Head of Member Liaison

Eligibility

This role is open to House of Commons, Parliamentary Digital Service and R&R Client Team employees only

Introduction 

The Members’ and Members’ Staff Services Team (MMSST) offers Members and their staff a range of support and guidance, including a Members’ HR Advice Service that supports Members in their role as employers of their staff and support, training and guidance for Members’ staff, including regional constituency events.  

The Role 

The MST has responsibility for delivering an ambitious programme of work in the coming months and years, including delivering important aspects of the General Election and embedding the recommendations outlined in the Speaker's Conference on the employment conditions of Members' staff: Second Report.  

We are looking for an experienced, proactive and resilient colleague who enjoys the challenge of working in a complex stakeholder environment.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

Be a trusted and effective liaison for all political parties between the Whips, the MST and teams across the House. This will involve facilitating regular two-way engagement, acting as a single point of contact with the Whips for major projects and being a key trusted contact for the Whips.  

• Be a trusted and effective liaison for all political parties between the Whips, the MST and teams across the House. This will involve facilitating regular two-way engagement, acting as a single point of contact with the Whips for major projects and being a key trusted contact for the Whips.
• Support engagement with the Whips on policy development and implementation for different House services where those relationships may not exist; use political judgement to advise and support policy leads in this process.
• Coordinate engagement across the House Administration with the Whips where necessary, (i.e., where there is not a well-established process that works well for the whips offices or House staff).
• Work with key Member engagement leads in teams across the House to share best practice.
• Work with teams as required to raise awareness of Members’ priorities and ways of working.

Skills and Experience 

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Demonstrable experience of giving impartial and balanced advice and support to Members, showing a strong customer service ethos and experience of anticipating customer needs.
• A highly practical understanding of the nature, culture and governance of the organisation, including knowledge of key procedures and practices of the House. An awareness of reputational risks and opportunities facing the organisation. 
• Strong relationship management skills with a proven ability to build productive, confidential relationships at all levels including senior staff, Members, colleagues and external stakeholders.  Demonstrable experience of influencing diverse stakeholders, developing and using a range of persuasive strategies.
• Ability to work as part of a trusted leadership team, taking responsibility for decisions and contributing to a positive team culture. Acts as a role model, demonstrating, the House values and behaviours and is a champion of diversity and inclusion. 

Next Steps and Additional Information

• Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1, 2, 4 and 6 in the Job Description. 

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.