Executive Committee Positions

All Positions

All Positions on the a:gender Executive Committee are codified in our Constitution.

All members of the a:gender Executive Committee (EC) are expected to represent the network, acting as visible role models across departments and regions, and promoting and adding to the culture of inclusion that a:gender exists to create. Members of the EC will provide the benefit of their diverse experiences, skills, views, and backgrounds. Serving on the a:gender EC is a rewarding experience that, while challenging at times, offers everyone, regardless of grade or workplace the chance to gain the skills, confidence and experience to enable them to support the network into the future and build leadership capabilities and confidence. Serving on the a:gender EC also potentially provides development opportunities that will contribute to career progression outside the network.

Everyone with a Position on the EC will:

  • Abide by the a:gender Constitution,
  • Proactively seek opportunities to promote a:gender as an inclusive support network,
  • Provide constructive advice, guidance, support, and insight to the rest of the EC where appropriate,
  • Attend, as far as possible, all EC, CREW and members’ meetings,
  • Provide a timely summary of any key meetings attended on behalf of the network to the EC, and
  • Make their maximum personal contribution to the aims and values of the network.

Chair

The Position of Chair of a:gender is a minimum of 0.2 FTE funded. Recommended 1 FTE. Additional funding may be negotiated, especially where employers agree to additional time.

The Chair of a:gender is the visible ‘face’ of the network. The Chair is ultimately responsible for setting a:gender’s Business Plan and ensuring the network delivers on its objectives. In addition to working alongside and communicating effectively with the Executive Committee (EC), members and allies, and network representatives and consultants, the Chair will support and assist various senior stakeholders across the Civil Service. The Chair must ensure that a:gender is representative of the diverse voices and viewpoints of a:gender’s membership, minimising groupthink both within the network and across the Civil Service. This is a highly challenging position that requires shrewd judgement, strategic acumen, and the ability to work at pace in a rapidly evolving environment. To be an effective chair requires resilience, dedication, and an ability to advocate for members effectively and persuasively across grades, departments, and regions.

As Chair, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Provide effective, consensus-based leadership that seeks to reflect the views of the EC and all members,
  • Develop and promote a:gender as an inclusive support network,
  • Co-ordinate and represent the views of members, both within government and externally as agreed by the EC,
  • Engage with members and stakeholders, including Cabinet Office and Permanent Secretary champions, and external organisations where appropriate,
  • Represent members at Governance Board meetings, reporting delivery against agreed business and activity plans,
  • Take responsibility for the sustainability of the network and the upkeep and development of key documents such as the Constitution, Communications Strategy and Business Plan (including the annual bid for funding),
  • Lead the design and delivery of presentations, workshops, and other activities,
  • Upskill other members of the EC, providing constructive feedback on performance where appropriate,
  • Chair members’ meetings, CREW meetings and EC meetings,
  • Delegate specific tasks to EC members,
  • Provide network response to formal consultations, and
  • Recruit additional resource to the EC in line with the Constitution.
  • Provide pastoral support to the EC and members where appropriate.

Vice-Chair

The Position of a Vice Chair of a:gender is a minimum of 0.1 FTE. Funding may be negotiated, especially where employers agree to additional time.

Vice Chairs are required to support the Chair in their duties. Vice Chairs will be expected to attend meetings with the Chair, or on the Chair’s behalf, where requested, providing the same visibility and positive role-modelling across the Civil Service and across grades. This role provides an excellent opportunity to develop the leadership skills and confidence necessary to lead the network while being supported in your development.

As a Vice-Chair, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Assist the Chair with all their official responsibilities as outlined above,
  • Be prepared to step up as Acting Chair when the Chair is unavailable, e.g. absence or reduced hours,
  • Represent the network at meetings and events with the agreement of the Chair where appropriate,
  • Undertake specific ad-hoc tasks as requested by the Chair,
  • Represent members alongside the Chair at Governance Board meetings, reporting delivery against agreed business and activity plans,
  • Support the development and delivery of presentations, seminars, workshops and other events as required, and
  • Provide pastoral support to the Executive Committee and members where appropriate.

Secretary

The role of Secretary is minimum of 0.1 FTE (recommended 0.2 FTE) non-funded.

The Secretary of a:gender is responsible for record keeping and for the administration of meetings and events (working in partnership with the Business Manager). As a data driven, evidence-led and delivery-focussed network, it is important that these records are kept and maintained meticulously and securely. Good organisational skills are required for this position, to ensure the smooth running of the network across diverse work strands and ambitions. The Secretary must also demonstrate a willingness to contribute to a positive and inclusive culture throughout the network. As with the Vice Chair role, the Secretary may be asked to attend meetings with the Chair, or on the Chair’s behalf, as required, providing the same visibility and positive role-modelling across the Civil Service and across diverse grades and workplaces.

As secretary, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Assist the Chair and Vice-Chairs with all their official responsibilities as outlined above,
  • Step up as Acting Vice-Chair when a Vice-Chair is unavailable, e.g. absence or reduced hours,
  • Represent the network at meetings and events with the agreement of the Chair where appropriate,
  • Arrange all routine Executive Committee (EC) meetings, members’ meetings and CREW meetings,
  • Record and produce accurate minutes which are forwarded to the Chair within agreed deadlines.
  • Compile and disseminate the agenda, associated documents and minutes before and after each meeting to all relevant parties in a timely manner,
  • Take responsibility for updating the EC Actions Logs,
  • Support the delivery of presentations, meetings, workshops and other events as required, and
  • Undertake specific ad-hoc tasks as requested by the Chair.

Communications Manager

The role of Communications Officer is a minimum of 0.1 FTE non-funded.

The Communications Officer is responsible for communicating with internal and external stakeholders in a way that demonstrates and promotes a:gender’s culture of inclusion. The position of Communications Officer involves communicating with various stakeholders across multiple channels in an appropriate, considerate, and timely manner. The Communications Officer must be capable of providing information in an accessible way and which aligns with the Civil Service Code. In addition to providing information and updates to members, allies and stakeholders, the Communications Officer is also responsible for raising awareness of a:gender within and beyond the Civil Service, helping to ensure that a diverse range of talent is recruited and retained.

As Communications Officer, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Assist the Chair and Vice Chairs in developing an agile and effective Communications Strategy that is regularly reviewed and evaluated,
  • Take responsibility for the creation of regular newsletters with support from the Executive Committee (EC), members and stakeholders,
  • Effectively publicise a:gender events and the marking of days of relevance,
  • Forge good relationships with departmental internal communications channels to ensure regular coverage of network activities,
  • Take responsibility for the look, style and feel of all network communications to ensure they comply with the network Branding and Communications guide,
  • Assist the Chair and Vice Chairs in preparing the Annual Report, Biannual Reports, Business Plan, and other publications as necessary,
  • Assist in running the a:gender Twitter account,
  • Help maintain the a:gender website with regular updates as agreed by the EC,
  • Support the delivery of presentations and other events as required, and
  • Undertake specific ad-hoc tasks as requested by the Chair.

Data Analysis Lead

The role of Data Analysis Lead is a minimum of 0.1 FTE non-funded.

a:gender is a data driven, evidence-led and delivery focussed network. The Data Analysis Lead is responsible for overseeing the collection, storage, analysis and presentation of data which allows us to assess and demonstrate our effectiveness. This will involve working with the Executive Committee (EC) to identify data needs, designing strategies to best capture relevant data, performing relevant analysis of data and presenting results in an appropriate and accessible way. This may include creating graphics, preparing written reports, or making oral presentations. The Data Analysis Lead will also need to be familiar with GDPR and data handling guidelines to ensure that all data is collected and processed appropriately.

As Data Analysis Lead, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Collect, manage, and analyse quantitative and qualitative data to provide business insight including evaluation of network activity,
  • Create and manage surveys using Google forms (or other appropriate tools) and collate results,
  • Develop and improve methodology, identifying changes to network activity that would facilitate additional or more streamlined data-gathering,
  • Assist with drafting or amending data protection and data management policies,
  • Present your analyses in a way that can be readily understood by other committee members and stakeholders,
  • Offer support and guidance as required to any other Data Analysts who may be co-opted onto the EC, managing the coordination of shared tasks, and
  • Provide data-based input to any reporting or written documents.

Community Network Manager

The role of Community Network Manager is a minimum of 0.1 FTE non-funded.

The Community Network Manager is responsible for helping a:gender create and nurture positive, collaborative relationships with other staff networks across multiple departments and regions. a:gender recognise the need to draw on a diverse range of experiences, skills and backgrounds. The relationships the Community Network Manager will foster will allow a:gender to draw on this range of voices, and to create opportunities for the a:gender Executive Committee (EC) to share their skills, talents, experiences and viewpoints beyond the a:gender membership. As this position requires a lot of collaboration with stakeholders the Community Network Manager must be a visible, approachable, positive role model for a:gender.

As Community Network Manager, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Develop and maintain good relationships with other networks, both at cross-government and departmental level,
  • Identify areas of mutual interest/overlap and proactively seek engagement with other networks in these areas,
  • Provide a single point of contact (SPOC) for communication with other networks,
  • Lead and represent a:gender in planning events and activities undertaken in collaboration with other networks,
  • Ensure our engagement with other networks is professional, considerate, judicious, and compliant with Civil Service code, values, and all relevant guidance, and
  • Keep other members of the EC informed on your activities, raising concerns and seeking advice and support where appropriate.

Executive Committee Ordinary Member

The role of Executive Committee Ordinary Member is a minimum of 0.1 FTE non-funded.

Although they do not have a specific area of expertise, Ordinary Members form a vital and integral part of the a:gender Executive Committee (EC). They help with the running of the network, working flexibly to pick up actions as needed and to support the other members of the EC. Ordinary Members act as visible, positive role models across government. It is a position that offers an excellent opportunity to work with other members of the EC on a variety of tasks, developing skills and leadership capability and confidence. It is also a position that offers flexibility in the type of work undertaken.

As an Executive Committee Ordinary Member, in addition to the requirements of All Positions listed above, you will:

  • Assist the EC with all their official responsibilities,
  • Represent the network at meetings and events with the agreement of the Chair where appropriate,
  • Cover other EC Positions where necessary due to absence or reduced hours,
  • Support the delivery of presentations, seminars, workshops, and other events as required,
  • Undertake specific ad-hoc tasks as requested by the Chair, and
  • Provide pastoral support to the EC and members where appropriate.