JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
PRINCIPAL OFFICER (ECR04)
GRADE:
BAND 3
DEPARTMENT:
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RIGHTS
LOCATION:
HAMILTON HOUSE
RESPONSIBLE TO:
ASSISTANT
SOLICITOR
SECRETARY
AND
SENIOR
ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
The Employment Conditions and Rights Department of the National Union of Teachers
is responsible for the Union’s work on contractual and workplace issues relevant to the
rights of teachers. This includes policy development and casework support on health
and safety, conditions of service and employment rights matters. It provides guidance
on matters of law affecting teachers and assists with the provision of legal services to
members in pursuit of claims.
The Union’s legal assistance service includes the defence of members and the pursuit of
claims in negligence, breach of contract, defamation and other cases arising out of or in
the course of the professional life or Union activity of members. The Department will
work closely with the staff of Union's regional offices/Wales office who have also a
responsibility to give casework assistance to members through collective union and legal
processes. The Department works alongside the Union's Senior Solicitor who has
responsibility for litigation conducted in the name of the Union and who has oversight of
legal services. The Department also coordinates local solicitors instructed by the Union
on behalf of members.
The Department operates under the direction of the Assistant Secretary- Employment
Conditions and Rights and the oversight on legal issues of the Senior Solicitor.
GENERAL DUTIES
The General Secretary has overall responsibility for the management and administration of
the Union and all assistant secretaries and staff work under her/his general direction. The
Senior Solicitor has overall responsibility for legal aspects of the Union's work.
The
departments of the Union are headed by the Assistant Secretaries who have supervision of
the staff of their departments and are responsible for the management of staff and their
effective deployment to allow the Union to respond to and initiate activities in the most
dynamic way.
Principal Officers are responsible to an Assistant Secretaries or other senior employee as
their head of department for assisting in providing advice on Union policy development,
implementation and promotion of policies and activities. Under the direct of their head of
department, Principal Officers have day-to-day managerial and administration
responsibilities for areas of work within their departments. Principal Officers may be called
upon by their head of department from time-to-time to deputise in his or her absence.
Broad responsibilities are allocated to particular Principal Officers in their departments.
Principal Officers are also expected to co-operate and liaise with other departments.
Assistant Secretaries other than the head of department to whom a Principal Officer is
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directly responsible, may have policy responsibilities in areas of a Principal Officer's work.
Principal Officers will have a functional relationship with those Assistant Secretaries.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Principal Officer will work under the management of the Assistant Secretary Employment Conditions and Rights but any litigation work will be under the oversight and
direction of the Senior Solicitor. The Principal Officer will:
1.
Contribute to and be responsible for the administration of a supply of information
and analysis on legal issues affecting teachers to the Union's regional offices and
the NUT Wales Office, maintaining close liaison with those regional/Wales
officers to determine their relevant needs in the fulfilment of their function of
advising members, divisions and local associations of the Union.
2.
Apply knowledge and experience, including that acquired in the discharge of
responsibilities described in 1 above, in the pursuit of claims and litigation on
behalf of members under the direction of the Assistant Secretary and under the
general oversight of the Senior Solicitor in whose name litigation on behalf of
members is conducted.
3.
Initiate and assist in the preparation of relevant materials both as part of the
Department's legal information base and for publication.
4.
Work in close liaison with other departments of the Union and to undertake such
other duties as may be required consistent with the status of principal officers and
with the primary responsibilities set out above in connection with the overall work
of the Union.
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26.02.02/Nov 09
PRINCIPAL OFFICER : BAND 3 : EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND RIGHTS:
ECR04
PERSON SPECIFICATION
1.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Essential Criteria
2.
(a)
To demonstrate the ability to initiate, compile and maintain a supply of
information and analyses of legal and professional issues affecting
teachers for the use of regional offices and the NUT Wales Office.
(b)
To demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge and experience in the
pursuit of claims and litigation.
(c)
To demonstrate the ability to initiate and assist in the preparation of
relevant materials for publication.
(d)
To demonstrate the ability to work within the Union's committee structure
and administrative systems.
(e)
To demonstrate the potential to discharge the
responsibilities consistent with the role of Principal Officer.
management
EXPERIENCE
Desirable Criteria
(a)
3.
Experience of similar work to that required in 1(a) to 1(c) above.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Essential Criteria
(a)
Understanding of and commitment to the Union's Equal Opportunities
Employment Policy Statement.
Desirable Criteria
(a)
Commitment to or sympathy with the aims of the trade union movement.