Equalities officer Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As an equalities officer your work could include:

• identifying equality issues within an organisation, introducing new policies and reviewing existing practices
• working with employers to help them achieve a balanced and diverse workforce
• supporting community-based equal opportunities projects to develop strategies for change
• promoting equalities initiatives and events, such as international women's week
• working with local community services, and disadvantaged and under-represented groups to understand their needs and gain insight into the effects of prejudice and discrimination
• advising on best practice for recruitment, staff development and retention, and monitoring these areas
• making sure that advertising and promotional materials are not discriminatory
• working in schools to maximise the potential of children from ethnic minority backgrounds
• preparing and delivering training, presentations and workshops to promote equal opportunities.

In some organisations, you may be known as an equality and diversity officer, or equal opportunities officer.

Hours

You would usually work 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. However, you may need to work in the evenings or at weekends, for example when working with community groups. Job sharing and part-time hours may also be an option.

You would be based at an office, but you would also travel to community organisations and workplaces to go to meetings, workshops and conferences.

Income

Trainee officers (or those combining the job with other duties) may earn between £13,000 and £20,000 a year.

Experienced officers at local authorities, universities or international companies may earn between £25,000 and £40,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You will usually need relevant work experience as well as knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities issues and legislation.

You could prepare for this work by taking a degree in a subject such as law, psychology or sociology. Having professional experience in human resource management, youth and community work, or social work would also help you.

If you have an unrelated degree, you could take a postgraduate course, for example in race and ethnic relations, disability studies, or equality and diversity. You will need to check exact entry requirements with individual course providers.

Some employers will prefer you to have wide general experience of working in human resources, and membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). See the CIPD website for more information.

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

To work as an equality and diversity officer in schools, you may need to qualify as a teacher first.

If you have extensive relevant voluntary work experience with community groups, you may be able to start as a trainee or assistant equalities officer.

Training and development

You will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer. You may also be encouraged to work towards a relevant qualification, such as:

• NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity
• ILM Level 4 Award in Managing Equality and Diversity in an Organisation
• postgraduate qualification in equality and diversity management
• professional Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualifications.

Other relevant short courses may be offered by local colleges and other training providers.

Skills and knowledge

To be an equalities officer, you should have:

• a commitment to equal opportunities and an awareness of cultural diversity
• a good understanding of equal opportunities issues and legislation
• the ability to relate to a wide variety of people
• strong spoken and written communication skills
• good listening skills
• the ability to deliver presentations and influence others
• good negotiation skills
• the ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
• research and analytical skills
• the ability to prioritise your workload and meet deadlines
• an open mind, sensitivity and diplomacy.

For some jobs, you may need the ability to speak a second, community-based language.

More information

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Equality House
7-9 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast
BT2 7DP
Tel: 028 9050 0600
www.equalityni.org

LGcareers
www.lgcareers.com

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
151 The Broadway
London
SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200
www.cipd.co.uk

Equality and Human Rights Commission
England: 0845 604 6610
Scotland: 0845 604 5510
Wales: 0845 604 8810
www.equalityhumanrights.com

Opportunities

You could work for public sector organisations, such as local authorities, the police and the civil service, for professional bodies such as the Law Society, and for large companies, schools and universities. In smaller organisations, human resources departments will often take on the work of an equalities officer.

With experience, good contacts and a sound reputation, you could go on to work as a consultant on a freelance, self-employed basis.

Jobs are advertised in the local and national press, in Jobcentre Plus offices, on local councils' job bulletins and on employers' websites. You may also find the following websites useful for vacancies and further reading (links open in a new window):

• LG Jobs
• Guardian Jobs
• Directgov (Jobseekers page)

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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