Website Newham Council
Full job description
Job Description
Majority Labour Group Political Assistant
£42,840 – £46,041 per annum
Fixed Term to May 2026
Newham is one of the fastest growing, young and diverse boroughs in the country. We have over 351,000 residents, over seven in ten of whom are from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities. We are the third fastest growing borough in London.
The Labour Group on Newham Council currently comprises the Directly Elected Mayor and 59 of 66 Councillors.
As Newham’s Directly Elected Labour Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, is driving a pioneering people-powered council agenda to deliver growth that puts people and communities at the forefront of all we do and celebrates our diversity. Her ambitious growth plans are anchored in Community Wealth Building to tackle poverty and build an inclusive economy, as well as taking real action in the face of the Climate Emergency.
The Role
Would you thrive in a political environment, providing broad-ranging support to the Majority Labour Group of the Council?
This is a fast-paced, exciting and varied role which will provide challenge, opportunity and satisfaction in equal measure. Working closely with the Directly Elected Mayor as Leader of the Labour Group, the Group Officers, Chief Whip and other members, you will support the effective working of the Group itself and with council officers and other stakeholders.
With a good understanding of the Labour Party and its ways of working, you will organise and support Group and other meetings, undertake research and advise on the development of political strategy, policies and positions, and draft reports, briefings, speeches/ speaking notes, communications etc to help the Group to take these forward. You will also support engagement with the Labour Party nationally and at London level.
You will be able to build and maintain the trust of the Mayor, Group Officers and all Labour Councillors through strong working relationships and effective delivery of various kinds of support. An acute ability to spot issues or sensitivities quickly and the initiative and judgement to help shape effective responses will be your hallmark. You will have the personal resilience to operate effectively to support a large political group.
You will sit within the Mayor’s Office team and will be expected to work flexibly, involving at least 3 days a week in the office or in person with Group members or colleagues, and some work outside normal working hours (evenings and weekends).
This post is established under section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and politically restricted under section 2(1) of the same Act.
For further information about the role, contact Sarah Sturrock, Interim Strategic Adviser to the Mayor, sarah.sturrock@newham.gov.uk , 07960 076925.
https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/7996/majority-labour-group-political-assistant-jd
Closing Date: Sunday 27 th October 2024 @ 11.59pm
Technical Interviews: W/C 4th November 2024
Panel Interview: W/C 11th /19th November 2024
IMPORTANT: If you are an LBN member of staff and applying for this role as a secondment you should note that secondments are subject to the agreement of your current employing service. Please ensure that you inform your line manager of your intention to apply for the post in the first instance.
Additional Information
We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.
The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.
We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn .
The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.
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