Inclusive Communities Officer (Youth and Faith)

Do you believe young people and faith communities should shape regional decisions, not just be consulted on them?

At the West Midlands Combined Authority, we are committed to ensuring regional decisions reflect the lived experiences of the communities we serve. We are looking for an Inclusive Communities Officer (Youth & Faith) who is motivated by fairness, collaboration and meaningful participation.

This is an opportunity to strengthen trust, deepen participation and turn insight into meaningful change. You will work at the heart of regional decision-making, ensuring that seldom-heard voices influence the priorities and actions of the Combined Authority.

At the centre of this role is the delivery of our Inclusive Communities Approach, embedding fairness, collaboration and participation across our programmes and partnerships.

What you will be doing.

You will lead WMCA’s youth voice and faith engagement activity, including supporting the Young Combined Authority and strengthening regional faith networks.

This role blends strategy with delivery. You will:

• Build trusted relationships with youth organisations, faith leaders and community connectors across the West Midlands
• Convene and strengthen forums and networks, ensuring diverse voices are represented and heard
• Support young representatives to engage confidently with senior leaders and elected officials
• Provide advice and insight to senior colleagues and the Mayoral Office
• Embed inclusive participation across policy development and programme delivery
• Commission and manage external partners, ensuring strong governance and value for money
• Manage project budgets and evaluate impact
• Coordinate engagement activity such as visits, roundtables and community events
• Horizon scan for emerging opportunities, funding and partnerships
• Lead continuous improvement through feedback and learning

You will work across local authorities, public services and community partners, turning dialogue into practical, collaborative action.

Some evening and weekend work will be required to support community activity, managed through our flexible working arrangements.

What’s essential.

You are motivated by inclusion, fairness and community empowerment. You combine strategic thinking with practical delivery and strong relationship-building skills.

You will bring:

• Experience of working across multiple partners in complex or politically sensitive environments
• A track record of delivering cross-functional projects to clear timescales
• Experience of developing and sustaining strategic partnerships and networks
• Project and contract management experience, including budget oversight
• The ability to translate lived experience and insight into practical policy or programme improvements
• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to influence and build shared understanding
• Experience coordinating events, visits or engagement activity
• Sound judgement, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• A minimum Level 3 qualification and commitment to ongoing professional development

You will also be able to travel across the West Midlands region and work flexibly when required.

Location. 

The location for this role is Summer Lane, Birmingham with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

How to apply. 

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

1. Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.
2. Build your Profile. Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.
3. Write your Supporting Statement. Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.
4. Submit your application. Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs). 
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days. 
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.   
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses. 

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values.

Our behaviours sit at the heart of our values, helping to shape how we work together as WMCA employees and setting clear expectations.

Collaborative

• Team Focused – working as part of team, managing and leading

• Service Driven – customer, resident and partner focused

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).