Member Relationship Officer

Big changes are happening at WMCA. We have welcomed a new Mayor, the Trailblazer Devolution Deal implementation is underway, and single settlement is changing the way we work - this is an incredibly exciting time to join us.

To add to this, we now have a new post for a Member Relationship Officer. This role facilitates engagement and collaboration with key stakeholders, to include Elected Members and Local authorities. You’ll also manage communication channels, organise stakeholder visits and oversee member training programmes.

It’s key that the right candidate has an awareness of the changing political landscape and can interpret and correlate information from various sources to keep up to date.  

Please note that this role is being offered as a 12-month fixed-term-contract.  

What will you be doing? 

• Coordinate question gathering from MPs and manage information collection for responding to them during the new MP's Question Time sessions. 
• Utilise our CRM System to manage the details of key stakeholders in member authorities, engaging with them to understand their view of the WMCA. 
• Work with the Member Relationship Manager to ensure the WMCA maintains strong visibility with constituent and non-constituent members. 
• Support with the coordination of visits by WMCA to constituent/non-constituent committees/boards. 
• Respond to enquiries and support with drafting and issuing communications to stakeholders. 
• Monitor and report on opportunities for engagement via Local Authority Forward Plans and Scrutiny Work Programmes. 
• Help deliver the annual Member Engagement Survey to understand and monitor relations with key stakeholders in member authorities, levels of satisfaction and trends
• Oversee the evaluation of events, engagement and communications with member authorities, sharing with the organisation to improve processes and practices. 
• Work with third party contractors and external bodies to identify, plan, and deliver a Councillor visit service to raise awareness of the work we do at the WMCA across the region. 
• Help deliver the member induction programme and ongoing member development and training programme. 

About you. 

• An understanding of political landscapes, with the ability to “see the bigger picture” and link information from different sources.   
• Evidence of working with and understanding Elected Members needs. 
• Experience of working with stakeholders – engaging, influencing, managing expectations and meeting requirements.  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate with colleagues and external audiences at a senior level.  
• Demonstrable experience of coordinating responses to external stakeholders. 
• Familiarity of working with a CRM System (Dynamics preferably, but not essential). 
• Ability to act on own initiative, working under pressure to tight deadlines and exercising own judgement. 
• Proven experience to solve problems and offer solutions to difficult situations.

Meet the manager, know the job!  

We are hosting a “meet the manager” call which gives you an excellent chance to meet the hiring manager and find out more about this opportunity. You'll get to ask any questions you may have, too.  

Date and Time: 30th May, 1pm-2pm.

To sign up for this event, please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-manager-member-relationship-officer-tickets-914404627857?aff=oddtdtcreator 

(recruitment agencies are not required for this role and a link will not be distributed to them.)

How to apply.  

On clicking ‘apply for this job’, you will be prompted to create an account. You will have the opportunity to upload a CV, which will be used to auto-populate your profile. Please note, we do not see your CV once you have applied. Our shortlisting decisions are based on what you tell us in your profile - and so it is important to format your profile so that it really stands out. Make sure to include your employment history and include any essential education and qualifications. You will be asked to provide a supporting statement. If you already have one that you have prepared earlier, you can simply copy and paste this into the application form.  

Reasonable adjustments. 

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (careers@wmca.org.uk). We are here to assist and accommodate your needs. 

Salary and benefits. 

We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, 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. 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes a Local Government Pension Scheme, 28 days of paid annual leave, Cycle to Work Scheme, and discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers. For more details, please visit the benefits page on our careers site. 

Hybrid working, location and working pattern. 

We believe hybrid working is the best way for our organisation to fulfil our commitment to a modern, agile workplace while continuing to provide a great service to our customers. Hybrid working means having flexibility between working in the office and at home on agreed days, where a role allows.  

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane. It is expected that you can split your time between the office and working remotely, with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.  

Creating an inclusive workplace. 

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace that reflects the communities of the West Midlands region. We believe that building a team with varied backgrounds and experiences will benefit us as an employer and enhance our work. 

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 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. If your values align with ours and you are dedicated to working towards a future that we can all be proud of, we would love to hear from you. 

Right to Work in the UK.

Applicants will need to evidence that they have the legal right to work in the UK.  If we make an offer of employment, we will need to check that you are eligible to work in the UK before you start work.