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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 team

The Scrutiny and Investigation team is a circa.30-person team of researchers working across 10 committees and with a small internal Research Unit. We are politically impartial and provide confidential advice, briefing, and support to all Chairs and Members of the London Assembly on scrutiny matters.

About the role

The London Plan is the strategic document that sets the vision and direction of London’s public space. With a new London Plan process beginning, the Committee is looking for a planning policy expert to ensure that the Assembly pushes the Mayor to deliver the best possible Plan for all Londoners.

In this role you will be responsible for delivering the scrutiny work programme of the Planning and Regeneration Committee. You will support the Committee to hold the Mayor to account and to investigate planning and regeneration related topics that matter to Londoners. This will include:

* Providing expert advice to the Committee Chair and Members of the Assembly on planning and regeneration issues in London.

* Designing and delivering investigations, which will include research, drafting high quality briefings, formal committee meetings plus informal meetings, site visits and other ad hoc activities.

* Developing policy recommendations and working with the political parties on the Committee to build consensus, and publish impactful reports and correspondence.

You will be plugged into some of the most pressing policy issues facing London today, working across political parties to bring about positive change. You will also work closely with communities and the planning sector to research and shape your investigations, and this role comes with great opportunities for stakeholder engagement and network building.

This job is ‘politically restricted’ under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

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

What your day will look like

* Weekly liaison with the Committee Chair, and regular interaction with the group leads and members of the Assembly

* Leading the research element, including drafting internal briefings and published reports / correspondence.

* Working within the Committee project team with procedural and comms experts to deliver the Committee’s goals.

* Taking a senior/management role in the wider scrutiny team in the secretariat.

* Leading on engaging with external stakeholders / planning experts to ensure high quality meeting guests and informed research.

* Line or task-managing one or two researchers to contribute to the research and scrutiny work of the committee.

Skills, knowledge and experience

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

* Experience of one or more of the Committee’s policy areas.

* Knowledge and understanding of political, policy and governance issues relating to London and the UK more widely.

* Experience delivering complex projects to tight deadlines.

* Experience of operating effectively in a political environment.

* Degree or equivalent experience.

Desirable

* Experience establishing and successfully carrying out a programme of multiple scrutiny investigations / projects