Job Title: Corporate Policy and Performance Manager
Post Number: 006706
Working Hours: 37
Grade: 12
Salary Range: £51,501 to £51,779 - pro rata for hours worked
Contract: Permanent
Location: Stevenage
About Us
Stevenage has all the benefits of being the UK’s first new town, set in the heart of England only 28 miles from London and closer still t to the beautiful countryside and historic places of interest across Hertfordshire. People like living in Stevenage, but it’s not without its challenges and not everyone’s experience is the same.
Stevenage Borough Council provides over 100 services, support and information to in excess of 87,000 residents on all areas of housing, benefits, waste, recycling, business, leisure, planning and regeneration.
The scale of our ambition is unprecedented. A major £1 billion town centre regeneration programme is currently underway along with a £45 million refurbishment of council homes. There is significant investment across the town’s neighbourhoods to make lives better, building community wealth and focusing on addressing local priorities. All of this is being driven by a council with a co-operative commitment to working with its communities and driving a modern and agile approach to its work.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on Stevenage, as it has across towns and cities across the UK. As the town embarks on its recovery plan it does so attempting to ensure that no-one is left behind. The council has recently agreed an Inclusive Economy Charter and has also launched an Equalities Commission. The aim of both of these is to tackle issues of social exclusion and to ensure opportunities are created for everyone across the town.
About the role
The next 12 months will be critical to the town’s recovery. You will play a key role in helping us make Stevenage Even Better.
Your ambition for Stevenage will match ours, leading the development of a new Corporate Plan and ensuring we are constantly focused on achieving our priorities.
Working closely with the Chief Executive, Strategic Directors and Elected Members, you will provide strategic, evidence-based policy advice and help drive continuous improvement across the council.
You will ensure the right systems and processes are in place to manage our performance, risk and governance effectively, and ensure business continuity and emergency plans are robust.
You will lead by example, building strong relationships and communicating effectively at all levels internally and with partners. You will constantly review the internal and external landscape, seeking innovative responses opportunities and challenges we face. More importantly, you will constantly challenge yourself, your team and your colleagues to grow and develop.
About you
As an experienced policy and performance professional, you will be a highly effective communicator, able to advise and influence others based on strong evidence and research skills. You will be highly skilled at understanding new policy areas, able to problem solve as both a critical friend and a fresh pair of eyes. You will be focused on outcomes, able to drive effective strategic and business planning processes and convey complex data and analysis to a range of audiences.
You will have experience working at a senior level and in a political environment, and be familiar with how to navigate an organisation with over 100 different services. You will be calm and decisive, able to motivate others to embrace change and inspire them to challenge established ways of doing things.
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
• Pension Scheme: We offer a career average pension scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
• Flexible working: available upon request, subject to operational requirements.
• Part time and Job share: all our full time vacancies are open to job share unless otherwise stated.
• A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave, maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.
• 24 days holiday rising to 30 days (depending on Local Government service)
• An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
• Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
• Season ticket loans and discounts for public transport
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Stevenage Credit Union: secure savings, free life insurance and access to cheap loans.
• Employee Discounts: via monthly paid membership of the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)
• Discounted Health and Fitness membership at SLL
• Trade Unions: For a small fee, all employees have the opportunity to join a Trade Union.
Application Details
For an informal discussion about this role please contact:
Ben Threadgold 07593 555820 ben.threadgold@stevenage.gov.uk
Rob Gregory 01438 242568 rob.gregory@stevenage.gov.uk
To apply online, please visit https://jobs.stevenage.gov.uk/StevenageBorough/Home
Closing date for receipt of applications: Sunday 6th March 2022
Interviews will be held week commencing: Monday 14th March 2022
Please note that if we receive a large volume of applications for this role, we reserve the right to close this vacancy ahead of the published closing date
Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, volunteers and recruitment candidates to share this commitment. SBC shall take all reasonable steps to employ staff who are safe to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. For posts identified with regular contact with these groups applicants will be required to undertake a Value Based Interview. The council supports the legislative requirements for employing and maintaining safer staff and the guidance specified by Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board
Stevenage Borough Council is committed to Equal Opportunities for All. For further