Portfolio & Partnership Officer VAWG Lead

Portfolio and Partnership Officer : VAWG Lead
Office of the Merseyside Police & Crime Commissioner
Mather Avenue
36.5 hours

Grade F £40,383 - £47,046

The Government's devolution agenda may result in functions currently undertaken by Merseyside OPCC transferring to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in May 2028. Consequently, this post could transfer to the LCRCA in the future. This is subject to the outcome of ongoing discussions, approvals and statutory processes.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Merseyside is an elected individual whose job it is to make sure Merseyside Police is run effectively and acts as your voice on policing issues in the region.

Elected by you, the PCC's role is to be the voice of the people and hold the police to account. PCCs ensure the police are answerable to the communities they serve. They have the power to hire and fire the Chief Constable.

PCCs do not run the police force at an operational level. However, they must ensure those who are in charge do a good job. The PCC decides what the force should be focusing on and the crimes it should prioritise. This detail is contained in the Police and Crime Plan.

PCCs ensure community needs are met as effectively as possible, and are improving local relationships through building confidence and restoring trust. They work in partnership across a range of agencies at local and national level to ensure there is a unified approach to preventing and reducing crime.

Police and Crime Commissioners were brought in by the Government in 2012 to replace Police Authorities.

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 , sets out the role of the PCCs. Under the terms of the Act, PCCs must:

• secure an efficient and effective police for their area;
• appoint the Chief Constable, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary dismiss them;
• set the police and crime objectives for their area through a police and crime plan;
• set the force budget and determine the precept;
• contribute to the national and international policing capabilities set out by the Home Secretary;
• bring together community safety and criminal justice partners, to make sure local priorities are joined up.

More detailed information on PCC powers and responsibilities is also available on the Home Office website.

Office of the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner- Portfolio and Partnership Officer : VAWG Lead

Overview

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside is looking for a confident, collaborative and highly motivated Portfolio and Partnerships Officer to lead the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner's work on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

This is a busy, varied and high-profile role at the heart of partnership working across Merseyside. You will support delivery of the Police and Crime Plan by building strong relationships with statutory, policing, local authority, political, community and voluntary sector partners, championing victim and survivor voices and helping to drive evidence-led improvements that make communities safer.

The Role

As the OPCC VAWG Lead, you will take responsibility for developing and maintaining the Commissioner's VAWG portfolio, ensuring it is informed by local need, partnership insight and the best available evidence. You will represent the PCC at Community Safety Partnership meetings and other strategic forums, provide briefings and advice to senior leaders, and support the development and delivery of projects, initiatives and commissioning activity.

You will also play an important role in communications, community confidence and critical incident response, helping to ensure the PCC's work on VAWG is visible, credible and responsive to the needs of victims, survivors and communities across Merseyside.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, lead and maintain positive relationships with VAWG organisations, third sector agencies, Community Safety Partnerships, local authorities, political leads and Merseyside Police.
• Represent and promote the PCC's VAWG work at relevant local, regional and national meetings and strategic bodies.
• Provide regular briefings, options and advice to the PCC, Chief Executive and senior OPCC leaders on developments, risks and opportunities within the VAWG agenda.
• Coordinate and support VAWG partnerships, projects and initiatives, encouraging joint working and avoiding duplication across the system.
• Where required, support commissioning approaches, including specification, selection, management and evaluation of commissioned services within value for money frameworks.
• Lead engagement with victims and survivors, including panel development, consultation activity, surveys and community engagement to ensure the Police and Crime Plan reflects local need.
• Support media and digital communications by providing updates, intelligence and draft content that reassures communities and promotes the work of the OPCC and Merseyside Police.
• Act as the PCC representative following relevant critical incidents and help guide partners and community organisations during periods of heightened tension.

About You

You will be an effective communicator and influential partnership professional with the confidence to work across complex systems and with senior stakeholders. You will bring resilience, political awareness and the ability to manage competing priorities in a high-profile environment.

• In-depth knowledge of VAWG issues and the ability to apply that knowledge in a strategic partnership setting.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills across policing, local authority, community safety and voluntary sector partners.
• Experience of preparing clear, succinct reports and delivering presentations to partners, community members and senior leaders.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to integrate activity, reduce duplication and drive practical solutions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify key risks, issues and areas for escalation.
• Confidence representing an organisation internally and externally, including in politically sensitive and public-facing environments.
• Good social media communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, increasing to 30 days plus 8 bank holidays after 5 years' full service.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Flexible, hybrid or agile working arrangements, subject to the needs of the role.
• Access to wellbeing support and workplace benefits, including Blue Light Scheme discounts and cycle to work options.

The Government's devolution agenda may result in functions currently undertaken by Merseyside OPCC transferring to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in May 2028. Consequently, this post could transfer to the LCRCA in the future. This is subject to the outcome of ongoing discussions, approvals and statutory processes.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and particularly encourage applications from women and candidates from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds. We also offer flexible working and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion.

How to Apply

Please ensure you have approval to apply by your Ch Supt/Head of department before submitting your application.

Please consider the Job Description Questionnaire and submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how your experience meets the requirements of the role. Applications should be submitted via the Merseyside Police careers portal when the vacancy is live.

Click here for the Job Description

For more information on the OPCC Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner