Equality and Inclusion Specialist

Are you passionate about making a difference?

Do you have an engaging and positive manner?

Can you drive diversity initiatives through influencing and building great relationships with colleagues?

Are you curious and keen to ask questions that will result in resolution?

If so, this is a great opportunity to join the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) as their Equality and Inclusion Specialist, we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

As a subject matter expert, you will provide leadership and direction to the equality and inclusion Team including recruitment, and team development, ensuring they have the skills, knowledge, behaviours and experience to be productive in their role and reach their full potential.

As a subject matter expert, you will hold a strategic awareness of the communities in which the agency operates within or could potentially operate. You will partner with the agency working with various stakeholders both internally and externally to create a well-rounded understanding of EDI issues, helping the agency to understand where bias and inequality lay using data and qualitative information, in order to deliver sustainable change that is well embedded into our culture. If successful, you will be expected to continue to keep abreast of DVSA’s strategic and business objectives in order to improve overall organisational effectiveness.

You will independently provide specialist advice, and design, develop and deliver various HR interventions to support DVSA’s strategic and business objectives in order to improve overall organisational effectiveness. 

You will represent the Agency at Departmental level (DfT Inclusion Group), chairing, attending meetings and events to network, share best practice and promoting DVSA as an inclusive agency.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide a range of consultation services to the Executive Team, Cooperate Senior Leaders, Managers and Supervisors on the development and implementation of strategies to create a culturally competent and diverse workforce which delivers our services and meets current and emerging customers.

• Owns, develops and implements DVSA’s Inclusion strategy to enable DVSA to embed a sustainable inclusive culture. Focusing on equality of opportunity, fostering good relations, elimination of unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and embedding an inclusive culture.

• Undertake horizon scanning to maintain specialist knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, case law and good practice, identify opportunities and risks and use learning to continually drive improvements to strengthen our external brand as an inclusive employer and build trust and confidence within our communities.

• Working with a team of experts, you will manage and lead the team to act as the DVSA Inclusion expert using specialist knowledge to design and implement a variety of inclusion solutions to meet DVSA needs for our current/future workforce and service offering (5 year Strategy) e.g. increased workforce diversity, education and learning initiatives, and promotion of our inclusive agenda.

• Owns, develops and implements DVSA’s Inclusion strategy to enable DVSA to embed a sustainable inclusive culture. Focusing on equality of opportunity, fostering good relations, elimination of unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and embedding an inclusive culture.

• Create, develop and implement EDI policies and procedures by engaging with a range of key stakeholders and lead on consultation with the TUS. Responsible for the implementation of policy, communications plan, measuring success against key success indicators and undertake continuous improvement activities.

• Promote national events e.g. black history month etc., working with Staff Network Groups and other stakeholders to design, coordinate and run events across DVSA.

• Act in an advisory and coaching capacity to support the continued development, capability and growth of the Staff Network Groups to enable achievable objectives, as well as setting Direction for them to be strategically aligned to DVSA’s organisational goals.

• Lead and develop the approach to meaningful data insights and create robust performance measures of diversity and inclusion across the agency to monitor progress against strategic priorities /Inclusion strategy and to inform and drive change.

• Represent the Agency externally, where requested/required, (e.g. at networking events, conferences and exhibitions) to enhance and strengthen the Agency’s profile.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

• To succeed in this role, you have experience of developing and implementing solutions focused organisation wide inclusion strategies.
• You have experience of developing and implementing people policies and procedures to drive organisational change and improvement.
• You have experience of and are comfortable advising, coaching and supporting managers on HR policies and processes to enable compliance.
• You can analyse and interpret management information to identify trends, patterns and metrics in the organisation, and identify obstacles and risks, and translate them into human resources plans.
• You have a good understanding of relevant, current Employment law (Equality Legislation), plus proposed changes.
• We are seeking an individual who has exceptional communication skills, you will have experience of relationship building to enable you to influence and challenge at all levels.
• You will already hold a CIPD Certificate in HR Practice (Level 5) or be willing to work towards this qualification in post.

Additional Information

This role can be based in Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham or Swansea, your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement, for the successful candidate to be able to work at least four days per week.

This role will require the successful applicant to travel and may include overnight stays. 

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to: 

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+.

To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday 
• Latest IT and Tech devices 
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing 
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers
• For more information see visit our careers page