Job introduction

Job title: Anti-Racism Lead

A bit about us:

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead Liverpool City Council’s work on anti-racism as we enter the next phase of our journey and our focus turns toward delivering real and lasting impacts that our residents, communities, and workforce will experience and feel.

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We have big ambitions and we need dynamic, driven individuals who share our vision and are ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service has never been more important, and this role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference by transforming the way we work and putting residents at the heart of everything we do.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, affordable housing, stunning waterfront and our beautiful green spaces. We are also proud that Liverpool has a reputation for being a welcoming city that celebrates its diverse communities. We want Liverpool to be a city where inclusion and equality are not just aspirations, they are a lived reality where the city’s distinct identities and our many communities are celebrated and respected. We know that racism is continuing to have a profound impact on our city, communities and workforce and, as a Council, we are committed to tackling inequalities head-on and actively challenging racism wherever it exists. 

This is an incredible time to join Liverpool City Council. We have committed to becoming an actively anti-racist organisation and have recently launched our anti-racism strategy and action plan. In our city leadership role, we are also promoting an anti-racist approach as widely as possible across all aspects of life in the city – this includes working with our partners on city-wide and city-region-wide anti-racism strategies and our ‘This is Liverpool’ campaign to tackle racism and misinformation. 

Our anti-racism priorities are to:

• Display anti-racist leadership by taking a zero-tolerance approach to racism
• Take active steps so that our leadership more reflects Liverpool’s racial diversity, demonstrates accountability, and delivers visible, measurable action
• Foster belonging and honour Liverpool’s history
• Counter misinformation and challenge racial misinformation in real time
• Ensure our organisation is racially literate and promote racial-literacy across the city
• Ensure our recruitment and progression processes are fair and transparent
• Improve opportunities for racially diverse businesses and community organisations
• Provide services that are safe, inclusive and culturally competent

The Role: 

We are looking for someone with the energy, passion and commitment to drive forward the Council’s anti-racism ambitions as we progress onto the next stage of our journey towards being an actively anti-racist organisation and creating a fairer, safer and more inclusive future for everyone.

Our anti-racism commitments have been widely communicated across the organisation and with partners and are strongly supported by our elected members and officers. Our Cabinet approved the Council’s anti-racism strategy and action plan in November 2025 and our work with our communities, partners and workforce is well underway. 

The post holder will be the strategic lead for the Council’s approach to anti-racism and will manage the successful implementation of the Council’s strategic commitments and action plan. This is a key role within our Corporate Equality Team and will involve collaborating at all levels across the Council and with our partners and communities.

As the Council’s Anti-Racism Lead, you will:

• Lead an inclusive process to manage, implement, and report progress against the Council’s anti-racism strategy and action plan, ensuring every part of the organisation is engaged and accountable
• Support senior leaders in delivering the Council’s anti-racism commitments, providing expert advice and guidance to help them lead and inspire change
• Develop and maintain strong, trusted relationships with community and representative groups, including facilitating the anti-racism community oversight group
• Work collaboratively across the Council and beyond, with elected members, officers at all levels, staff networks, the Liverpool Strategic Partnership, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Race Equality Hub, and local MPs, to ensure successful delivery and clear communication of our anti-racism ambitions
• Review Council policies and strategies through an anti-racism lens, advising on improvements to better reflect our commitments
• Deliver and support specific components of the Council’s anti-racism action plan, working with directorates and service areas and leading on individual actions as required
• Design and implement a robust reporting and monitoring framework, including integration with the Council’s business planning process
• Provide advice and support with equality impact assessments, staff networks, training and development, cultural events, collective engagement and other areas in relation to race equity, anti-racism and equality and inclusion as required
• Develop and maintain a communications plan in relation to this work, working closely with the communications team and other key officers at the Council
• Seek out opportunities to support intersectionality and enhance the position of other protected characteristic groups

Our offer to you:

• At least 31 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 35 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes 
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave  
• Discounted Gym Memberships 
• Employee Volunteering Scheme 
• Medicash 

Next steps:
Closing date: midnight on Monday 19 January 2026
Shortlisting date: W/C 19 January 2026
Interview date: Thursday 5 February 2026 
Interview type: face-to-face, competency-based interview (further details will be provided once invited to interview)

We reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. If interested, please complete an application as early as possible.

Please note: this vacancy is classified as a politically restricted position.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact Lucy Horne, Head of Corporate Equality and Improvement, via lucy.horne@liverpool.gov.uk. 

Watch our recruitment video and see what life is like working at Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.  Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.

This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.