Strategic Lead Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Portsmouth City Council; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council invites applications for a Strategic Lead to translate our equality, diversity and inclusion commitments into improved services and outcomes for residents across the city. The role involves identifying barriers, developing strategic approaches, monitoring performance and acting as the subject-matter expert on EDI and the Public Sector Equality Duty.

You will build relationships with stakeholders, lead on equality impact assessments and support delivery of positive change

Qualifications

• Significant experience in equality, diversity and inclusion, delivering outcomes for communities.
• Experience with data and insight in an equalities context.
• Ability to develop strategic solutions and initiatives to drive change.

Responsibilities

• Identify barriers to service improvements and empower departments to overcome them.
• Develop strategic approaches to embed equality, diversity and inclusion across the council.
• Monitor and report on performance and deliver equality impact assessments.

Skills

EDI expertise

Stakeholder engagement

Data analytics

Facilitation / chairing

Education

Degree level qualification in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Lead to help translate our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion into improved services and better outcomes for people across the city on a fixed term contract.

Your new role:

You will help identify existing barriers to departments improving their services and how we can empower them to overcome these, including developing strategic approaches to benefit the entire organisation's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. You will play a key role in supporting work to ensure we deliver services to meet the needs of all our residents and communities, including monitoring and reporting on performance. You will be our subject-matter expert on equalities, diversity and inclusion and the Public Sector Equality Duty, and keep up to date on best practice. You will maintain relationships with, and be a key point of contact for, stakeholders and key groups in the city. You will be responsible for the council's equality impact assessments.

Who is the person summary:

You have significant experience working in equality, diversity and inclusion with a genuine understanding of the role and the importance it plays in delivering positive outcomes for communities. You have the drive to make continual improvements to ensure the best outcomes for our staff and residents. You have experience sharing best practice, delivering sessions, and developing strategic solutions and initiatives to bring about change. You have experience working with data and insight in an equalities context, and excellent facilitation and chairing skills. You also have excellent interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, and can work independently and collaboratively. You have a degree level qualification in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience.

For full details, please review 'who is the person' on the job profile below attached.

Additional Information:

If you would like to discuss this role in more detail with the hiring manager, please contact Lee Todd, Head of Marketing Communications and Engagement, [e-mail] , 023 92 834 068.

Please ensure that you read the job profile for full details on the post. We offer hybrid working with the expectation to attend the office minimum 2 days a week (pro rata for part time), this remains flexible, depending on the role and subject to business needs.

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Interview date:9th October 2026

Our recruitment process

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact [e-mail] or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.