will develop an engagement programme, and establish better data to link to strategic outcomes, particularly relating to employment skills initiatives and health outcomes.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Lead on the planning delivery and development of initiative to enable identification of those who are not online. Challenge current practice, reduce duplication and coordinate resident pathways with other professionals, to ensure digital skills development links to independent living, reducing social isolation and better employment skills outcomes.
2. Advise and provide guidance to project stakeholders, by keeping up to date with the latest central government policy ideas and national best practice related to Digital Inclusion.
3. Support the Customer Journey Programme Manager to deliver a programme of complex projects.
4. Communicate between project stakeholders, through a decision making Board and operation delivery group providing data and reports to senior management, to make intelligence led decisions.
5. Develop a digital product tool and a directory of resources, which provides a regional digital facility to navigate residents to local digital support. Ensure the end user products are fit for purpose, and captures customer feedback.
6. Manage the coordination of volunteers as required, to deliver digital skills support.
7. Maintain regular monitoring of spend against defined budgets.
8. Promote and market the regional digital tool, engaging with the Council’s Communications Team, and wider region, to develop high quality communications campaigns around digital inclusion.
9. Influence VCS organisations and other key partners to engage in the tools and overall strategy, developing long term relationships to sustain services, providing measurable outcomes that link to the Hull Community Plan/Council Plan, and combined authority priorities.
10. Research potential funding opportunities to support digital inclusion.

The above principal accountabilities are not exhaustive and may vary without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.