Job summary
North Yorkshire Council is seeking an experienced and
visionary Strategic Performance Lead, known internally as 'Corporate Strategy
and Performance lead', to drive and oversee performance management across
Childrens and Young Peoples Services. This is an exciting opportunity to join
a supportive, forward-thinking team, working in one of the most beautiful and
diverse counties in the UK. As Strategic Performance Lead, you will play a
pivotal role in improving the lives of children and families, and you will be
supported by a collaborative team that is committed to making a real
difference.
Based within the central Strategy and Performance service,
you will lead a team to oversee the performance framework for the Children and
Young People Services directorate, delivering evidence-based recommendations to
senior leadership. You will play a crucial role in supporting the
identification and delivery of a wide range of initiatives designed to improve
the lives of children, young people, and their families in North Yorkshire. You
will also work alongside Corporate Leads for other directorates to support a
clear corporate performance picture and drive consistency and development of
the strategy and performance capabilities across the council.
Main duties of the job
- Oversee
performance management arrangements, ensuring that performance data is
accurately collected, analysed, and reported to senior management.
- Lead
and manage a high-performing team to monitor, evaluate, and drive continuous
improvements in service delivery.
- Provide
expert strategic advice to senior leaders on children's services, supporting
decision-making with robust evidence and clear performance insights.
- Collaborate
with senior leaders to ensure that services for children and young people are
effective, efficient, and meet statutory obligations and best practice
standards.
- Champion
the voice and needs of children, young people, and families, ensuring they are
central to strategic planning and service delivery.
- Lead
on inspection-readiness preparations and exercises.
- Represent
NYC at regional and national forums to promote best
practice and share learning in children's services.
- Act
as the research lead for the directorate, identifying opportunities to use
academic research to support greater insight and improvement.
- Comprehensive
experience in strategic performance management roles, with a strong
understanding of children's services, statutory requirements, and national
standards that affect service delivery and outcomes.
- Proven
ability to lead and influence at a senior level, managing and delivering
large-scale performance improvement initiatives.
- Advanced
analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex data into actionable
insights and strategic recommendations.
About us
You will
bring in-depth knowledge of the legislative and policy context for childrens
services and a history in delivering outcomes-based effective quality assurance
and performance management, working closely with senior managers, stakeholders,
partners and Elected Members.You will possess excellent analytical skills
as well as the ability to lead successful projects and change programmes.
This
leadership role offers a unique opportunity to influence the direction of
services for children and young people across the county, helping our services
to develop and deliver the best possible outcomes.
Why Join
North Yorkshire Council?
We offer a
competitive salary, hybrid and flexible working arrangements, and generous
annual leave allowance of up to 34 days. In addition, we offer a range of staff
benefits such as Performance Related Pay, interest-free travel season ticket
loan, membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, childcare
vouchers, green car scheme, discounts at many leisure activities, restaurants,
shops and other establishments. A wide range of developmental opportunities are
also offered.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Context
Local Government Reorganisation
brought together the eight councils of North Yorkshire into a single unitary
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) on 1 April 2023.
This will provide the platform for improving the efficiency and
effectiveness, maximising opportunities of scale across a rural council whilst
improving outcomes for residents and businesses. It will place communities at the heart of the
council with the aim of being the most local, large council in England whilst
ensuring we are in a strong position to manage the challenges ahead including
rising costs and increased demand for services.
The Strategy and Performance service
sits at the centre of the organisation, supporting service delivery and
improvement through the analysis and provision of high-quality accessible
performance information, and is trusted to advise directorates, Management
Board and Executive on the strategic direction of the council.
The service works to ensure the broad
understanding of current performance, of the operating environment of the
council and the opportunities for future improvement. It will:
- Understand
the external environment through horizon scanning, communicating its relevance
across the council and ensuring the councils strategic planning, policy and
performance frameworks are aligned with the evidenced needs of our communities.
- Support
the corporate response to emerging national or international policy issues,
providing rapid analysis and organisational support to establish the required
approach.
- Deliver
briefing information which underpins our leadership approach to maximising the
economic and social potential of North Yorkshire alongside innovation and
transformation of service delivery.
- Provide
technical leadership in the effective use of information and data to develop
strategy, policy and performance improvement including the corporate policy
and performance framework.
- Inform,
stimulate, challenge and help strategic leads and partners to develop effective
strategies
- Inform,
stimulate, challenge and help service leads to analyse, understand and improve
performance
- Demonstrate
technical and operational excellence through a commitment to professionalism
and continuous improvement.
Strategy and Performance will work
closely with the Data and Intelligence Team to ensure performance information
is available at a service level and at a corporate level for reporting. It will
also work with the Transformation service to align service plan activities with
the Transformation programme and monitor their progress, in pursuit of the
outcomes described within the Council Plan.
The service is structured around six
teams, supporting individual directorates as well as providing cross-cutting
corporate support.
Job Purpose
The core focus of this job is to lead
delivery of a portfolio of services to support a range of clients (internal and
external through partnerships and/or commercial arrangements). Services to specific clients will be subject
to individual requirements reflecting the different needs of different
organisations.
Strategic Management
- Lead the service in devising and
implementing of strategies and service plan to ensure consistent, high quality
and effective delivery of the service. Ensures the promotion of the plan to all
stakeholders
- Personally, and through team members
deliver the targets set down in the service and team plans, monitoring and
addressing under performance.
- To contribute to determining strategy,
setting objectives and targets and to the development of policies across the
operational remit of the service and the Directorate, and, working with the
line manager, to be accountable for service strategy.
- Lead in the development of new ways of
working that maximise efficiency and effectiveness.
Operational Management
- To review and propose changes to
structures, procedures and working methods that will improve the efficient use
of resources and the effectiveness of service delivery to communities and
targeted groups.
- To advise the wider service on
relevant changing legislation, professional standards and their implementation.
- Maximise commercialisation of services
provided.
- To develop, support and promote a strong
result driven and customer focused performance culture ensuring the provision
of cost-effective, efficient, high quality services in line with identified
needs.
- To lead specific programmes as part of
the Councils change and transformation programme.
Communications
- Influence and liaise with lead
business partners as required to ensure that strategic planning and
implementation of plans is carried out consistently and effectively.
- Promote the Councils priorities,
policies and Corporate Plan and positively promote the service with local and
national media.
- Work closely with officers /
professional staff in understanding / improving the customer journey across a
range of NYC services.
- Manage challenging situations
effectively and pro-actively to improve the performance of staff and/or
volunteers by maintaining communication with staff and providing the
appropriate support and guidance.
- Represent the service at appropriate
inter and intra agency meetings, promoting, liaising, consulting and engaging
with managers, staff, people who use our services and their carers and other
stakeholders in challenging situations
- Respond to media enquiries as
requested and appraise your manager of any matters arising which are
particularly sensitive or controversial in nature.
- Deliver presentations in order to
develop effective service delivery and good stakeholder relationships.
- Inform and analyse national and local
policy change and communicate implications to senior operational managers and
frontline staff as appropriate.
Partnership / Corporate Working
- Work with a range of
partners/agencies, both internal and external, to develop and maintain
co-operative relationships.
- When implementing service delivery
change ensure activities are aligned, where appropriate, with other changes
taking place corporately and across Directorates, including working with
colleagues in HR, ICT, Finance, Communications, Legal Services and other
functions where required
- Represent the service at policy,
operational and co-ordination forums with external agencies and Council
Directorates when required.
Resource Management
- Be responsible for resources in
respect of allocated budgets within the Councils scheme of delegation of
financial responsibility. To oversee the service in such a way as to protect
its financial and operational viability by maintaining current levels and
securing additional business to maximise income generation.
- Prioritise and allocate staffing to
support managers in discharging their responsibilities for meeting the needs of
the service.
- To give leadership, management and
direction to staff of the service through the establishment and promotion of
service and individual objectives, service performance plans, priority setting,
reviews and performance appraisal.
- To develop and maintain an innovative
and responsive approach to the management of resources having regard to the
need for economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
- Carry out people management issues
such as recruitment, development, and absence management, setting targets,
providing feedback on performance and effectively addressing development and
learning issues.
- Support the delivery of corporate
initiatives in delivering transformational change, through effective modelling
of positive behaviours and delivering innovative solutions to service delivery
and development.
Systems and Information
- Ensure that systems and processes to
support the service are consistent with the Council standards and procedures.
- Produce written reports as required
including evaluation and impact statements for distribution service wide and to
partners.
- Use relevant IT systems and tools to
support the management, delivery and development of services, ensuring records
are accurate and current.
- Ensure government guidance and
legislation are interpreted appropriately and are adhered to in a manner
consistent with good practice.
Safeguarding
- To be committed to safeguarding and
promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, raising concerns as
appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Context
Local Government Reorganisation
brought together the eight councils of North Yorkshire into a single unitary
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) on 1 April 2023.
This will provide the platform for improving the efficiency and
effectiveness, maximising opportunities of scale across a rural council whilst
improving outcomes for residents and businesses. It will place communities at the heart of the
council with the aim of being the most local, large council in England whilst
ensuring we are in a strong position to manage the challenges ahead including
rising costs and increased demand for services.
The Strategy and Performance service
sits at the centre of the organisation, supporting service delivery and
improvement through the analysis and provision of high-quality accessible
performance information, and is trusted to advise directorates, Management
Board and Executive on the strategic direction of the council.
The service works to ensure the broad
understanding of current performance, of the operating environment of the
council and the opportunities for future improvement. It will:
- Understand
the external environment through horizon scanning, communicating its relevance
across the council and ensuring the councils strategic planning, policy and
performance frameworks are aligned with the evidenced needs of our communities.
- Support
the corporate response to emerging national or international policy issues,
providing rapid analysis and organisational support to establish the required
approach.
- Deliver
briefing information which underpins our leadership approach to maximising the
economic and social potential of North Yorkshire alongside innovation and
transformation of service delivery.
- Provide
technical leadership in the effective use of information and data to develop
strategy, policy and performance improvement including the corporate policy
and performance framework.
- Inform,
stimulate, challenge and help strategic leads and partners to develop effective
strategies
- Inform,
stimulate, challenge and help service leads to analyse, understand and improve
performance
- Demonstrate
technical and operational excellence through a commitment to professionalism
and continuous improvement.
Strategy and Performance will work
closely with the Data and Intelligence Team to ensure performance information
is available at a service level and at a corporate level for reporting. It will
also work with the Transformation service to align service plan activities with
the Transformation programme and monitor their progress, in pursuit of the
outcomes described within the Council Plan.
The service is structured around six
teams, supporting individual directorates as well as providing cross-cutting
corporate support.
Job Purpose
The core focus of this job is to lead
delivery of a portfolio of services to support a range of clients (internal and
external through partnerships and/or commercial arrangements). Services to specific clients will be subject
to individual requirements reflecting the different needs of different
organisations.
Strategic Management
- Lead the service in devising and
implementing of strategies and service plan to ensure consistent, high quality
and effective delivery of the service. Ensures the promotion of the plan to all
stakeholders
- Personally, and through team members
deliver the targets set down in the service and team plans, monitoring and
addressing under performance.
- To contribute to determining strategy,
setting objectives and targets and to the development of policies across the
operational remit of the service and the Directorate, and, working with the
line manager, to be accountable for service strategy.
- Lead in the development of new ways of
working that maximise efficiency and effectiveness.
Operational Management
- To review and propose changes to
structures, procedures and working methods that will improve the efficient use
of resources and the effectiveness of service delivery to communities and
targeted groups.
- To advise the wider service on
relevant changing legislation, professional standards and their implementation.
- Maximise commercialisation of services
provided.
- To develop, support and promote a strong
result driven and customer focused performance culture ensuring the provision
of cost-effective, efficient, high quality services in line with identified
needs.
- To lead specific programmes as part of
the Councils change and transformation programme.
Communications
- Influence and liaise with lead
business partners as required to ensure that strategic planning and
implementation of plans is carried out consistently and effectively.
- Promote the Councils priorities,
policies and Corporate Plan and positively promote the service with local and
national media.
- Work closely with officers /
professional staff in understanding / improving the customer journey across a
range of NYC services.
- Manage challenging situations
effectively and pro-actively to improve the performance of staff and/or
volunteers by maintaining communication with staff and providing the
appropriate support and guidance.
- Represent the service at appropriate
inter and intra agency meetings, promoting, liaising, consulting and engaging
with managers, staff, people who use our services and their carers and other
stakeholders in challenging situations
- Respond to media enquiries as
requested and appraise your manager of any matters arising which are
particularly sensitive or controversial in nature.
- Deliver presentations in order to
develop effective service delivery and good stakeholder relationships.
- Inform and analyse national and local
policy change and communicate implications to senior operational managers and
frontline staff as appropriate.
Partnership / Corporate Working
- Work with a range of
partners/agencies, both internal and external, to develop and maintain
co-operative relationships.
- When implementing service delivery
change ensure activities are aligned, where appropriate, with other changes
taking place corporately and across Directorates, including working with
colleagues in HR, ICT, Finance, Communications, Legal Services and other
functions where required
- Represent the service at policy,
operational and co-ordination forums with external agencies and Council
Directorates when required.
Resource Management
- Be responsible for resources in
respect of allocated budgets within the Councils scheme of delegation of
financial responsibility. To oversee the service in such a way as to protect
its financial and operational viability by maintaining current levels and
securing additional business to maximise income generation.
- Prioritise and allocate staffing to
support managers in discharging their responsibilities for meeting the needs of
the service.
- To give leadership, management and
direction to staff of the service through the establishment and promotion of
service and individual objectives, service performance plans, priority setting,
reviews and performance appraisal.
- To develop and maintain an innovative
and responsive approach to the management of resources having regard to the
need for economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
- Carry out people management issues
such as recruitment, development, and absence management, setting targets,
providing feedback on performance and effectively addressing development and
learning issues.
- Support the delivery of corporate
initiatives in delivering transformational change, through effective modelling
of positive behaviours and delivering innovative solutions to service delivery
and development.
Systems and Information
- Ensure that systems and processes to
support the service are consistent with the Council standards and procedures.
- Produce written reports as required
including evaluation and impact statements for distribution service wide and to
partners.
- Use relevant IT systems and tools to
support the management, delivery and development of services, ensuring records
are accurate and current.
- Ensure government guidance and
legislation are interpreted appropriately and are adhered to in a manner
consistent with good practice.
Safeguarding
- To be committed to safeguarding and
promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, raising concerns as
appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professionally qualified to degree level in a relevant specialism or equivalent
Desirable
- A management or post graduate qualification
Occupational Skills
Essential
- Effective leadership skills and the ability to promote organisational policy and objectives to support change management of diverse operational functions to deliver strategic objectives.
- Ability to contribute to the planning of resources for the whole council and to understand where specific programmes need to collaborate to drive change.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships both within and outside the council
- Ability to negotiate and influence at a senior level with council chief officers and senior politicians.
- Ability to demonstrate drive and initiative to achieve outcomes
Desirable
- Enterprise skills including ability to develop and sustain effective income generation, drive business cases and create viable business models for public benefit.
Experience
Essential
- Significant knowledge of current policy developments, legislation and good practice standards both at local and national level in relation to one or more key areas of the councils work
- Significant knowledge of performance management, evaluation tools and methodologies
- Significant knowledge of statutory requirements and good practice standards regarding strategy development, equality, consultation and engagement
- Knowledge of effective management of staff and resources
- Extensive experience of strategic planning, policy development and implementation, and performance management
- Experience of developing and implementing organisational culture change within a large diverse organisation
- Successful management of staff
Desirable
- Experience of responding to media enquiries.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professionally qualified to degree level in a relevant specialism or equivalent
Desirable
- A management or post graduate qualification
Occupational Skills
Essential
- Effective leadership skills and the ability to promote organisational policy and objectives to support change management of diverse operational functions to deliver strategic objectives.
- Ability to contribute to the planning of resources for the whole council and to understand where specific programmes need to collaborate to drive change.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships both within and outside the council
- Ability to negotiate and influence at a senior level with council chief officers and senior politicians.
- Ability to demonstrate drive and initiative to achieve outcomes
Desirable
- Enterprise skills including ability to develop and sustain effective income generation, drive business cases and create viable business models for public benefit.
Experience
Essential
- Significant knowledge of current policy developments, legislation and good practice standards both at local and national level in relation to one or more key areas of the councils work
- Significant knowledge of performance management, evaluation tools and methodologies
- Significant knowledge of statutory requirements and good practice standards regarding strategy development, equality, consultation and engagement
- Knowledge of effective management of staff and resources
- Extensive experience of strategic planning, policy development and implementation, and performance management
- Experience of developing and implementing organisational culture change within a large diverse organisation
- Successful management of staff
Desirable
- Experience of responding to media enquiries.
