Policy Assistant Advert

Salary:£23,050-£25,625 pa + benefits

Location: London, Manchester, Bristol

Contract: FTC ending November 30 2016.

Start Date: Available immediately or within 1 month

Do you want to help end the housing crisis? This is an exciting opportunity to join the National Housing Federation as a Policy Assistant, supporting our policy work across our business plan priority areas. You will be based in Londonworking across the organisation to make the biggest impact possible for our housing association members.

With a new government in place and housing associations at the heart of their thinking, you will join the team at a particularly critical time.

We need to persuade the politicians that housing is the number one issue facing the nation, and make sure the new Government puts housing associations as the heart of its plans for housing. If you want to part of a vibrant dynamic team working on a crucial area of policy, making a real difference to housing the next generation, then this is the job for you.

Closing Date: Sunday 13 March 2016

Interview Date: TBC

Job Pack: Policy Assistant

Dear Candidate

The National Housing Federation is a membership body which gains its legitimacy and voice from our relationship with over 900 member organisations that provide two million homes and a range of services to over five million people. Ranging from very large social businesses with turnover in the hundreds of millions, to very small charitable care providers, we are committed to placing members at the very heart of our work

As a policy assistant, you will be at the heart of the Federation’s work to influence government and ensure the best possible operating environment for housing associations. The housing association sector is ambitious and committed to doing more to help address the housing crisis. You will support projects and policy development across the team, providing timely insights and interventions and developing policies and solutions that will help our members be as effective as possible.

You will be part of an ambitious policy and research team, aiming to become a national knowledge hub where members, policy makers, investors, the private sector, and academics come to exchange and test new ideas. You will join the team at an exciting time, where our policy work is geared towards making a big bold impact with the new government.

You may have a housing background, and an understanding of the key issues and challenges that impact on our members, or you may have a background in policy development. What is essential is that you are committed, credible, and passionate in everything you do.

In return we offer a great package, fantastic colleagues, a fun and vibrant organisation and the opportunity to work with a range of incredible members who deliver services that genuinely change peoples’ lives.

The role is fixed term until November 30th 2016.

For an informal discussion contact Steve Cole ( 020 7067 1079)

Yours faithfully

Steve Cole

Role Profile Template

Job Title:Policy Assistant

Directorate:Policy and External Affairs

Reporting to: Policy Leader

Responsible for: 0

Location:London

Grade:6

Overall Purpose

Policy Assistants support the delivery of the Federation’s business plan. This involves engaging across the Federation and its membership to support the development of high quality, relevant, evidence based policy; and informing and supporting housing associations to respond to a changing policy and legislative environment. Policy Assistants support work streams and projects within the overall direction of the policy team.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities for this post include:

  • Providing support to the team in engaging with member housing associations to identify and respond to the key opportunities and challenges facing them now, and in the future.
  • Contributing to evidence gathering and analysis to support policy development
  • Horizon scanning and keeping up to date with current policies and latest thinking and trends on a range of issues that impact housing associations.
  • Building and managing effective internal and external relationships with stakeholders.
  • Supporting colleagues in providing excellent customer service by responding to requests for information and advice externally and internally in an appropriate and timely matter.

Competencies

Cluster 1…People Focus
Communication and Influencing
Communicates clearly, concisely and articulately.
Has the confidence to communicate with a wide range of people, both internally and externally. Communicates to the right people at the right time.
Uses effective written communication (e.g. spelling and grammar, clarity and structure).
Collaborating with Others
Builds relationships with others and gets to know people. Gives positive feedback where appropriate.
Has a broad awareness of the work of the team and other individuals in the team and adapts own work accordingly.
Cluster 2…Setting Direction
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Sees link between own role and objectives and those of others in the Federation.
Seeks information about the Federation as a whole, its goals and aspirations.
Analysis and Decision-Making
Uses balanced, evidence-balanced approach to make decisions as required.
Knows where to find appropriate information to inform decisions.
Planning
Effectively plans how to achieve daily, weekly and quarterly goals. Applies logical planning skills (e.g. working back from deadline to set milestones, learning from past experience).
Accurately assesses the time and resources required to achieve goals and targets.
Cluster 3…Achieving Results
Delivering Results
Understands how to prioritise work and does so effectively. Understands how the urgency, importance and complexity of tasks interact to create priority and acts on this.
Informs members, partners and colleagues as appropriate, if priorities, schedules or deadlines need to change. Manages their expectations of delivery.
Quality assures own work in an exacting manner before delivering to others. (e.g. checks outgoing emails and documents for overall sense-making, accuracy and internal consistency).
Drive and Personal Effectiveness
Is adaptable when priorities change.
Has the confidence to constructively challenge and question processes and practices or the behaviour of others in order to drive continuous improvement.
Welcomes or seeks out feedback on performance and acts on constructive or challenging feedback appropriately.
Cross Cutting…Technical Expertise and Knowledge
Technical Expertise
Essential / Some knowledge and experience of research and survey methodology including analysis and modelling.
Some knowledge of or interest in public or social policy.
An understanding of the policy development process.
Technical Expertise
Desirable / Some knowledge of or interest in housing, social housing policy.

Date :18/02/16

Signed:Steve Cole

Line Manager:Rachel Fisher

Terms and Conditions

Salary

£23,050-£25,625 pa + benefits

Salaries are reviewed annually and general increases, if paid, are effective from the 1st October and paid if probation has been successfully completed at the effective date of the increase.

Discretionary bonus

The Federation operates a discretionary bonus structure based upon the commercial success and effective financial management of the organisation.

Contract

Fixed Term Contract

Hours of Work

This role is a 35-hour a week. Attendance at Federation conferences, party conferences and a certain amount of evening meetings will be required including some overnight stays.

Probationary Period

This post is subject to a 1-month probationary period.

Annual Leave

The holiday entitlement is 30 days including three days paid holiday leave taken between Christmas Day and New Year's Day inclusive, public holidays are in addition.

Occupational Sick Pay

The entitlement to sick pay is service-related, starting with one month's full pay during the first year of service and rising to six months full pay after 5 years’ service.

Pension Scheme

We offer a membership of a defined contribution pension scheme with the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS). The minimum employee contribution rate is currently 1%. The Federation’s contribution rate is 2% higher than the employee up to a maximum Federation contribution of 8%. To find out more about SHPS website, where further details can be obtained.

Private Health Care

The Federation will pay for you to become a member of the Simply Health scheme, allowing you to benefit from early diagnosis of medical conditions, access to surgery and complementary medicine e.g. physiotherapy. You may also opt to pay for your partner and/or children to become members too, and take out dental and optical cover.

Child Care Vouchers

We offer a childcare voucher scheme to employees with childcare responsibilities. This is a salary sacrifice scheme and is a tax efficient way of paying for childcare.

Interest Free Loan – Season ticket

We provide interest free loans to pay for annual season tickets for travel to and from work.

Cycle to Work scheme

We offer a tax free cycle to work scheme, which allows savings on the cost of a new bike, clothing and accessories for employees wishing to cycle to work for all or part of their journey.

Place of Work

This role is based at the National Housing Federation’s London office at Lion Court, 25 Procter Street, London WC1V 6NY. We have offices in Manchester and Bristol, and a number of home working staff.