Vac ancy: Localities Directorate G6 Post

Vacancy Ref:               GOL 2010 – CPR 01

 

Grade:                          6

Salary:                          £56,742 - £72,056

Location:                      Riverwalk House, Millbank, London SW1P 4RR

Closing date:                15 March 2010

Interview dates:          Week commencing: 22 March

Eligibility:          Applicants need to be educated to at least degree level and to have recent (within the last two years) experience of working in a Local Authority at at least Assistant Director Level.

Terms              Fixed Term Appointment until March 2011

Job purpose and key areas of responsibility

 

This role will take the strategic lead for business plan delivery and overall management of the new directorate resource and project teams.  This new role will manage the transformation and delivery of a common resource support and internal project support to the Directorate to deliver key business aims, including Child Poverty (in particular).

The postholder will manage and support a mixed portfolio of policy facing responsibilities including Child Poverty.  The Directorate also leads on Worklessness, Skills and Employment, the Economy, Environment and Community Cohesion.  Under Comprehensive Area Assessments will be expected to represent the interests of Government Departments in tackling London priorities and driving up improvements.

The post advertised will report to the Deputy Director Head of North, East and Economic Development Division.

Key roles include:

• Strategic lead for child poverty policy and co-ordination for London , acting as a bridge between the Child Poverty Unit, Central Government , major partners such as London Councils, the Idea, C4EO and the VCS  and practitioners.  The role will involve not only ensuring that national and regional policies on child poverty  are being delivered, but also advising Departments upon the efficacy of related policies, the need for local variation and (increasingly) a role in “horizon scanning” to identify emerging policy issues and other factors affecting public service delivery in the region.  The role will also support the GO Child Poverty network regionally and the delivery of PSA9.  A strong element of the role is to manage the co-ordination of support to LSPs and LAs in the delivery of child poverty strategies and to tackle child poverty at local level.  The postholder also manage the local GO CP Adviser and provide support to the wider group of regional advisers.  Locality and relationship management with all London LSPs in conjunction with colleagues will be an essential part of the role.

• Lead for the transformation and management of the common resource and consultancy support to Directorate teams including NEED/SWEEP, providing professional project management, administrative and executive support, driving up performance and providing new ways of working.

• Development and management of an internal project team to support a range of policy and programme areas within the Directorate.

Background

The Localities Directorate acts as relationship manager with all 33 Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) in the region, acting on behalf of Central Government.  The Directorate is responsible for the negotiation of Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and plays a pivotal role in the management of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) regime introduced in April 2009.

The Directorate covers a range of Policy areas including

• Child Poverty
• Community Cohesion
• Community Empowerment
• Local Area Agreement Policy
• Local Government performance, improvement and efficiency
• Olympics/Olympic Legacy
• Public Health
• Regeneration and New Deal for Community
• Social Exclusion
• Thames Gateway

The successful applicant will therefore be expected to provide support to Locality teams and policy areas across a range of issues.

This is a busy and demanding role which will requires a good understanding of the Child Poverty agenda, strong strategic leadership and management ability and excellent relationship skills .Experience of change management and organisational transformation is desirable.

Applicants will be assessed using the Government Office Competency Framework and will be expected to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

Essential competencies:

Leadership and People Management

• Understands and communicates the organisation’s priorities, and ensures people’s objectives are aligned with them
• Sets the purpose and priorities of the team and ensures they are communicated and understood
• Shares leadership vision and secures buy-in.

Professional Skills

·         Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of child poverty policy nationally and regionally

·         Identify cross-cutting work and develop effective solutions

·         Demonstrate an awareness of other strategies being delivered in the sector and identify opportunities to work together

·         See delivery as an integrated part of policy development and ensure teams work effectively with all parts of the delivery chain

Communications

• Understands the importance of effective, joined up communications across Departments and Whitehall and actively engages with staff and stakeholders to make it happen.

Delivering Results

• Is not afraid to improve delivery by taking calculated risks within the context of the policy, guidance and legislation applicable to the Network.
• Sets and influences stretching targets for improving the value achieved from resource inputs (people, budget and assets)

Strategic Thinking

• Demonstrates an understanding of relevant local, regional and national issues, and ensures that processes and policies are integrated

Programme and Project Management (PPM)

• Plans and delivers strong relationships with stakeholders ensuring that the organization is a respected customer and provider
• U nderstands and uses PPM techniques, including risk management

Analysis and use of evidence

• Interprets information, making wider links and draws informed conclusions for Whitehall and other stakeholders in the development of pre-emptive solutions.
• Engages with relevant experts to gather and evaluate evidence

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with London’s Local Authorities
• Knowledge of key London Stakeholders

Application forms are available from and 3 copies should be returned to Will Harrington at Government Office for London, Riverwalk House, 157-161 Millbank, London SW1P 4RR / william.harrington@gol.gsi.gov.uk.

For further information contact – Pauline Reeves 020 7217 3095 / pauline.reeves@gol.gsi.gov.uk

GO Vacancy Procedures apply .

The GO Network values the diverse skills of all staff.  Promotion and selection is determined on ability and without regard to colour, race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, working patterns, religion, or age.