Good Relations Officer

Main purpose of job

To be responsible to the Senior Good Relations Officer for the implementation of the council’s Good Relations Strategy with regard to the community relations and cultural diversity strands, including providing advice and guidance on its implementation and associated tasks.

To coordinate and integrate the council’s work in the promotion of equality of opportunity, the promotion of good community relations and the celebration of cultural diversity.

To keep under review new developments in the field of good relations and to make recommendations to the officer in charge of the unit.

To ensure the necessary high standards of service delivery in the work of the Good Relations Unit are maintained.

To contribute to corporate management through participation in meetings of senior officers and other working and consultative groups or specific project teams as necessary.

Summary of responsibilities and personal duties

Community Relations

1.         To establish an appropriate good relations programme and to initiate, develop, promote and manage a range of good relations events and activities.

2.         To manage, oversee and review the grant-aid process for community relations events and activities and make recommendations through the Shared City Partnership.

3.         To encourage, promote, advise and support projects which aim to develop good community and race relations throughout the city.

Cultural Diversity

4.      To establish an appropriate Cultural Diversity Programme which acknowledges and respects the cultural diversity within the city and to initiate, develop, promote and manage a range of cultural diversity events and activities.

5.      To manage, oversee and review the grant-aid process for cultural diversity events and activities and make recommendations through the Shared City Partnership.

6.      To develop and maintain good working relationships with the Culture and Arts Unit, other appropriate sections or departments and key personnel in other agencies.

7.      To encourage appreciation of diversity and to raise awareness of other cultural identities and traditions. To focus on equity, inclusivity, accessibility and to raise awareness of the specific needs of ethnic minority communities.

General

8.      To develop and implement council policies and procedures in relation to all aspects of the good relations strategy, specifically those relating to community relations and cultural diversity.

9.      To develop good team working relationships with other staff within the Good Relations Unit to ensure complementariness of roles with a view to improving service delivery.

10.   To devise and deliver an effective internal and external communication programme to publicise the council’s good relations activities.

11.   To act as an adviser internally to senior officers, working groups and project teams with regard to any cultural diversity and good relations issues.

12.   To advise groups and organisations externally on council policy and procedures in relation to good relations.

13.   To be responsible for the management and review of grant applications.

14.   To be responsible for organising seminars, conferences and information events including the preparation and delivery of presentations with regard to good relations and cultural diversity issues.

15.   To assist in the design, development and delivery of training programmes for council members and employees in good relations and cultural diversity.

16.   To develop and assist in the delivery of programmes to build capacity and empower communities to express their own identity and increase civic pride and citizenship.

17.   To build effective partnerships and collaborations with appropriate agencies.

18.   To develop and maintain a network of contacts including local community groups, voluntary, statutory and government bodies, and other bodies, and to develop and maintain all relevant data.

19.   To monitor and evaluate appropriate policies, programmes and projects in terms of their impact on good relations.

20.   To keep under review new policies, emerging issues, best practice and research methods which may impact upon the council within this area of work.

21.   To undertake research and assist with the production of publication materials.

22.   To seek funding and sponsorship from appropriate bodies.

23.   To be responsible for the preparation of relevant reports and performance related data and to monitor current methods and approaches with a view to improvement.

24.   To contribute to corporate management through participation in meetings, consultative groups and special projects.

25.   To motivate and manage any staff that may be assigned to the postholder to ensure effective service delivery and to be responsible for reviewing and implementing a proper staff training and development programme.

26.   To participate in all induction and in-service training provided by Belfast City Council and in the induction and support of all newly appointed staff and other human resource management policies and procedures, as appropriate, including absence management, disciplinary and grievance procedure.

27.   To participate as directed in the council's recruitment and selection procedures.

28.   To act in accordance with the council and departmental policies and procedures including customer care, equal opportunities, health and safety, safeguarding, and any pertinent legislation.

29.   To undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the council.

30.   To undertake such other duties as may from time to time be required.

This job description has been written at a time of significant organisational change and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve.  Therefore, the post-holder will be required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description but which are commensurate with the role.

Essential criteria

Qualifications and experience

Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

·           either, have a third level qualification in a relevant subject, for example, social science, business studies, public policy, public administration or equivalent relevant qualification and be able to demonstrate by providing personal and specific examples on the application form, that they have at least one year’s relevant experience in each of the following areas: or

·           be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples on the application form, that they have at least two years’ relevant experience in each of the following areas:

a)     dealing with good relations or cultural diversity issues;

b)     leading on the development, implementation and management of a community relations or cultural diversity programme, including planning and managing events; and

c)      working with other agencies or partnerships on significant local political and cultural issues to effectively deliver agreed outcomes.

Desirable criterion

In addition to the above qualifications and, or experience, Belfast City Council reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants who, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms, can demonstrate by providing personal and specific examples on the application form, that they have either a third level qualification in a relevant subject and two years’ relevant experience; or three years’ relevant experience, in each of the areas detailed above (a – c).

Special skills and attributes

Applicants must be able to demonstrate, evidence of the following skills and attributes which will be tested at interview:

Communication skills: highly effective presentation and communication skills with the ability to influence and persuade others, build rapport and maintain the engagement and commitment of others to secure support, both orally and in writing.

Technical knowledge: clear understanding of how the role can support and promote good community relations, cultural diversity and equality of opportunity.

Project management and financial skills: the ability to manage workload to meet tight deadlines within projects by setting objectives and targets, monitoring criteria and evaluating against performance measures and the ability to manage, oversee, and review grant-aid processes and successfully seek appropriate funding and sponsorship.

Team working skills: the ability to work constructively within a team and to build and develop high levels of communication and cooperation between team members in order to achieve objectives.

Political sensitivity skills: the ability to work in a local political environment with awareness, sensitivity and commitment to working closely with elected politicians, partners and local organisations.

Partnership working skills: the ability to form, maintain and enhance partnership working with internal and external stakeholders, networks and communities to build consensus around key projects.

Analysis and decision-making skills: the ability to analyse and interpret complex issues and exercise critical judgement in arriving at practical solutions.

Customer care skills: the ability to maintain an emphasis on service-related outcomes and respond to the needs of internal and external customers.

Equality knowledge: a clear understanding of and commitment to equality principles and the ability to apply them in service provision.