Research and Information Officer – Ballymena.

• The post holder will support the development of policy proposals aimed at developing local partnerships for local impact, as part of Rural NI: Our New Approach.
• This proposal focuses on establishing Local Strategic Rural Partnerships across the 10 rural council areas to strengthen local rural voices, improve collaboration between councils, communities and partners, and ensure local knowledge and evidence help shape policy, investment priorities and support for rural communities.
• The role will involve supporting policy development, stakeholder engagement, evidence gathering and briefing to help shape a place-based, partnership-led approach, including work linked to the Local Strategic Rural Partnerships and the Enabling Rural Fund.

The main duties and responsibilities are:

1. Assist in Policy Development

• Assist in the development of policy proposals including reviewing existing policy, assessing rural research and evidence, identifying options and contributing to the development of proposals and OBCs.
• Support the establishment of Local Strategic Rural Partnerships across the 10 rural council areas, including developing guidance to help bring together local government, voluntary and community organisations, rural communities and other key stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of the Enabling Rural Fund.
• Gather, review and analyse information from engagement, research and evidence to help identify rural needs, challenges and opportunities and inform policy development and delivery planning.

2. Stakeholder Engagement and partnership working:

• Engage with councils, local partners, rural communities and internal stakeholders to inform policy development.
• Help coordinate engagement activity and maintain clear records of key points and outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, representation and advocacy across rural communities.

3. Briefing, correspondence and programme support

• Draft briefing papers, submissions, correspondence and advice for senior officials, Ministers, the Assembly and the Permanent Secretary.
• Provide support to Policy Leads and the Head of Branch in progressing key deliverables.
• Represent the Department, where required, in internal and external stakeholder meetings.
• Support monitoring, reporting and governance requirements, including updates to the Branch Balanced Scorecard.
• Carry out other duties consistent with the grade as required by management.
• The duties listed above are not exhaustive. However, they provide a good indication of the main duties of the post. The emphasis on particular duties may vary over time according to business needs.

Essential Experience &Qualifications required: 

• The post-holder is required to hold a degree and have a minimum of 12 months’ experience.
• Research & Analysis – Ability to analyse complex evidence in collaboration with other NICS departments and in consultation with experts which is evidence informed in respect of meeting rural need.
• Report Writing – Ability to draft complex information to Minister, Executive, AERA Committee, Assembly and SMT providing concise and up-to-date information often within very tight timescales for consideration.
• Communication – Ability to actively encourage ideas from a wide range of sources and stakeholders and use these to inform future thinking. Ability to invite challenge to help build engagement and present robust recommendations. Use appropriate communication methods and know when to stand ground when needed.
• Management skills – ability to lead staff and work with teams to provide a timely, well organised, quality service to customers and other branches within the division, working at pace and to a high standard to deliver agreed goals and objectives.
• Ability to be able to deliver results at pace and to manage work against agreed timescales and management of competing priorities.
• Well-developed leadership and management skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, senior officials in DAERA and other stakeholders within Rural Policy.
• Ability to work on own initiative, delivering results and managing work in a complex, cross-cutting and fastmoving environment and subject to competing priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with experience of providing written reports to senior management, including preparing and inputting to briefings.
• The post-holder will be expected to work on their own initiative and provide a positive contribution to the overall success of the team/branch.

Desired Experience and Qualifications: 

• Previous experience and knowledge of working in central or local government in a policy role, or experience supporting voluntary and community sector policy, stakeholder engagement, grant funding, rural development or community capacity-building work, would be desirable.