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POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: / Senior Community Engagement Advisor
POSITION NO: / 703507 / CLASSIFICATION: / Band 7
DIVISION: / Chief Executive’s Office
BRANCH: / Communications and Engagement
UNIT: / Communications and Engagement
REPORTS TO: / Senior Coordinator Communications and Engagement
POLICE CHECK REQUIRED: / Yes / WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK REQUIRED: / No / PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL REQUIRED: / No

Yarra City Council supports flexible and accessible working arrangements for all.

This includes people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer.

We draw pride and strength from our diversity, remain open to new approaches and actively foster an inclusive workplace that celebrates the contribution made by all our people.

POSITION OBJECTIVES:

  • Provide expert advice on consultation and engagement options to ensure a high level of participation in policy, planning and decision-making by internal and external stakeholders, the wider community and those persons and communities considered “hard to reach”.
  • Take a lead role in advising on and delivering significant cross-organisational engagement projects, including deliberative engagement processes.
  • Lead the implementation of Yarra’s Community Engagement Policy.
  • Contribute to the planning, development and implementation of the Communications and Engagement branch’s strategic vision.
  • Develop the organisation’s capacity to consult with the community appropriately, confidently and with sincerity through the provision of advice, mentoring and role modelling.
  • Provide high quality communications support to a range of engagement and other projects as required.

ORGANISATIONALCONTEXT:

The Municipality is committed to efficiently and effectively servicing the community to the highest standards, protecting, enhancing and developing the City’s physical and social environment and building the population and business base. A major imperative of the Organisation is the introduction of a best value framework with an emphasis on customer service and continuous improvement.

The Communications and Engagement Unit is responsible for developing and implementing best practice communication and engagement plans for Council projects, managing media and other issues, social media, civic events, marketing and brand management.

ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

Position reports to: / Senior Coordinator Communications and Engagement
Position Supervises: / Nil
Internal Relationships: / Staff at all levels including the CEO, Executive Team, Councillors and the Mayor.
External Relationships: / Residents, community and business groups, other councils and representatives from other levels of government, consultants.

KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS AND DUTIES

  • Lead the implementation of Yarra’s Community Engagement Policy.
  • Take a leading role in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of significant cross-organisational strategic engagement projects, including deliberative engagement processes.
  • Work with internal business units to plan, advise, develop, implement and evaluate a range of community engagement projects in line with IAP2 principles.
  • Develop communications materials, including web pages, fact sheets, e-newsletters, posters and social media to support and promote opportunities for the community and stakeholders to engage with Council.
  • Manage Council’s online engagement website, using Bang The Table
  • Facilitate and moderate consultations with stakeholders and the community (e.g. town hall meetings, focus groups, world café, etc).
  • Lead the continuous improvement of community engagement practices within the organisation, including capacity building of staff from a range of business units.
  • Drive innovation and creative approaches to community engagement and communications, providing opportunities for Yarra’s diverse community to participate in Council’s decision making processes.
  • Actively contribute ideas, support and advice to the Communications and Engagement Team, work collaboratively with other team members and help facilitate a positive working environment.

ACCOUNTABILITYANDEXTENTOFAUTHORITY:

  • The Senior Community Engagement Advisor accountable to the Senior Coordinator Communications and Engagement for strategic planning, project management, resource and financial management, specialist advice, organisational and performance issues.
  • The authority to act in the position is subject to clear objectives, goals and budgetary constraints as determined by Council, the requirements of the Local Government Act 1989 and other relevant statutory regulations and professional standards.
  • The role plays a part in driving organisational change to ensure communications and engagement, the production of publications, and issues management are proactive.
  • Decisions taken by the incumbent will have an effect on the outcome of programs and on the public perception of the City of Yarra.

Safety and Risk

  • Minimise risk to self and others and support safe work practices through adherence to legislative requirements and Council policies and procedures.
  • Report any matters which may impact on the safety of Council employees, community members, or Council assets and equipment.

Sustainability

  • Embrace the following Sustaining Yarra principles through day to day work:
  • Protecting the Future
  • Protecting the Environment
  • Economic Viability
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Social Equity
  • Cultural Vitality
  • Community Development
  • Integrated Approach

Yarra Values

  • Behave according to the following values which underpin our efforts to build a service based culture based on positive relationships with colleagues and the community:
  • Respect
  • Teamwork
  • Innovation
  • Sustainability
  • Accountability
  • Integrity

JUDGEMENTANDDECISION MAKING:

  • Required to exercise independent judgement and adaptability in evaluating and deciding on appropriate methods, procedures and practices for achieving objectives and in reviewing and recommending improvements to those methods, procedures and practices.
  • Judgement, originality and creativity is required in making decisions which can be complex in nature and which may relate to problems or issues which are new or not previously encountered.
  • The position requires decision making based on understanding and knowledge of Council’s goals and objectives as they relate to the area.
  • The position needs to have an awareness of legislative and regulatory compliance issues, ensuring any emerging issues are reported to appropriate levels. The role needs to make sense out of complex problems or situations and provide clear recommendations for remedial action.

Key Competencies

SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Experience:

  • Highly developed oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong understanding and experience with the IAP2 community engagement principles.
  • Highly developed research and analytical skills.
  • Experience designing, delivering and evaluating engagement and communications strategies, action plans and projects.
  • Experience and understanding of deliberative engagement processes.
  • A well-developed knowledge of local government and how other levels of government function.
  • Experience with stakeholder relations.
  • A demonstrated high level of competency in using Office suite, website content management systems and social media.

Management Skills:

  • Skills in managing time, setting priorities, planning and organising one's own work
  • Experience managing complex projects
  • Ability to work independently and in a team
  • Ability to liaise and work effectively across council and with external groups

Interpersonal Skills

  • The ability to communicate with Executive members, Councillors, staff and a diverse community at all levels.
  • Highly skilled in written communication – including Council Reports and correspondence with external organisations.
  • Ability to gain cooperation and assistance from internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to solve problems through discussion, negotiation, teamwork and creativity.
  • Determination to produce high quality materials

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Tertiary qualifications in Community Engagement, Communications, Public Policy, Community Development or related fields.
  • Extensive experience working in a role that involved significant community engagement projects in localgovernment or comparable work setting.
  • Extensive experience with the principles of IAP2.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Demonstrated experience in planning, delivering and evaluating engagement and communications strategies and projects.
  • Excellent understanding of the IAP2 principles of engagement, and demonstrated experience in implementing these in a local government or similar professional environment.
  • Demonstrated excellent time and project management skills and proven ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
  • Demonstrated ability to think creatively and consider then implement innovative solutions to problems.

Senior Community Engagement AdvisorNovember 2017