Senior Engagement Officer (North)

This is a new role within the communications and engagement team, with responsibility for helping our members to campaign and secure improvements to regional transport accessibility. The role is part of our work to achieve justice in society, where disabled people’s voices are amplified, and our message is heard and acted upon.

You will work across the north of England, mirroring the regions covered by the Sub-national Transport Body ‘Transport for the North’. You must live in this region to apply and undertake this position.

You will collaborate with Transport for All members, disabled people’s organisations, and civil society organisations, bringing disabled people together to share our views on accessible transport and make change. Where campaigning is already taking place, you will work alongside it, offering resources and practical support as desired.

You will need to stay abreast of transport developments in your region, and work closely with other teams to share your insights. This will ensure local disabled people’s experiences guide the national agenda.

Key responsibilities

1.     Planning and development (10% of time)

·        Plan regular activity across your region, considering staffing, budget, and wider organisational requirements

·        Help to develop and deliver Transport for All’s membership offering, community building and local campaign support

·        Keep Transport for All’s CRM and records up to date

·        In partnership with your manager, create systems to monitor objectives against funding and organisational targets and prepare reports to evidence progress against these

2.     Communication and community building (50% of time)

·        Build relationships with local members, campaigners, disabled people’s organisations, groups and forums

·        Represent Transport for All at meetings and events, including giving presentations on our work

·        Organise and deliver regular member meetings online and offline, providing space for people to connect, share transport accessibility news and plan and progress campaigns

·        Contribute and commission member content for the member newsletter, website, and social media

·        Speak to the media and develop and grow a network of local members willing to train as spokespeople for meetings and media interviews

·        Promote and grow a diverse membership in your region

·        Ensure members can take part in paid opportunities via the training, research and consultancy team

3.     Policy influencing and campaigning (30% of time)

·        Maintain awareness of the policy agenda for your area

·        Keep abreast of transport issues local members are experiencing

·        Act as a conduit between members, the Insight and Advice team, and the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team

·        Work collaboratively with the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team to form and maintain relationships with key regional stakeholders

·        Coordinate responses to regional transport consultations in line with Transport for All positions, coordinating contributions from members, and giving guidance to members who wish to respond individually.

·        Bring together and support members and campaign groups to influence local policy through local or national Transport for All campaigns. This could mean you will:

o    Support members with campaign planning

o    Provide practical support eg booking venues and access support for meetings, coordinating emails to local members

o    Give guidance on technical aspects of transport policy

o    Attend meetings with decision makers alongside campaigners, and representatives from the Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team

o    Publicise campaigns in local media

o    Document campaigners’ experiences for others to learn from eg via website pieces or commissioned blogs

·        Contribute to Transport for All’s understanding of overarching issues and contribute to national campaign planning.

4.     Insight (10% of time)

·        Share information about the Transport for All advice-line with members and the disabled community in your region

·        Give updates on regional transport changes to the Insight and Advice team to support accurate advice giving and regional casework

5.     General (at all times)

·        Undertake any other tasks, duties or projects which may arise from time to time which are in line with the general level of this post and as instructed

·        Undertake occasional evening and weekend work as required, and take responsibility for arranging time off in lieu with your manager

·        Line manage and supervise members, contractors and staff as required

·        Work within the Social Model of Disability

·        Work in adherence to Transport for All’s values and staff policies

·        Maintain confidentiality

·        Attend staff meetings as needed

Skills

We’re looking for someone who:

1.      Understands transport accessibility barriers for disabled people, this may be from personal experience

2.      Lives in, and has knowledge of, the Transport for the North region, including political and/or transport structures

3.      Is confident representing an organisation and building and managing external relationships

4.      Has experience of working collaboratively to mobilise campaigners, including running meetings or events

5.      Has a track record of securing change through campaigns, activism, public affairs or political influencing

6.      Has versatile written and verbal communication skills, including listening skills

7.      Can demonstrate excellent teamworking skills with the ability to work flexibly and collaboratively across a remote organisation

8.      Is committed to, and understands, the social model of disability, and disability justice

We particularly welcome applications from disabled people. This explicitly includes those of us who are Deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill, have a mental health condition, have age-related impairments, and people with both visible and non-visible impairments.

Why choose us?

Transport for All is a disabled people’s organisation. Almost all of our team and trustees have lived experience of impairment or chronic illness.

We’re committed to understanding and respecting each other's access requirements. Accessibility is embedded in our systems and ways of working, and wellbeing is our focus.