Senior Policy Adviser to the Mayor of the North East Combined Authority

Senior Policy Adviser to the Mayor of the North East Combined Authority

About RAMP

The RAMP (Refugee, Asylum, and Migration Policy) Project is a cross-party initiative that supports politicians and regional leaders to think more deeply and collaborate more widely on immigration, asylum and integration issues. Our aim is to support politicians and Combined Authorities to develop fair, effective and locally grounded migration policies. We launched our Metro Mayor’s Programme building on our expertise in seconding specialist advisors into parliamentarians’ offices. Advisers will work 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 - a message from Mayor Kim McGuinness

We are extremely pleased to be recruiting for this exciting position, working to support the work of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and my Mayoral office on questions of migration, refuge and asylum. As Mayor, I am proud to lead a region that is vibrant, diverse, and full of potential.

My mission is to make the North East the home of real opportunity. That means tackling child poverty, helping people and businesses to grow, and celebrating our region on the national and international stage.

The North East CA plays a vital role in driving economic growth that benefits everyone, improving public services, and ensuring that our region, remains a great place to live, work, invest, and travel. We are at an exciting moment, with investments and opportunities that are set to transform our area for the people living here.

Your expertise and commitment are essential as we strive to achieve our ambitious goals. I am confident together we can continue to build a region that is as dynamic, confident, and inclusive. I look forward to welcoming you to our team and working together to make a lasting impact on our community.

This role will report to the North East CA’s Inclusive Economy Advisor and sit within the Skills, Inclusion and Public Service Reform directorate.

Responsibilities

The role will encompass three broad areas of work:

• Policy Development & Research

Analysing the impact of national migration policy changes (e.g. the recent White Paper on Migration) on the North East Economy, workforce planning and public services. From this work, developing evidence-based recommendations for the Mayor and Combined Authority directorates, centring economic inclusion and the foundational economy. This work will support the Mayor’s manifesto commitments on inclusive economic growth and the New Deal for North East Workers.

• Stakeholder convening & Partnership building

Working closely with the North East Migration Partnership (NEMP) to complement and strengthen their work, ensuring complementarity with the work of the Combined Authority. Convening other stakeholder institutions, such as Universities, Local Authorities and civil society to identify opportunities and challenges around migration in the North East - acting as a bridge between regional partners and national and international networks.

• Narrative shaping and advocacy

Support the Mayor in communicating the story of migration in the region providing briefing notes, speech material and policy framing to help shape the public debate. Keep abreast of Whitehall and Westminster discourse to feed into North East negotiations with government.

Skills & Experience:

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex national policy changes and assess their impact on the region.
• An understanding of and alignment with NECA’s strategic priorities around economic inclusion and the foundational economy, Mayor McGuinness’s manifesto commitments, and a broad understanding of migration policy.
• Ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including experience of convening and facilitating multi-agency meetings, committees and project groups.
• Understanding of the regional governance structures and role of Combined Authorities.
• Political awareness, and ability to frame issues in ways which are constructive and accessible to a diverse range of audiences.

Desirable experience:

• Prior experience working in or with Combined Authorities, local government or Mayoral offices.
• Familiarity with migration and integration policies, or wider thematic policy areas around growth and inclusion.
• Track record of engaging with policymakers and decision-makers, or contributing to lobbying and advocacy efforts.
• Knowledge of the North East Region and the priorities of Mayor McGuinness.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for an organised self-starter with the ability to work independently, set priorities, and work diligently and professionally within a fast-paced working environment. The successful candidate will display adaptability, a collaborative working style and a high degree of political sensitivity. Candidates should also be sympathetic to the aims and agenda of Mayor McGuinness and aligned with her strategic goals and objectives.

Conditions

The successful candidate would be contracted as a consultant at a rate of up to £300 per day ideally for 4 - 5 days per week for an initial 3 month probationary contract, with a strong likelihood of extension to 6 month rolling contracts at that point. We operate a hybrid working policy with both office and remote working as led by business need – with main presence at The Lumen, St James' Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne.