Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Greater London Authority (GLA); City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A metropolitan authority in the UK is looking for an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead to drive the implementation of EDI strategies. This role requires strong leadership to ensure an inclusive environment and to engage with diverse communities. The successful candidate will demonstrate significant cultural change experience, analytical skills, and the ability to influence outcomes in complex settings. The position involves advocating for workforce diversity and fostering collaboration to achieve the GLA's EDI objectives.

Benefits

30 days of annual leave

Interest-free season ticket loan

Interest-free bicycle loan

Career average pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Significant experience in delivering cultural change and organizational development.
• Ability to articulate the benefits of a diverse workforce.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret and present complex data.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on workforce EDI.
• Develop and deliver EDI policies and strategies.
• Lead the creation of a Diversity Standard.

Skills

Cultural change delivery

Workforce diversity and inclusion understanding

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Communication and influencing

Job description

Do you want to play a key role in embedding Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture (EDIC) across the GLA? Are you passionate about creating workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive? If you care about driving positive change and delivering impactful outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

We are looking for an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead to join our team and make a meaningful impact. Someone who brings energy, passion and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, who thrives on building relationships, bringing people together, and delivering high-quality outcomes.

• Provide strategic leadership on workforce equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across the GLA, ensuring we are an inclusive employer that reflects London’s communities at all levels.
• Develop and deliver policies and strategies that embed EDI principles and position the GLA as an exemplar employer.
• Lead the creation of a Diversity Standard across the GLA Group to drive consistency and accountability in workforce diversity.

About the team

1. Lead the workforce EDI strategy - Implement the GLA's EDI Strategy and action plan to embed an inclusive culture and improve representation at all levels.
2. Provide expert advice - Support colleagues to integrate EDI into recruitment, engagement, learning, and career development.
3. Drive cultural change - Design and deliver organisational development interventions that foster inclusion and inclusive leadership.
4. Lead pay gap action plans - Oversee implementation and share best practice across the GLA Group.
5. Analyse and present workforce data - Monitor progress, track impact, and use insights to inform new initiatives.
6. Benchmark and collaborate externally - Build relationships with external organisations to adopt best practice and meet industry standards.
7. Support staff networks - Enable effective governance and development of networks to advance the GLA’s diversity ambitions.
8. Research and innovate - Develop solutions through research and collaboration with external experts, ensuring alignment across the GLA Group.

Key Relationships

Accountable to: Head of EDI

Principal contacts: Senior Managers, People Function colleagues, Unison, staff networks, TfL, MOPAC, LFB, other functional bodies, and external stakeholders.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

Technical Skills

• Significant experience delivering cultural change and organisational development programmes that create inclusive workplaces.
• Deep understanding of workforce diversity and inclusion challenges, best practice, and measurement approaches.
• Ability to clearly articulate the benefits of a diverse workforce and influence outcomes in complex environments, ideally public sector.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret and present complex data effectively.

Behavioural competencies

Essential competencies to be highlighted in the EOI:

• Building and Managing Relationships (Level 2) - Develops rapport, fosters respect, and identifies opportunities for collaboration.
• Communicating and Influencing (Level 3) - Synthesises complex viewpoints, negotiates effectively, and advocates positively for the GLA.
• Strategic Thinking (Level 2) - Aligns work with GLA priorities, anticipates challenges, and communicates strategic objectives convincingly.
• Planning and Organising (Level 3) - Monitors resources, ensures quality, and translates vision into actionable plans.
• Problem Solving (Level 2) - Analyses issues from multiple perspectives and proposes creative, workable solutions.
• Organisational Awareness (Level 3) - Understands GLA dynamics, translates political agendas into action, and considers diverse needs in decision-making.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

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 outlined above 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 'CV and Cover Letters' section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., "CV - applicant name - 012345"). As part of GLA's continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the assessment team. 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 15th/16th January 2026.

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. 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 moved to the next stage in the process. If you have a disability or long-term condition and need us to make any reasonable adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing (please include the role title and reference number). Reasonable adjustments will be made on a case-by-case basis.

• Providing extra time in assessments and interviews;
• Providing communication support such as a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter during the interview;
• Providing questions in advance of the interview;
• Holding the interview/assessment in an accessible building;
• Holding interviews in different formats - such as over the phone or via a video call.

Benefits

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office. 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. If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria listed below before applying: On a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period; successfully completed your probation period and are performing to the required standard for your current role; and at least 18 months service with the GLA. If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the approval for a secondment application form and gain line manager approval.