There’s an interesting job advert coming up today if you fancy being the person who is the link between Jo and the party.
You need to get in quick, though – closing date is a week on Tuesday.
I like the emphasis on two way communication in the job description:
To advise the Leader on all issues relating to the internal workings of the Liberal Democrat Party, and work to ensure the Leader has a strong relationship with the wider party.
Regular interaction with state and EU Liberal Democrat parliamentary groups and their staff to ensure a two-way flow information with the Leader. Maintain a close working relationship with members of Party HQ based staff, especially the campaigns, fundraising, communications and membership departments, and the policy team.
Regular interaction with Liberal Democrats in local government – LGA, ALDC, council group leaders – to ensure a two-way flow information with the Leader.
Regularly interact with SAOs, AOs and other relevant party organisations to ensure a two-way flow information with the Leader.
Representing the Leader of the Liberal Democrats at relevant party committees, including the Federal Board.
Have a close working relationship with target seat Parliamentary candidates.
And as you would expect, the person needs to have “fabulous” communication skills and emotional intelligence.
- Exceptional levels of political judgement and understanding of how the Liberal Democrat Party works.
- Diplomatic, tactful and emotionally intelligent
- Ability to work with senior figures in the Party, including volunteers, councilors,Parliamentarians and HQ Directors
- Ability to manage and prioritise own workload
- Highly organised, able to meet tight and moving deadlines, with sharp eye fordetail
- Fantastic verbal and written communicator
- Sympathy with the aims and values of the Liberal Democrats
Applications need to be in by noon a week on Tuesday, 15th October.
It’s a very good sign that the leader is investing so much in keeping in touch of how the party is feeling.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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5 Comments
Superman or superwoman? or perhaps two people in a job-share?
Someone who is good at all this should progress to MP or PM.
Andrew Garratt (now a Lib Dem councillor on the Isle of Wight) did a job much like this one for Paddy, and it turned into trying to whip the membership into line, so I’m hoping that this one is more genuinely two-way communication.
Hm. Apart from the ridiculous job requirements, there seems to be something fundamentally dodgy about this proposed job. As if “the party” and the leadership are two separate things, and as if “the party” is some kind of monolithic body to be controlled top-down by the leadership rather than a flexible democratic body of which the leadership is a part – a vital and perhaps the single most important part but still just a part. Come to think of it, if it is to exist perhaps it should be appointed by “the party” itself. Or is the President not the person who is supposed to do this?
Tony’s said it first. While there is undoubtedly work to be done in these areas, all the headline responsibilities except representing the Leader at meetings of the Federal Board appear to be responsibilities of the President. So if the President tells the Leader the party is unhappy with something she’s doing and the paid employee tells her no, they love it, who does she listen to?
At least the relationship of this employee with the President needs to be clarified.
Surely this is exactly what the party president should be doing. Jo should timetable at least one meeting a week with said president to maintain contact. There must be other party officers and positions too (ALDC?) she should stay in regular contact with. The position as advertised sounds just another SPAD.