Head of Strategy & Operations

Salary: £318 – £402 per day

Our local authority client has a 6-month contract vacancy (with the possibility of extension) for the role of HEAD OF STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS, details as follows

Job Purpose

To ensure the smooth and effective running of the Resources department. This includes development of a performance management framework for the directorate, oversight and management of key departmental projects and programmes, business planning and the development of systems that are necessary to business operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the department’s business planning process, ensuring comprehensive, current business plans are in place across all services, aligned with the Council Plan and other corporate strategies.
• Coordinate the department’s financial planning process, working closely with the Head of Finance. This will include identifying and securing internal and external financial funding opportunities by developing funding and growth bids.
• Design, implement and oversee the development of a comprehensive performance management framework for the department, including the embedding of a proactive, professionally curious culture where management information is routinely used to identify areas for improvement.
• Identify, collate and gather business intelligence across the department and analyse this to identify issues, opportunities and trends; work with the Departmental Management Team to ensure this is utilised as part of an evidence-led decision making and business planning culture.
• Lead on the development of departmental strategies, plans and policies, aligned with the Council Plan and other corporate strategies.
• Plan, design and deliver multi-disciplinary projects and programmes across the department, ensuring robust project and programme methodologies are in place and change is effectively managed.
• Collaborate effectively, on behalf of the Executive Director and Departmental Management Team, with officers across the department, Council and external partners and stakeholders to contribute to the development of wider Council strategic policies and programmes ensuring the success of the organisation as a whole.

Essential Requirements

• A successful track record of working effectively in a similar role in a complex, political organisation comparable to local government.
• Degree-level qualification in a subject relevant to business management, or equivalent relevant experience.
• A solid understanding of performance management frameworks, processes and procedures.
• Analytical skills, able to interpret complex data (qualitative and quantitative) to identify issues, opportunities, trends.
• Experience of successfully managing projects.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to communicate effectively with and engage a wide range of stakeholders and work collaboratively to realise stated benefits.
• Professionally curious: proactively keeps abreast of new developments and good practice in relation to customer contact and ensures it is effectively applied to improvement.
• Highly organised, able to design, develop and implement business systems for effective operational delivery.
• Proven ability to work autonomously with minimum supervision.

If you have the necessary experience and qualifications to fulfill this role, please submit your CV ASAP.