Senior Researcher - Conservative Group Support

Job title: Senior Researcher 

Requisition ID: 047273

Salary: £47,245

Grade: 7

Location: City Hall

Contract type: Permanent

Closing Date: Sunday 8 December 2024, 23.59

Team: Conservative Group

Directorate: Secretariat, London Assembly 

London Assembly and secretariat

The London Assembly scrutinises the Mayor's activities by questioning the Mayor about their decisions. The Assembly also investigates issues of importance to London.

There are 25 Assembly Members, elected every four years at the same time as the Mayor. The Secretariat works for the Assembly to support its activities.

The Communications Team support service to promote the work of the Assembly through press office, social media, publicity and events.

About the role

This is a chance to take on a unique role as a Senior Researcher for the City Hall Conservative Members of the London Assembly, specialising in research and examination of police and crime policy in London. 

• You will provide research, policy briefings, advice and support to Assembly
• Members, draft reports on issues of importance to Londoners, and will play an important role supporting Members in holding the Mayor to account.
• You will be responsible for managing the Assembly Members’ work on the Police and Crime Committee. 
• Excellent organisational, research, analytical and problem-solving skills are essential for this role.
• This role will specialise in police and crime policy; experience in this policy area is required.   
• Collaborative and diplomatic, you will bring to the role a talent for communicating and influencing both in person and in writing. 

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

What your day will look like:

• Providing high quality research, policy, communications, advice, and support to the Assembly Members working on police and crime policy, co-ordinating with a wide range of internal and external people and organisations and producing policy or constituency issue reports to publication standard.
• Acting as the key point of contact for GLA officers in respect of London Assembly scrutiny activity related to the Group Members’ roles and interests, ensuring an effective and efficient two-way transmission of views and suggestions, in order to maximise the Members’ positions and impact in the work of the Assembly; and to contribute effectively and proactively to the Members’ functions in respect of Mayor’s Question Time, Functional Body Question Time and other Assembly meetings.
• Developing and implementing comprehensive, proactive, and effective communications strategies for assigned Assembly Members, working in close coordination with the Head of Office, Research and Policy Manager, Lead Communications and Public Engagement Manager, and other relevant officers at all times; and to effectively monitor relevant media activity, and to provide effective and timely advice to relevant Assembly Members, including early warning of potential issues, items of local media interest and support in relation to online and social media.

Skills, knowledge and experience

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

• This role will specialise in police and crime policy; experience in this policy area is required.  
• Demonstrable research skills, to enable quick and effective grasp of information from a range of sources on a wide range of policy topics, and proven experience of policy briefing in a political/ public sector organisation.
• Demonstrable verbal and written communication skills, including experience of writing a range of different styles of document for different audiences, often within very short timescales; experience of producing information for media work and/or briefings for media interviews or policy work.
• Experience of working directly with influential, high-profile people in a pressured environment and in dealing with confidential/sensitive issues and documents; the ability to work in a politically complex organisation and apply political awareness.