Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) - Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust

About the role

The Head of EDI is a new and exciting role, operating at an operational and strategic level, you will work closely with the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) Executive Director and the JRHT Leadership team, the Head of EDI will be focused both internally, on our own organisational culture at JRHT, and externally, on the services we provide and the work we do in JRHT communities. JRHT’s commitment to equity sits with all members of staff: we each have an obligation to lead in this area. The purpose of the role of the JRHT Head of EDI is to support people across the organisation to fulfil these commitments.

You’ll help to build a culture where equity and Inclusion are engrained in everything we do. You’ll be responsible for building and developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the delivery of our programme of work. You’ll design and implement processes and frameworks that start with our values and bring about lasting behavioural and cultural change. You’ll lead all things EDI with energy and a passion to influence others, work collaboratively with external partners to break down barriers and promote EDI across the housing and care sectors.

About us

JRHT is a registered housing association and care provider in Yorkshire and the Northeast of England. Our mission is to build and develop strong, empowered communities without poverty or isolation. We work alongside the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) to inspire social change.

JRHT employs around 500 staff across its housing and care services. We manage five care service and approximately 2,600 homes, half of which are located in the village of New Earswick, York. The rest are spread across the Northeast of England, including York, Scarborough, Leeds, and Hartlepool. We have a commitment to developing a further 1,000 homes over coming years.

Our mission

We were established more than 110 years ago by Joseph Rowntree to provide housing in communities. We work alongside JRF to understand the root causes of social problems.

Our mission is to build and develop strong empowered communities without poverty or isolation. We believe everyone should have a decent home in a good place, and living standards and
prospects.

Our values and behaviours

We are built on trust

• Acting with integrity
• Always improving
• Communicating well

We show we care

• Being supportive
• Being Inclusive
• Showing respect

We make a difference

• Working together
• Outcomes focused
• Resourceful

About you

The JRHT Head of EDI will be expected to bring creative and ambitious leadership to this area of our work, operating at a strategic level to challenge and support senior leaders and the JRHT Board to shape a clear programme of work, as well as engaging on behalf of JRHT across the housing and care sectors on EDI matters. They will also be expected to play an operational role – making sure that key commitments are taken forward, leading on specific elements of work, and working closely day-to-day with a range of staff across the Housing Trust, and our partners.

You’ll need analytical skills and be able to translate data, research, and trends into strategy, as well as the experience of educating and exciting others about EDI principles.

You’ll have a real opportunity to make a difference, working with an extensive range of internal and external stakeholders to embed EDI in their own areas. We’re looking for somebody to be a catalyst for change and an understanding of the barriers’ individuals, particularly those from protected characteristics, with an understanding of intersectionality and how that impacts experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• To act as the leading source of expertise about EDI, providing guidance and management about the role of EDI in the development and delivery of services to residents.
• To identify and make links with external stakeholders and organisations within the housing and care sector and work with operational and service leads to strengthen the voice different communities within service development and ongoing review of service provision.
• To develop and implement approaches to increase diversity in our workforce and resident community.
• Champion an inclusive and respectful culture for JRHT where everyone can bring their whole self to work, identifying areas where improvements are needed and working with the JRHT Senior Leadership Team to reflect these in the EDI work programme.
• Enable and support JRHT colleagues to understand and apply an equity-led approach to their work in communities
• Work closely with the EQIA Project Board and EDI Steering Group to translate the EDI strategy into action/work plans, within agreed timeframes and represent JRHT at a regional and national level, such as Yorkshire and Humber EDI Steering Group.
• Working closely with the JRHT Head of People, to ensure that EDI is applied to the review of all HR policies and practices – including recruitment, retention, pay and progression, learning and development.
• To build a culture of accessibility where accessibility needs are understood and best practice adhered to in all aspects of our work. Connect with other housing and care organisations to build networks, share best practice across the sector and ensure JRHT plays a full role in wider sector movements on equity.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working in an EDI leadership role as an enabler of change: collaborating with many different stakeholder groups to progress towards JRHT’s vision for EDI.
• Experience of working across a complex organisation to deliver cultural change across a range of activities projects and programmes.
• Demonstrable leadership experience in EDI development activities concerning to the full range of protected characteristics, including a broad and deep understanding of barriers to change, prejudices and unconscious bias and how to appropriately challenge and remove such barriers.
• Demonstrable experience of establishing departmental objectives, plans and service standards and monitoring performance against those objectives.
• Experience of having successfully implemented and held responsibility for the delivery of EDI projects showing clear and tangible delivery of Equality objectives and link to strategic plans.
• Experience of working with groups of residents or customers to develop ideas or proposals to deliver change.

Knowledge and Skills

• An effective communicator and influencer, you will develop working relationships both strategically and operationally across a range of settings, in order to deliver our EDI priorities and to continue to mainstream EDI best practice across all aspects of our communities, services and our workforce.
• Have a detailed understanding of current research and different approaches to equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the changing environment in which we work, and knowledge of relevant policy, legislation and strategies are all essential for this role.
• Deep and broad up to date knowledge and understanding of EDI with significant senior level experience designing, delivering, and evaluating effective EDI activities.
• Able to develop and maintain strong and trusting relationships at all levels in the organisation to facilitate the development of a safe and inclusive culture.
• Able to challenge the status quo positively and constructively as a way of catalysing change to fairer and more equitable outcomes.

JRHT is fully committed to equity, Diversity and Inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we are particularly interested in applications from people from all backgrounds.

We know that a commitment to equity must run through all aspects of our work: from the partners we engage or fund, through our research, to our own internal culture and commitment to inclusion. That is why, through our work, we centre the experiences of those who are so often disadvantaged by structural barriers – people who are disabled, those from minoritised ethnic communities and individuals who suffer discrimination based on their sexual orientation.

“Meet The Team” Webinar

To find out more about the organisation and the role, you are welcome to join a 1 hour live webinar featuring an introduction from JRHT’s Executive Director, followed by an open Q&A session.

Date and time: Tuesday 30th January 2024, 5-6pm

*Please see the Inclusive Hires jobs board listing (link below) for details on how to join this session

Applications close: 3pm on Monday 5th February 2024

Interview schedule:

• w/c 19th February:  1st stage interview
• w/c 26th February:  2nd stage competency/strength based interview