Adviser - Data Policy

local.gov.uk; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A national membership body for local authorities is looking for an Adviser in Data Policy. This role focuses on promoting secure digitalization and shaping national policies in collaboration with local government councils. Candidates should have a degree and relevant experience in policy development and an understanding of local government dynamics. The position is based in Westminster or home-based with occasional travel required.

Benefits

29 days annual leave plus public holidays

Flexible and agile working arrangements

Employee assistance program

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Broad understanding of local and central government.
• Expertise in policy development and research related to data.
• Experience in managing a complex workload and meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Support the Data Programme as part of the policy and partnerships team.
• Contribute to secure digitalization across local government.
• Help shape national policy on AI and emerging technology.

Skills

Excellent written skills

Excellent oral and influencing skills

Political sensitivity

Good interpersonal skills

Excellent IT skills

Flexible approach to work

Positive attitude

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Westminster or Home based

Please note: Office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need. For home-based staff, some occasional travel to London and wider afield is likely required. You’ll be required to participate in an on-call rota for cyber incidents. This will involve an out-of-hours commitment for which a separate allowance is paid.

Fixed term for 12 months (open to internal candidates and secondments from councils)

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of member councils to support, promote and improve local government.

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government.

We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

To work as part of the LGA Cyber, Digital and Technology Programme’s policy and partnerships team and to support the Data Programme. To contribute to the LGA’s work on the promotion of secure digitalisation across local government, with a focus on addressing barriers to data sharing and interoperability, and supporting local government to benefit from the Blueprint for Digital Government, with a particular focus on the National Data Library. This role will also involve helping to shape national policy and programmes such as AI and emerging technology, addressing market concentration, strengthening cyber resilience, and supply chain security with and for local government, and addressing data sharing blockages within the sector where possible in collaboration with councils. To deliver against the LGA’s business plan, particularly to champion and represent local government; to continually improve local government; and to inspire and promote innovation in local government.

About you

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• A broad understanding of local and central government and how they work.
• Expertise in policy development and research related to data, local government and/or service delivery, including the development of evidence based papers.
• Understanding of the key issues, priorities and pressures relating to data that affect local government.
• Experience in gathering information and evidence from numerous sources and developing a well-informed, well-evidenced position that responds to the needs of various stakeholders.
• Experience in managing a complex workload, preparing plans and meeting deadlines and milestones.
• Experience in researching evidence from a range of sources and compiling clear, comprehensive papers.
• Experience in organising meetings, events or other activities
• Experience in contributing to meetings with senior stakeholders.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written skills, with the ability to accurately summarise and convey complex information.
• Excellent oral and influencing skills, with the ability to give clear advice on procedural issues.
• Political sensitivity, with the ability to exercise discretion, judgement and confidentiality when dealing with politicians and officers at every level, and to demonstrate political neutrality at all times.
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to deal with members, other clients and colleagues with courtesy, tact and sensitivity.
• A demonstrable interest in both secure digital transformation, how data sharing enables it, and the workings of Government.
• Excellent IT skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint with the ability quickly to learn new packages as required.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to support others.
• Flexible approach to work, with a keenness to adapt to meet changing work requirements
• A positive, “can do” attitude

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

1. A broad understanding of local and central government and how they work.
2. Expertise in policy development and research related to data, local government and/or service delivery, including the development of evidence-based papers.
3. Understanding of the key issues, priorities and pressures relating to data that affect local government.
4. Experience in gathering information and evidence from numerous sources and developing a well-informed, well-evidenced position that responds to the needs of various stakeholders.
5. A demonstrable interest in both secure digital transformation, how data sharing enables it, and the workings of Government.
6. Excellent oral and influencing skills, with the ability to give clear advice on procedural issues.

Adviser - Data Policy - Job Description

Closing Date: 5pm, 31 September 2025

Interview Date: TBC, Interviews will be virtual

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.

The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”. Please contact us via [e-mail] if you requirea reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).*
• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.
• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals
• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.
• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other
• how we work with our members and stakeholders
• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.

Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.

Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.

Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.