Group Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (LCC2625)

The Vacancy

WHAT WE DO 

The Luminate Education Group is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive working and learning environment that respects and celebrates difference. We aim to provide a community where everyone feels able to participate fully and achieve their full potential.  We are striving to create an  environment that supports good relations between people and challenges prejudice, intolerance and discrimination in all its forms.

You'll be a leader in shaping the direction and strategy of the Group’s equality, diversity and inclusion and agenda, delivering on national and the Group targets and action plans. You will have a broad remit with multiple projects and focuses. This is a diverse role, working in a fast-paced environment within a dynamic and integrated Student Life team, and working across the group providing matrix leadership in equalities with staff and student facing teams including human resources, organisational development, quality, curriculum, and others.  You will be supported day-to-day by a an equality projects and performance officer and an administrator as well as an established wider network of passionate and committed equality champions and leaders in every department.

You don't need to have any specific sector experience: we are looking for drive, passion, commitment and shared values which build on the relational aspects of our strategies.  You will work collaboratively, further developing our EDI strategy and action plans, identifying and leading on core diversity and inclusion improvement programmes.  Reporting to the Director of Student Life, there is a focus on both student and staff initiatives to promote and develop EDI initiatives.  Some examples of the work you lead include equality champions, staff forum voice, influence and activity, refining our EDI training offer, developing innovative projects and initiatives, stakeholder and community engagement, contribute to wider group strategies and offer advisory support to managers and heads of department on a range of equality issues.  You will also lead our statutory annual equality reports and report on equality priorities and progress to our governing bodies.  

This is a great opportunity to join our inclusive team during a period of growth with a chance to shape this role and make it your own.

We offer 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and additional closure days during the Christmas period.  We have a very generous pension plan, offer an extensive range of continuous professional development and flexible working patterns. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Will be responsible for identifying, developing and leading on all our internal and external EDI activities and priorities
• Promote and strengthen culture to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our work
• Lead on developing Equality Objectives and taking forward our Race Equality Roadmap, translating strategic thinking to develop action plans which engage our staff, students, families, stakeholders and communities
• Develop capacity to understand and meet the needs of our diverse communities and workforce.
• Facilitate collaboration on projects and innovation
• Champion student, staff and stakeholder experiences and organisational practices ensuring all aspects of our provision and services have a continued focus on equality, diversity and inclusion

YOUR PROFILE 

• You must be able to engage with strategic thinking and analysis evidenced through experience
• You will also have significant experience of engaging with a wide range of community groups and working in collaboration with other organisations.
• Must have excellent organisation skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at once.
• The ability to inspire and lead people and stakeholders, to think broadly, and value diverse perspectives 
• Working knowledge of diversity & inclusion theory, legislation and policy and extensive experience of their application in large and complex settings.
• Evidence of developing and implementing strategies, plans , policies, interventions and processes in line with legislation, national policy and organisational strategy across the range of equality issues and protected characteristics
• Outstanding traits in relational leadership with experience of leading change and managing diverse work streams in a complex organisations and influencing others to achieve objectives

For an informal discussion please contact Andrea Cowans – Director of Student Life on andrea.cowans@luminate.ac.uk

About Us

Luminate Education Group consists of; Harrogate College (HC), Keighley College (KC), Leeds City College (LCC), Leeds Conservatoire (LC), University Centre Leeds, Leeds Sixth Form College, White Rose Academies Trust (WRAT) and Yorkshire Centre for Training & Development. Luminate Education Group is one of the fastest and most innovative education groups in the country. 

We offer a curriculum as diverse as our students within a vibrant and multicultural learning environment. Our goal is to deliver excellent and innovative education which supports and inspires every student to achieve their ambitions. 

Our focus is to ensure every group member, and the group as a whole, is successful. In order to achieve this, the group members proactively look for ways to support and inspire each other, to strengthen central services and be a guiding light for all our staff and students.

Join us on the journey to being the best that we can collectively be for our students, apprentices, staff and our stakeholders.

SAFEGUARDING

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

All successful applicants will be required to complete all the mandatory pre-employment checks, which includes:

• Proof of right to work in the UK

• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check

• Children’s barred list check (we may also check the adult barred list if the role involves working with vulnerable adults)

• Two professional references 

• Fitness to work; this is conducted by our Occupational Health Provider

• Section 128 check for all staff entering management roles

• Prohibition check for all staff entering teaching related roles

Please Note: All successful applicants who have lived or travelled overseas for three months or more in the past five years will be required to undertake an overseas check as part of the pre-employment checks.

More information on overseas checks can be found on the government website.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

For further information about the role including job description and application form please visit the vacancies section of our website via the apply link.