About us

We are Britain’s national equality regulator and a United Nations accredited ‘A status’ national human rights institution.

We uphold people’s rights without fear or favour. We use the full force of our legal powers to defend people from unfair or unequal treatment and to challenge breaches of the law. We advise on developing laws and provide guidance, training and support to enable compliance.

We bring people together to create change. We work with employers, governments and a wide range of organisations, to promote understanding of equality and human rights and we support them to make improvements in practice.

Overview of the role and responsibilities

You will lead the Chair and CEO’s Private Office at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, ensuring they are well supported in their roles and providing strategic advice on a wide range of issues including policy, communications, governance and stakeholder relationships. You will work closely with colleagues across the Leadership Team to ensure delivery of the Chair and CEO’s priorities and ensure their views are reflected in strategic, policy and stakeholder conversations.      

This will be a fast paced, complex and fascinating job at the heart of the organisation, working on high profile, high impact issues to do with equality and human rights in Britain.

You will:

• Lead a team (two Private Secretaries, Assistant Private Secretary and PA) to ensure that the Chair and CEO are able to operate strategically and effectively, with the right briefing and support   

• Play a key role in supporting the Leadership Team and wider organisation to understand and work with the Chair and CEO

• Act as trusted advisor to both Chair and CEO on key issues to enable them to make effective decisions, drawing on a sound understanding of issues and the internal and external context

• Proactively identify and manage issues, drive improvement and reduce bottle necks, as well as working closely with the Communications Team to ensure that the Chair and CEO is effectively utilised with stakeholders and supported in their engagement

• Ensure the Chair and CEO’s perspectives are reflected in key policy and strategy development and, through your team, work with colleagues across the Commission to ensure the highest quality advice and decision making

• Coach and provide direction to your team to enable them to deliver a high quality Private Office function for the Commission

Team Responsibilities

As well as your role as strategic advisor to the Chair and CEO, you will lead a high performing Private Office function.

There are two Private Secretaries in the team working to the Chief of Staff, one primarily supporting the Chair and the other supporting the CEO. However, there is a high degree of collaborative working across the team to ensure joined up and effective advice and support. The team also comprises an Assistant Private Secretary who leads on diary management and a PA who supports the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Strategy and Policy Officer (CSPO).

 The key responsibilities for this team include:

• Ensuring the Chair, Chief Executive, COO and CSPO are supported for all internal and external meetings and engagements, including preparation and quality assurance of briefings, co-ordination with internal and external stakeholders and providing support in meetings

• Providing advice to the rest of the Commission on supporting the Chair and Chief Executive

• Quality assuring and sense checking briefings, submissions and correspondence before they go to the Chair and CEO to ensure the highest quality of work, and providing constructive feedback to teams

• Working closely with the stakeholder engagement team and with the internal communications team to provide strategic advice and support the communication between the Chair, CEO and the rest of the organisation on internal and external engagement and ensure it is effectively managed

• Managing correspondence to the Chair and Chief Executive

• Driving improvement to the way the Chair and Chief Executive’s Office operates.

 Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

 The role requires intellectual depth, sound political awareness, tact, diplomacy and resilience. You will need to build strong relationships with senior leaders and hold your own in a senior leadership environment.

You will need to have the confidence of your key customers, the Chair and CEO, as well as inspiring your team and supporting them to thrive.

 Knowledge, Skills and Experience required include:

 Essential

•  Ability to understand and advise on complex, sensitive policy issues, understanding the wider policy and political context

• Strong analytical, research, written and oral communication skills

• Great people skills and ability to build strong relationships with senior leaders and non-executives

• Resilience and ability to work under pressure on sensitive issues, whist navigating tricky relationships and conflict

• The ability to manage competing demands and commitments whilst maintaining quality and timeliness

• Ability to advise senior leaders/non-execs on complex issues

• Experience of overseeing and delivering high quality written and oral briefings and other policy and communications material.

Desirable

• Knowledge of how central government and/or public bodies operate

• Experience of working in a similar role in the public sector, in government or in parliament

• Record of leading high-performing teams and providing high quality line management

• Knowledge of the equality and human rights context, legislation and policy.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a range of benefits including flexible working patterns, 30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (full time FTE), access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme and partnership pension schemes, and enhanced parental leave benefits. More information can be found in the candidate pack

How to apply

If this sounds like the role for you, please review the attached Candidate pack for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact Laura Wheeldon: Head of Workforce Strategy and HR Service Delivery- Laura.Wheeldon@equalityhumanrights.com or 0161 829 8100.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an accredited Disability Confident Leader and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) for candidates with a disability.

Should you wish to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme or request a reasonable adjustment, please indicate this in your application.  

If you require an alternative accessible version of the application form or wish to discuss your application or reasonable adjustment  – please contact us by email at recruitment@equalityhumanrights.com or by telephone on 0161 829 8100.

Diversity in our workforce

At the Commission, we are proud of our respectful workplace that values the contribution of all our staff, whatever their background.  We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit. We welcome applications from everyone to ensure we achieve a balanced representation in our workforce in all grades.