Assistant Policy and Projects Advisor

The City of London Corporation is seeking an Assistant Projects and Policy Advisor to join the Policy and Industrial Relations team within People & HR, on a fixed-term contract of six months.

We aim to be a Destination Employer that people want to work for. In this role, you will provide high-quality project, policy and administrative support, helping us to develop, review and implement employment policies and people initiatives that enable our workforce to deliver great things and be highly productive. You will coordinate projects, undertake research and analysis, prepare clear written material, and support engagement with colleagues, recognised trade unions, employee representatives and other stakeholders.

This is a high-pressure environment with regular deadlines, and the ability to meet those deadlines is essential.

Key responsibilities

Project coordination and delivery

- Support the planning and delivery of policy, employee relations and organisational projects, maintaining proportionate project plans, milestones, action logs and records.

- Coordinate meetings, workshops and consultation activity, including arranging logistics, preparing agendas and papers, recording decisions and tracking follow-up actions.

- Monitor progress, risks, issues, dependencies and outcomes, escalating concerns promptly and preparing concise updates for project leads and governance groups.

- Maintain accurate project documentation and assist with benefits tracking, evaluation and lessons learned.

Policy research and development

- Undertake desk research and evidence gathering on employment policy, workforce practice, employee relations and relevant legislative or sector developments.

- Analyse qualitative and quantitative information, identify key themes and present findings in accessible formats.

- Support the drafting, review and publication of policies, procedures, guidance, briefings, reports, responses and consultation materials.

- Help to assess the operational, equality, employee relations and implementation implications of proposed policy changes.

- Maintain policy schedules, document control, audit trails and version histories.

Communications, governance and continuous improvement

- Work collaboratively with stakeholder teams and staff groups across the City of London Corporation, its Institutions and beyond to share best practice and build efficiency.

- Draft clear, concise and audience-appropriate communications, presentations and briefing material.

- Maintain shared workspaces, correspondence records, forward plans, dashboards and management information.

- Support compliance with governance, information management and assurance requirements.

- Identify practical opportunities to streamline processes, improve templates and strengthen the accessibility and consistency of policy information.

You will be an organised, discreet and detail-focused professional who is comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders and competing priorities. You will have the resilience to work effectively under pressure, and the confidence to handle demanding stakeholders.

Knowledge and experience

- Demonstrable experience of supporting projects, policy work, governance activity or a comparable business function.

- Experience of researching information from different sources and producing accurate summaries, reports or briefings.

- Experience of working with numerous stakeholders and projects with conflicting priorities and deadlines.

- Strong computer skills, including proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel and other relevant software.

- Experience of organising meetings or events, maintaining records and following actions through to completion.

- Experience of handling sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Skills and abilities

- The ability to meet regular deadlines in a high-pressure environment.

- Resilience, and the confidence to handle demanding stakeholders.

- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt content for different audiences.

- Good research, analytical and problem-solving skills, including attention to detail.

- Sound judgement, political awareness and discretion in a complex stakeholder environment.

- The ability to maintain a high standard of work during busy times, following up on enquiries and directing them to the appropriate HR teams where necessary.

- The ability to deliver both independently and as part of a team, working proactively to agreed timescales and resolving issues as they arise.

- The ability to deal with confidential data and sensitive issues.

- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, good employee relations and high standards of public service.

- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to service management and HR staff.

You will also understand who our stakeholders are, including Policy and Industrial Relations colleagues, wider People and HR teams, managers, employees, recognised trade unions and Senior Employee Representatives, project and programme leads, governance colleagues, legal advisors, finance colleagues, communications teams, external partners, professional bodies and service providers.