EDI Hub Programme Manager (Strategic Equality Plan)

18034BR

Vice Chancellor's Office

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

Advert

Programme Manager (Strategic Equality Plan)
EDI Hub, Vice-Chancellor's Office

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in supporting the University to achieve its ambitions to become an anti-racist organisation and provide an inclusive environment for both staff and students and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential at Cardiff University.  This role reports to the Head of EDI in the EDI Hub, located in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The EDI Hub is a brand-new team that will facilitate change in Cardiff University and will be integral to supporting the University to become anti-racist. 

The EDI Hub has responsibility for leading implementation of the University’s Strategic Equality Plan, engagement with equality Charter Marks, and ensuring good governance of EDI decisions. An initial priority for the team will be to review the governance arrangements of EDI in the University, including formalising Steering Groups and introducing programme boards. Steering Groups will oversee the University’s engagement with Charter Marks and the programme boards will oversee the delivery of the Strategic Equality Plan.

This position is a leadership role within the EDI Hub and will support the Head of EDI to implement new ways of working in the University. The successful candidate will work collaboratively across University departments, Colleges and Schools to build relationships and manage the delivery of organisational wide change.

This role will have responsibility for implementation of Cardiff University’s Strategic Equality Plan and corresponding action plans, including our Race Equality Action Plan. The successful candidate will lead change in the University by introducing programme boards to manage the implementation of the Strategic Equality Plan. The role will also manage the University’s EDI Committee, providing advice and support to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor who chairs this committee. Through line management responsibilities the successful candidate will support good governance across EDI decision making.

The post is full-time and fixed term until 31 July 2025.

Salary:  £49,794 - £54,395 per annum (Grade 7)

For an informal discussion on this role, please contact Sarah Pryor, Acting Head of EDI ([email protected]).

Date advert posted: Friday, 12 January 2024

Closing date: Sunday, 28 January 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

The successful candidate will:

•    Manage the University’s EDI Committee, including:
-    providing advice to the Chair, including through written and oral briefings;
-    overseeing all work of the EDI Committee;
-    working with the manager of the EDI Steering Groups to ensure alignment of governance arrangements;
-    working with key internal stakeholders in developing agendas for EDI Committee meetings, ensuring the Committee is assured of the University’s compliance with the Equality Act 2010;
-    providing effective leadership and people management to ensure effective arrangements are in place for in-person and hybrid meetings;
-    working with committee members, steering groups, other teams and colleagues to ensure meeting papers are effective in supporting strategic discussions,
-    following up on meeting actions, including through managing the EDI Hub Operational Working Group.

•    Lead the implementation of the University’s Strategic Equality Plan, including through:
-    ensuring there are sufficient structures in place to deliver the Strategic Equality Plan, such as through the introduction and management of Programme Boards;
-    providing effective leadership in managing, co-ordinating and evaluating the delivery of the University’s Strategic Equality Plan;
-    overseeing risk to the delivery of the Strategic Equality Plan, including putting in place mitigating actions;
-    overseeing the implementation of the University’s action plans (which underpins its Strategic Equality Plan), including monitoring progress and advising on changes where required;
-    taking decisions within appropriate boundaries, and escalating issues to Head of EDI where required;
-    ensuring good governance of the delivery of the Strategic Equality Plan by aligning programme boards with the EDI Committee;
-    building strong relationships with owners of actions within the Strategic Equality plan, including across departments, Colleges and Schools;
-    providing reporting updates to EDI Committee.

•    Lead the implementation of our Race Equality Action Plan, including through:
-    ensuring a strategic and co-ordinated approach to the delivery of our race equality work;
-    embedding race equality into the delivery of our Strategic Equality Plan;
-    supporting School, College and Professional Services teams to implement their actions within the Race Equality Action Plan;
-    working closely with the Race, Religion and Belief Steering Group to monitor the progress we are making towards our ambitions to become an anti-racist organisation;
-    putting in place mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of our race equality work.

•    Support Colleges and Schools to implement the University’s Strategic Equality Plan at a local level, including through:
-    providing advice on aligning local equality plans with the University plan, including monitoring mechanisms;
-    advising on what action is effective in achieving change, including through facilitating exchanges of best practice inside and outside the University.

Continued in 'Additional Information'

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
1.    Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent /  Professional membership/experience;
2.    Knowledge of the equality, diversity and inclusion landscape in Wales, including the key issues facing Higher Education Institutions;
3.    Experience working on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion, such as tackling harassment or discrimination, or promoting equal opportunities for all;
4.    Experience of leading complex or cross organisational projects, including developing project plans, monitoring frameworks and risk registers and an ability to lead or support good governance processes in a complex organisation, ensuring clear and effective decision making;
5.    An ability to provide effective and supportive line management to staff members.

Customer service, communication and team working
6.    An ability to develop strong and collaborative internal relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior levels;
7.    Experience of working with a range of stakeholder to deliver change, including bringing people together where there is disagreement on the best way forward;
8.    Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present detailed information and robust advice to senior stakeholders in a clear and succinct way, responding effectively to constructive challenge when required;
9.    An understanding of the role of internal and external communication strategies in delivering change.

Planning, analysis and problem solving
10.    An understanding of data and an ability to use data and/ or evidence to inform policy positions, advise senior leaders, and/or influence change.

Desirable Criteria

11.    Experience of line management
12.    Experience of developing and delivering communication and/or stakeholder engagement strategies
13.    Fluency in written and spoken Welsh 

Additional Information

Job description continued
•    Line manage the EDI Hub Co-ordinator, ensuring:
-    staff member has clear guidance and support, and understand how their role supports the EDI team to deliver its objectives;
-    offering pastoral and welfare support;
-    supporting development of the staff including objective setting, appraisal, performance review and training;
-    ensuring that the staff operates within policies and procedures of the University.

•    To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate;

•    To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and of other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, EC directives and the University’s Safety, Health and Environment Policies and procedures and to cooperate with the University on any legal duties placed on it as the employer. 

•    This role will support the wider work of the EDI Hub, and may also be asked to perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Job Category

Business / Strategic Management