Research & Policy Officer

• Locations

  London, WC2E 9JD

• Salary

  £45,198.40

• Sector

  Policy

• Type

  Permanent

Job Title:     Research & Policy Officer                   

Reports to:  Head of Policy & Communications

Location:     Community Head Office, London

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Head of Policy and Communications and working within the Policy and Communications Team, the Research and Policy Officer will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering support to all levels of the union on research and policy. The role will involve supporting the union’s internal research requirements, as well as developing the union’s external policy agenda and policy interventions with government, Labour Party, and TUC.

Person Specification:

• Experience of speech writing for political audiences.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to write clearly for a range of audiences as well as presenting to audiences.
• The ability to work well within a team and also the drive to work independently.
• Proven ability to be innovative, adaptable and creative with attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively manage workload and work flexibly to meet organisational needs.
• Excellent research skills and working knowledge of information sources.
• Experience using of Microsoft Office suite.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

 Support the union’s industrial, collective-bargaining and organising agenda through the provision of user-friendly research, advice, surveys, and briefings on industrial and company-specific issues, pay claims, and attending relevant meetings, and delivering electronic ballots as required.

• Work with the Head of Policy & Communications to deliver the union’s internal constitutional obligations, including managing the union’s National Executive Committee meetings (including quarterly travel to our Earls Barton office in Northamptonshire) and organising sectoral, and union-wide elections.
• Work with the Head of Policy & Communications to promote the union’s policy agenda, including drafting motions, amendments, and speeches for conferences, and drafting briefings for both internal and external audiences.
• Work with the Head of Policy & Communications to organise Community’s Biennial Delegate Conference, sector conferences across the union.
• Monitor and review policy development across the varying sectors of the union such as steel and wire, justice and custodial, education, finance and professional, third sector, logistics, and beyond, as well as self-employment.
• Support the union’s thought-leadership through the commissioning and development of high-quality policy reports that draw on members’ experiences and the key concerns that affect their communities.
• Respond to government consultations across government departments, non-departmental public bodies, and select committees.
• Produce guidance and advice for members on public policy issues across all sectors.
• Work with the Politics Team to monitor developments across Parliaments and provide briefings to MPs, MSPs, MS’ on the key priorities for Community members across all sectors.
• Write on behalf of the General Secretary and other senior staff, for a variety of audiences.
• Represent Community and support senior officers at various external events and meetings, including with government departments and national and international sister unions
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to shape the union’s policy positions in key areas for the membership.
• Support staff across the union to deliver on key policy priorities through organising in workplaces by developing and commissioning resources and training.
• Other tasks as directed.

Personal Qualities & Understanding

• Compliance with the union’s GDPR policy and practices
• Understanding of good trade union principles, beliefs & ethos.
• Strong awareness & commitment to equal opportunities and valuing diversity.
• A commitment to Community Vision & Mission Charter.