We might hearing about the strain on government budgets, but unfortunately public sector recruitment websites seem to be telling us a completely different story. Today both the Guardian jobsite and the very popular Jobsgopublic.com are jam-packed full of questionable roles – so much so that today’s non-job of the week blog features something of a medley of new (and costly!) vacancies.
Who’d have thought that, at a time when frontline services are under threat, our authorities would go and prioritise equality and diversity positions? Well, that’s what seems to be happening as an “Equality and Diversity Project Manager” can expect to be paid £300-£450per day in Sheffield, and the Legal Ombudsman are offering £40-45k for a “Equality, Diversity and Accessibility Manager” for their Birmingham offices.
At North East Lincolnshire Council they’re after an “Environmental Improvement Manager” to help save the planet in exchange for £33,661 of taxpayers’ money each year (fingers crossed the ‘Climate Change Strategy’ they implement will be what’s needed to reverse global warming...); Woking Borough Council are offering £25k pa for a “Communications Officer for the Cycle Woking Project” so not only are we paying for the project itself, we’re also paying for someone to proselytise about it; Brighton and Hove City Council are keen to hire an “Audience Development Officer” (£19621 - £23708pa) to ‘engage communities’ and develop ‘learning and participation projects’ alongside writing an activity plan for their “Parks for People” project; and Burnley Borough Council want to build their casual pool of “Healthy Lifestyle Tutors” (£11.38 per hr) to stop people smoking, that’s right, just like the NHS.
Last but not least however, is our non-job of the week being advertised by Oxford City Council:
"GO-Active Co-ordinator
(£25,472 - £28,636pa)
Oxford is known throughout the world for its long history of academic excellence, its architectural and cultural heritage, as well as its innovative, contemporary achievements in scholarship, literature, manufacturing, publishing, medicine and science. Oxford City Council employs over 1,200 people who are helping achieve the Council’s goal of building a world class city for everyone. Our people support the City’s communities with services to promote Oxford’s reputation and maintain its and growth as a world class city. Oxford City Council provides a friendly yet hardworking environment for employees to develop and good career opportunities for individuals to grow.
We currently have a vacancy for a Go-Active Co-ordinator
Main Duties & Responsibilities include:
To work to increase and retain participation in Sport and Physical Activity within Oxford City through the Get Oxfordshire Active Project
Deliver direct Sport and Physical Activity interventions aimed at getting people more active
Work with partners in developing and delivering interventions within Sport and Physical Activity
Essential/Desirable Criteria:
Experience in developing and delivering direct interventions in Sport, Physical Activity or related fields
Experience of working and developing relationships with partners
Project management experience
Experience of delivering Sport and Physical Activity projects with partners
Knowledge of the Sport, Health and Leisure Industries and issues involved in these
Knowledge of County Sports Partnerships
Degree in appropriate subject or equivalent level of education
For an informal discussion about the post please contact Hagan Lewisman, Development Manager on 01865 252706 or email [email protected] . Or alternatively Antonia Bridges Active, Recreation Manager on 01865 252600 or e-mail [email protected]"
This certainly speaks of a local council with rather skewed priorities - the jazzy title, the salary (pushing £30k!), the dubious mandate...are Oxford really saying that at a time when they've had to sell off buildings to recoup money, this sort of job is a justifiable allocation of funds?
The emphasis on these sorts of roles nowadays would make you believe that without them the sporting world would collapse, no one would run or kick a ball and we'd all (obviously) become hugely obese. The reality is that they've actually done next to nothing to combat our expanding waistlines and yet the cost has spiralled as whole departments have sprung out of nowhere. The only fat that needs trimming where the council are concerned involves axing positions like this.