Senior Policy Adviser to the West Midlands Mayor

Senior Policy Adviser to the Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority

About RAMP

The RAMP (Refugee, Asylum, and Migration Policy) Project is a cross-party initiative that supports politicians and regional leaders to improve policy and public understanding on migration, asylum and integration. Our aim is to help build a fair, effective and locally grounded migration system. We have launched our Metro Mayor’s Programme, building on our expertise in seconding specialist advisors into politician’s offices, working with Metro Mayors and Combined Authorities to shape practical, community-focused approaches and contribute to better regional and national policy on the questions of migration and integration.

About the Role

The Mayor of the West Midlands wants the West Midlands to work for everyone. The Mayor has four priorities; Jobs for everyone, Homes for everyone, Journeys for everyone and Growth for everyone. To us, Everyone means Everyone.

The West Midlands is renowned for its rich diversity, with a tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions that enrich our region. This diversity brings a wealth of perspectives and experiences, fostering innovation, creativity, and resilience within our communities. We aim to build on this strength by ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, promoting inclusivity and cohesion across all our initiatives. 

A series of listening events and engagements over the summer of 2024 culminated in Stronger Together. Key themes that emerged included the importance of early engagement with children and young people, measures to empower faith and community groups, the necessity for leaders to engage with all communities, and addressing the root causes of deprivation and division.

As we develop our approach to Public Sector Innovation, where we are developing a whole system approach in key areas of regional interest, we hope to better understand and connect our systems. That includes ensuring the integration of our valued and diverse refugee and migrant communities.

The Senior Policy Adviser will be contracted by RAMP and seconded into the Office of the West Midlands Mayor. While located in the Mayor’s team, they will work closely with the Head of Systems Change and Inclusion , alongside the Mayor's wider team. They would also work with staff across the Combined Authority (CA), Local Authorities (Las), our Strategic Migration Partnership and our wider partnerships with civil society to advance key projects related to Public Sector Innovation, community cohesion and integration. The adviser will also be part of a wider team of advisers for other Metro Mayors, working collaboratively to share learning and identify opportunities for joint working. Key responsibilities will include:

Public Sector Innovation: PSI represents a transformative opportunity to break free from traditional, centralised service delivery methods, which often fail to meet the unique needs of local communities - specifically our asylum, refugee and migrant communities. Rising demands, limited budgets, and systemic inefficiencies highlight the need for a new, collaborative approach to public services—one that is outcome-focused and designed to improve quality of life. 

Community Engagement and Convening: Adopting a community organising approach that empowers established community members to take the lead in driving local initiatives, fostering grassroots leadership, and creating sustainable connections between long-term residents and more recent arrivals. Supporting the Mayor in connecting meaningfully with communities and under-represented groups including communities experiencing change or anxiety either directly or indirectly as a result of migration. The role will work closely with Local Authority neighbourhood managers in defined geographies and communities, utilizing the convening power of the Mayor to bring together organisations, community leaders, and influential figures to address cohesion and integration challenge.

Stronger Together next steps: Continuing to implement recommendations from the Mayor’s Stronger Together process, aiming to build consensus and drive policy actions that enhance community cohesion. Identify our regional strengths and amplify them.

Deep Learning and Analysis: Conducting in-depth learning exercises, including focus groups and community consultations, to understand the specific issues related to cohesion and integration in targeted areas. Producing detailed reports and analysis to inform the Combined Authority’s strategies and policies and to shape future devolution asks.

National Network Contribution: Sitting within RAMP’s national network of Mayoral secondee advisers, contributing to a shared learning and evaluation programme. This involves sharing insights and best practices from the West Midlands with other Combined Authority areas and learning from their experiences, and bringing learning back to the West Midlands.

National Evidence Gathering: Contributing to national evidence gathering on the role, aspirations, and potential of Combined Authorities in delivering migration policy and fostering community cohesion. Feeding into internal RAMP network conversations with partners across the migration and asylum sector to influence national policy discussions.

Person Specification

We are looking for an organised, self-starter with the following experience, knowledge and skills:

• Excellent Relational and Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain a wide network of relationships based on trust and credibility. Skilled in finding win/win solutions and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals.
• Political Understanding and Regional Expertise: Sound political judgement and a strong understanding of regional government structures, dynamics of devolution and financial planning, ideally with clear knowledge of the context of migration and cohesion within the West Midlands. Experience of working with Combined or Local Authorities is desirable, though not essential.
• Alignment with Mayor’s Priorities: Sympathy with the views of the West Midlands Mayor and a good understanding of the Mayor’s priorities and how they could impact on refugee and migrant communities. 
• Policy Expertise: A strong understanding of community organising, community cohesion, migration, inclusion, and integration policy issues. Personal experience of and motivations for working in policy areas around inclusion and migration would be an advantage.
• Community Engagement & Research Skills: Experience in community engagement and focus grouping would be desirable. The ability to analyse and synthesise responses and feedback from these forums will be essential.
• Drive and Initiative: High levels of motivation, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt quickly to a rapidly changing context.
• Strategic Thinking: The ability to think and act strategically, presenting clear options and recommendations to busy politicians and officials.
• Proficient Writing Skills: Experience in drafting correspondence, articles, speaking points, and reports, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively.
• Commitment to Collaboration: A strong commitment to RAMP’s vision, mission, and values, with a demonstrable ability to work collaboratively with people who may hold different views.

Conditions

The successful candidate would be contracted at a rate of up to £300 per day ideally for 4 - 5 days per week for an initial 3 month probationary contract, followed by rolling 6 month contracts for the duration of this element of the project.

Applications are open until 5pm on Sunday 15th June. Please email with your CV and cover letter which sets out why you are interested in applying for this role.

If you have any questions please get in touch with us by an email