Senior Adviser to the Deputy Mayor (Culture and Creative Industries)

The Mayor’s Office

The Mayor's Office is responsible for supporting the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

Supporting the Mayor, Deputy Mayors and lead advisors such as the Chief Digital Officer and Night Czar, the Mayor’s Office is organised into four small units:

• Communications
• Mayoral Operations
• Policy and Delivery
• Political and Public Affairs.

About the team

Jointly led by Natan Doron, Mayoral Head of Policy and Jamilla Hinds-Brough, Mayoral Head of Delivery.

The Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit (MPDU) brings together the Senior Advisors to the Deputy Mayors to oversee and drive delivery of the Mayor’s manifesto across portfolios, with a particular focus on the Mayor’s five priorities to: keep Londoners safe, get London’s economy back on its feet, ensure opportunities for young people, deliver a green new deal and build more affordable homes.

The MPDU oversees  a number of groups tasked with implementing the Mayor’s manifesto commitments and works to ensure policy development is joined-up and coordinated across the GLA family. They provide steers on cross-cutting policy and delivery work, and lead the clearance of policy reports and documents.

About the role

Provide high level strategic support and advice and stakeholder management to the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries by:

• Monitoring relevant policy developments to co-ordinate the input and response of the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries and ensure the Mayoralty is able to exploit opportunities and is aware of risks.
• Delivering project management on behalf of the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries including projects that span different teams and areas of work in the GLA.
• Supporting the effective running of the Deputy Mayor’s office, including working with the Executive Assistant to ensure effective diary and inbox management.

• Contributing to, and drafting as necessary reports, briefings, presentations, speeches and statements for the Deputy Mayor.

• Deputising for the Deputy Mayor Culture and Creative Industries as appropriate in internal and external forums to ensure the Mayor’s position and influence is fully recognised and applied to ensure the best outcomes for London.

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

• Engaging with the Deputy Mayor, including attendance some of their meetings and events, and preparing material to support those engagements
• Engaging with the Heads of Policy and Delivery and colleagues in the wider Mayor’s Office, and responding to requests for information, expertise or ideas
• Engaging with colleagues in Culture and Creative Industries and others Unit
• Contributing to and steering policy content, briefings and public comms material

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Significant experience of working in a sensitive political environment at a senior level and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to deliver large-scale strategic programmes

• An in-depth knowledge of the Deputy Mayor’s policy area(s) gained within a high-performance team

• Extensive and high-level strategic experience within project and/ or programme management

• Experience of strategy and programme development, delivery and oversight of implementation.
• A proven track record of success at a senior level

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria and competencies outlined in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345)

Applications submitted without a Personal Statement will not be considered.

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

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Jamilla Hinds-Brough would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at [email protected]

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the [email protected] who support the GLA with recruitment.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel. If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: w/c 27th January

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

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 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. 

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview.

Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

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.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also 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

Additional Information

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.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

Job Purpose

1. Provide high level strategic support and advice and stakeholder management to the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries, in developing policy, developing corporate programmes and strategies and promoting the Mayor’s agenda for London and advising on the implementation of policy and programmes.
2. To represent the Deputy Mayor, on relevant policy matters within the GLA, GLA Group and with external bodies as required.
3. To provide a steer to teams within the GLA on Mayoral priorities and messaging, working with fellow Senior Advisers to ensure Mayoral policy is coordinated and effectively delivered.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Provide broad policy and high-level strategic advice to the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries in areas covered by their brief.
2. Monitor relevant policy developments to co-ordinate the input and response of the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries and ensure the Mayoralty is able to exploit opportunities and is aware of risks.
3. Project management on behalf of the Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries including projects that span different teams and areas of work in the GLA.
4. Support the effective running of the Deputy Mayor’s office, including working with the Executive Assistant to ensure effective diary and inbox management.
5. Contribute to, and draft as necessary reports, briefings, presentations, speeches and statements for the Deputy Mayor.
6. Commission briefings and reports from relevant GLA Group teams and undertake high level reviews of these to ensure they are fit for purpose.
7. Work as part of the Mayor’s Policy and Delivery Unit and with other colleagues in the Mayor’s Office to ensure the co-ordinated and effective delivery of the Mayor’s agenda.
8. Deputise for the Deputy Mayor Culture and Creative Industries as appropriate  in internal and external forums to ensure the Mayor’s position and influence is fully recognised and applied to ensure the best outcomes for London.
9. Support the Deputy Mayor Culture and Creative Industries to build relationships with key stakeholders to promote the Mayor’s priorities and to foster effective partnership working to deliver those priorities.
10. 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.
11. 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.

Key relationships

Accountable to: Deputy Mayor, Culture and Creative Industries and Mayoral Directors for their areas of responsibility.

Principal contacts: MPDU principals, Mayoral Directors, Deputy Mayors and Mayor’s Senior Advisers and Head of Private Office,  Environment and Sustainable Development Teams, and counterparts in functional bodies.

Person specification

1.  Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• Ability to analyse and master public policy
• Ability to oversee and support project and programme delivery to achieve successful outcomes

• Significant experience of strategic working in a sensitive political environment
• Experience of engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to secure strategic alignment
• Experience of strategy and programme development
• Excellent written communication skills

2.  Behavioural Competencies

Building & Managing Relationships

is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives
• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities
• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict
• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect
• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership

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 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement
• Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation

Problem Solving

is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding
• Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice
• Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues
• Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes
• Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].