The Head of Law & Research has responsibility for:-

• Increasing the IRRV’s professional presence and standing in its policy and research work in all areas of the UK. This work is to be undertaken across the Institute’s three faculties and comes under the remit of the Law and Research Portfolio Holder.
• Development of the Institute’s policy in relation to the different legislative frameworks in the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Ensuring that knowledge gained and information gathered is used to maximum benefit in the furtherance of Institute initiatives and activities, whilst respecting at all times required confidentialities.
• Managing and delivering on consultancy opportunities.
• Conducting research to support policy development and faculty initiatives.
• Maintaining and expanding links with government and stakeholder organisations to further the Institute’s policy and research work.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Build and maintain links with central government, other bodies and stakeholders (in all UK home nations) regarding local taxation & revenues, welfare benefits, valuation and other related matters; and liaise with these bodies to further the Institute’s professional objectives.
• Manage both the gathering of practitioner views and the drafting of responses regarding formal consultation papers (from all UK home nations) on local taxation & revenues, welfare benefits, valuation and other relevant issues.
• Convey information to the IRRV membership and stakeholders regarding professional developments through magazine articles, news updates, social media posts etc.
• Manage the administrative support to the IRRV Scotland Forums service, in respect of both online and face-to-face meetings; and oversee the handling of technical queries from IRRV Scotland Forums service members.
• Present technical papers/ chair events, both online and face-to-face.
• Produce reports for IRRV Council meetings.
• Work collaboratively with the Council’s Law and Research Portfolio Holder to further the Institute’s aims.
• Oversee production of papers (including minutes) for the Institute’s three Faculty Boards, contribute to the 4-6 Board meetings per Board per annum as a Board member and take forward action points following the meetings.
• Contribute fully to the regular IRRV Senior Leadership Team meetings.
• Manage consultancy projects, including bidding for and managing contracts, conducting initial scoping discussions, tender development, site visits (where needed), report writing and presentations to clients; and working directly on projects where appropriate.
• Conduct research/surveys to facilitate information gathering on topics of professional interest.
• Ensure the Law and Research elements of the IRRV website are kept updated.
• Participate fully in the staff appraisal and personal development schemes.
• Undertake any other duties of a similar nature, which the Chief Executive may allocate.

The successful candidate will have attained at least a good ‘A’ level standard of general education or equivalent. Additional relevant qualifications, such as an IRRV qualification, is desirable but not essential. A good knowledge of either local taxation, or locally-administered benefits, or valuation for rating purposes is important, as is a willingness to build up knowledge on any of these areas where required. The postholder will need to be tenacious, determined and achieve and maintain well aligned policy outcomes in the face of differing professional demands upon the individual faculties.

Experience:

• Good knowledge of performance reporting and financial / budgeting processes
• Excellent organisational and leadership skills partnered with a strategic mind-set.
• Producing reports for senior management, Board Members or an elected Council.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Experience of managing team and individual performance.
• Agenda setting, running meetings and producing minutes.
• Working in the local taxation & revenues, welfare benefits, valuation or investigation sectors within any part of the UK.
• Running projects from initiation to successful conclusion.

Applications should be made on the electronic form provided and sent to moira.hepworth@irrv.org.uk