About The Role
Join Islington Council as the Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Are you passionate about creating a fairer, more inclusive society? Do you have the vision and drive to lead transformative change? Islington Council is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) to spearhead our efforts in fostering an inclusive environment for all our employees and residents.
As the Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing our EDI strategy. Reporting to the Assistant Director for Communities, Equality, and Heritage, you will lead a dedicated team and work collaboratively with various stakeholders to embed EDI principles across all aspects of the Council's operations. Your leadership will ensure that Islington Council not only meets its legal obligations but also sets the standard for best practices in EDI.
In this role, you will develop and oversee the implementation of the Council's EDI strategy, ensuring alignment with national policies and legislation. You will lead the review and enhancement of EDI policies and frameworks to drive tangible improvements in service provision and employment practices. Building effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including community groups, voluntary sector partners, and local residents, will be crucial to promoting EDI initiatives. You will enhance access to services and outcomes for minority and disadvantaged groups, ensuring that EDI considerations are integrated into service delivery plans and workforce strategies. Establishing and maintaining robust performance frameworks to track progress against EDI targets and ensure accountability will be a key aspect of your role. Additionally, you will collaborate with HR and other departments to develop and deliver EDI training and awareness programmes for staff at all levels. Acting as an ambassador for the Council, you will attend community events and engage with local residents to ensure their voices are heard in EDI matters.
To be successful in this role, you will need demonstrable experience in developing and implementing EDI initiatives within a large, complex organisation. A proven track record in project management, strategy development, and policy implementation is essential. You should have substantial understanding of current employment and equality legislation, as well as best practices in EDI. Familiarity with Equality Frameworks and Charters is desirable. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a diverse range of stakeholders, are crucial. Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team, are required. Experience in managing senior-level relationships and driving cultural change is also important. You should have the ability to analyse, interpret, and present data to inform decision-making and measure the impact of EDI initiatives. Personal attributes such as being empathetic, solutions-focused, and committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion are highly valued. A high degree of organisational ability and a willingness to take responsibility for achieving outcomes are also necessary.
For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact Robert Stoner, Senior Recruitment Lead, at [email protected] .
About You
Working for the team, service and our organisation
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people.
Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.
Our offer to you
We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
- A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
- Excellent local government pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
Recruitment information
It is the policy of Islington Council that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against racial discrimination.
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The post is subject to a basic/standard/enhanced DBS check with children/adult barred list, Social Work England/HCPC registration, qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
