Scrutiny Officer

Job Description

About the Role

Are you interested in working with Assembly Members from across the political spectrum, conducting research to hold the Mayor to account and investigate issues of importance to Londoners?

The London Assembly is looking for talented researchers to join its highly regarded scrutiny team, where you will be investigating some of the key challenges facing London and examining the Mayor’s policies to address them. 

We are looking for someone with proven research, analysis and drafting skills, who is seeking to gain or extend their experience delivering impartial research and research support in a political environment.

In this role, you will be part of a research team and will contribute to producing and delivering a wide range of projects, research, briefings, reports and outputs for the London Assembly, its committees and its Members. You will be assigned to support one or more of the ten topical committee teams and/ or the Research Unit in the Assembly and tasked with work to support Committee investigations through conducting high quality research and analysis, as well as scrutiny support work.

On a day-to-day basis, you will be working with the senior researchers in the committee team to support its work in gathering and analysing evidence from a range of sources, and supporting Committees’ external engagement and consultation through arranging and organising calls for evidence and various meeting formats. 

This is an excellent opportunity to develop topical research skills and political awareness in an ambitious research role.

Further information on working within the GLA core Secretariat can be found by watching the following video: : https://youtu.be/8TLVhKf7HSY

Please ensure your supporting statement clearly addresses the person specification criteria (technical requirements and behavioural competencies) .
 

Principal Accountabilities

• Support the Assembly’s committees and their teams to carry out effective investigations into issues of importance to Londoners, including by:

1. Conducting research and analysis in support of Assembly investigations.  
2. Produce accurate, timely and effective contributions to Committee briefings and outputs, including leading the production of briefing and outputs where appropriate;
3. Maintain regular research / monitoring systems for topical press reports and GLA policy developments;
4. Ensuring the accuracy of committee investigation outputs on behalf of the team by conducting detailed proofreading and fact checking;
5. Help to monitor the implementation and impact of the Assembly’s recommendations.
6. Liaise with Secretariat, GLA colleagues and external organisations to plan and organise informal meetings and site visits.
7. Managing responses to relevant correspondence and FOI requests.
8. Work creatively with external relations colleagues to raise the profile of the Assembly, its committees and work. 

• To realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams
• Manage staff and resources in allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards
• Manage resources allocated to the job in accordance with the GLA's policies and Code of Ethics and Standards.
• Work with the Senior Policy Adviser and other members of the team to establish and maintain a rigorous approach to handling responses to stakeholder consultations, including working with the wider project team to deliver response analysis papers.
• Provide research briefings and organizational support for the committees’ programme of informal meetings and site visits, liaising with internal partners and external stakeholders to ensure the preparation and delivery of these events.

Person Specification

Technical Requirements/ Experience/ Qualifications

• Evidence of ability to research and analyse information.        
• Evidence of ability to understand and synthesize complex or high volumes of information.
• Evidence of ability to implement and manage administrative systems.
• Experience of communicating effectively in different ways, including with external stakeholders, and drafting correspondence.
• Evidence of ability to work as part of a project team.
• Degree or equivalent experience
• Broad understanding of key policy and political issues affecting London and London government.

Behavioural Competencies

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

• Proactively seeks new information sources to progress research agendas and address gaps in knowledge
• Grasps limitations of or assumptions behind data sources, disregarding those that lack quality
• Analyses and integrates qualitative and quantitative data to find new insights
• Translates research outcomes into concise, meaningful reports
• Identifies relevant and practical research questions for the future
   

PLANNING AND ORGANISING

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework

This job is ‘politically restricted’ under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989

This role is based at City Hall, in the Royal Docks (Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1Z).

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact Zoe Oliver-Watts at zoe.oliver-watts@london.gov.uk and/or Tim Gallagher at Tim.Gallagher@london.gov.uk.    

Application Process

Please apply using your CV and a Covering Letter (maximum two pages) addressing the following Technical Requirements and Behavioural Competencies listed above in the advert that demonstrates your suitability to the role.

Please upload your Cover Letter to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the application form and upload your CV to the ‘Resume’ section. All documents uploaded must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format and do not include any photographs or images.

Applications submitted without a Covering Letter will not be considered.

All applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system.

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

On this recruitment campaign, as part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and covering letters that could cause discrimination.

Reasonable adjustment will be made to working arrangements to accommodate a person with a disability who otherwise would be prevented from undertaking the work.