To be successful in this role, you’ll need to bring substantial experience of leading a significant service or function in a large, multi-disciplined organisation – with a strong track record of managing people, budgets, resources and performance. You’ll be used to working at scale, turning strategic objectives into practical operational plans and leading project, programme and change management work that moves services forward.
You’ll be a visible and supportive leader, someone who knows how to motivate and develop professional staff while creating a positive culture around them. And with that, you’ll bring the passion and drive to take services to the next level, empowering people to do their best work and helping them feel supported.
Working in a complex political and service environment won’t be new to you. You’ll be comfortable building relationships with senior managers, partner organisations, communities, public agencies and statutory bodies, using strong communication and stakeholder management skills to bring people together.
You’ll also have strong financial and budget management skills, with experience in business planning, quality and performance management. You’ll know how to look at financial and performance information, understand the wider business context and pull out the key facts that help identify improvements, savings and new opportunities.
Procurement, supplier relationship management and commercial thinking will also be part of your experience. You’ll be able to identify new commercial opportunities, drive growth and deliver value for money, while staying open to new ideas and looking beyond traditional local government solutions when challenges need a fresh approach.
You’ll understand the issues facing local government, including the legal, financial and political context of public sector management and the statutory responsibilities of the role. With a flexible and partnership-focused approach, you’ll be able to work across departments and organisations, acting as a hub to coordinate services and resolve shared issues.
Just as importantly, you’ll be customer-driven, inclusive and committed to making services better. You’ll understand how customers need support the wider business strategy, and you’ll bring a strong commitment to equality and diversity – leading by example, investing in your own development and encouraging others to do the same.
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme will automatically be invited to interview, should they meet the essential criteria for the role.
The Council is committed to achieving diverse shortlists to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in our workforce. We especially encourage applications from a Global Majority (GM), people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities' (formally known as B.A.M.E, Black, Asian and multiple ethnic) background and, while the role is open to all applicants, we will utilise the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to appoint a candidate from a global majority background where there is a choice between two candidates of equal merit. If you are from a Global Majority background, you can self-declare this to the hiring manager as part of our positive action commitments.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning, subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
