London Situational Awareness Team Manager

Strategy and Communications Strategy and Communications sits at the centre of the organisation, bringing together several teams with organisation-wide remits and mutual collaboration opportunities. The work of the directorate’s teams includes delivery of major events, designing and leading public affairs or marketing campaigns, providing data, evidence and analysis, to making sure London’s key agencies plan for, and can respond to emerging threats or emergencies in our city. About the team Working with over 170 organisations the London Resilience Unit delivers and coordinates resilience services across the capital on behalf of the Mayor of London and Local Authorities. London Resilience Unit supports the work of London’s key agencies in assessing risks, working to reduce the likelihood or impact of those risks and, where risk can’t be eliminated, preparing arrangements to respond, recover and learn from emergencies. This exciting opportunity will lead the London Situational Awareness Team and will work with key partners to monitor real time events and information feeds to produce high quality intelligence led reports and briefings on unfolding events impacting London. About the role You will be lead a team of nine staff monitoring London and horizon scanning 24/7, working closely with London’s resilience partners to provide insight and analysis to key decision makers. This is a unique opportunity to play a crucial role at the centre of London’s day to day management. A key requirement for this role is good judgement and the ability to identify, process, analyse and comprehend critical elements of information about what is happening and turn this information into actionable intelligence that will shape the response to a critical and major events and incidents. You will be expected to make judgements on difficult/sensitive issues, with a keen awareness of any wider implications (political/media/etc). You should have excellent communications skills and the desire to deliver a lasting impact is essential. Experience of managing a team in a crisis management and/or intelligence analysis/operational environment is desirable. In a crisis, your team will provide the initial liaison, information gathering and logistical response until the London Resilience Unit on-call team can be mobilised. You and the team will have the capability and flexibility to adapt to the full spectrum of crises; assess the significance of events and whether or not to alert the units duty team. Overall, this job offers an excellent combination of initiative, service delivery and policy work covering the full range of London’s city operations. The job will involve working unsociable hours from time as well as being part of an on-call rota, and qualifies for an on-call allowance/unsociable hours payment. The post holder must be willing to undergo National Security Vetting processes to the level of Security Cleared. This process requires the post holder to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of the last five years. Individuals will not be expected to hold existing National Security Vetting in order to apply for the post. This role is based at Palestra House, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ and the post holder is expected to work onsite at the office. Please note Post holders must be willing to undergo National Security Vetting to the level of SC. This process requires the post holder to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of the last five years. Skills, knowledge and experience To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria: • Demonstratable experience in leading a team in open-source collection methodologies and analysis to deliver robust predictive and deductible assessments. • Demonstratable experience of the working within a situation centre environment and the development of intelligence led products. • Demonstratable evidence of providing advice and guidance to inform decision making in response to an incident. • Demonstratable evidence of success in preparing and presenting clear and concise written reports and briefings on complex and sensitive issues within demanding timescales. • Demonstratable evidence of success in building and maintaining working relationships and partnerships across professional and operational boundaries within and beyond an organisation. • Demonstratable evidence of having being a resident of the UK for at least the last five years. How to apply If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following: - Up to date CV - Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria and competencies outlined in the advert. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement. Assessment process Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel. If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment. The interview/assessment date is: Wednesday 9 October 2024 Equality, diversity and inclusion London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required. Benefits The team reporting to this role is office based and work a shift pattern covering 24/7 365 days per year. As such, it is expected that this role will be office based with limited opportunity for hybrid working. In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme. Additional Information Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening. Please note Post holders must be willing to undergo National Security Vetting to the level of SC. This process requires the post holder to have been resident in the UK for a minimum of the last five years. Individuals will not be expected to hold existing National Security Vetting in order to apply for the posts. Job description can be found below: Principal accountabilities 1. Lead a team to deliver the London Resilience Unit’s 24/7 horizon scanning, situational awareness and first alert capability. 2. Lead the development of methodologies and exploration of new sources and practices that bring innovation to the work of the team. 3. Manage a t Provide written and oral briefings, high level advice, policy and specialist reports for the Mayor, his advisors, Deputy Mayors and GLA staff. 4. Lead the delivery and promotion of a wide range of information products, analytical outputs, databases and portals to support situational awareness across London’s key agencies. 5. Engage with internal and external stakeholders to open new information streams. Ensure that relevant procedural changes are introduced and collaborate with other London Resilience partnership to ensure that the maximum value is generated. Person specification Technical requirements/qualifications/experience 1. Experience of open-source analysis, collection methodologies and the ability to deliver robust predictive and deductive assessments. 2. Experience of the working within a situation centre environment and the development of intelligence led products. 3. Evidence of providing advice and guidance to inform decision making in response to an incident. 4. High level communication skills, with a successful track record of giving professional advice to decision makers as well as staff at all levels of an organisation on complex and sensitive issues. 5. Evidence of success in preparing and presenting clear and concise written reports and briefings on complex and sensitive issues within demanding timescales. 6. Evidence of success in building and maintaining working relationships and partnerships across professional and operational boundaries within and beyond an organisation. 7. A willingness to undergo National Security Vetting to the level of Security Checked (SC) and processes to the level of Developed Vetted (DV) if required. 8. Ability to work on a flexible and changing schedule and be on call to provide support whenever necessary. Behavioural competencies BUILDING AND MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS … is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals. Level 3 indicators of effective performance • Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives • Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities • Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict • Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect • Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership STAKEHOLDER FOCUS ... is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations. Level 3 indicators of effective performance • Understands diverse stakeholder needs and tailors team deliverables accordingly • Is a role model to others, encouraging them to think of Londoners first • Manages stakeholder expectations, so they are high but realistic • Removes barriers to understanding the needs of diverse stakeholders including hard to reach groups • Focuses own and team’s efforts on delivering a quality and committed service MANAGING AND DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE … is setting high standards for oneself and others, guiding, motivating and developing them, to achieve high performance and meet the GLA’s objectives and statutory obligations. Level 3 indicators of effective performance • Motivates and inspires others to perform to their best, recognising and valuing their work and encouraging them to learn and reflect • Sets clear direction and expectations and enables others to interpret competing priorities • Agrees and monitors challenging, achievable performance objectives in line with GLA priorities • Manages performance issues effectively to avoid adverse impact on team morale and performance • Promotes a positive team culture RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS …is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits. Level 3 indicators of effective performance • Expands networks to gain new information sources for research and policy development • Identifies and implements methods to ensure intelligence is of a high quality • Encourages others to analyse data from different angles, using multiple perspectives to identify connections and new insights • Tailors research investment in line with likely impact for Londoners and policy priorities • Retains a bigger picture view, ensuring research recommendations are appropriate and practical for the GLA and its stakeholder