Job Overview
Strategic Lead for Intelligence & Insight – Secondment / Fixed Term opportunity until March 2027 with the potential for extension. Location: Stevenage, Hours: 37, Salary: £72,268 per annum. This senior role is within the Improvement & Transformation service of Children’s Services in Hertfordshire and will lead a programme of transformation to strengthen the delivery of data, intelligence and insight across SEND and Inclusion.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead a programme of improvement and transformation across data, intelligence and insight, delivering strategic benefits across the directorate and multi‑agency partnerships.
* Shape the strategic direction of intelligence and insight for SEND and Inclusion in line with national reforms and local government reorganisation.
* Embed a culture of evidence‑based decision‑making and continuous improvement underpinning system transformation, service improvements and operational decision‑making.
* Lead high‑quality reporting across the directorate, translating complex data into meaningful insights for a range of audiences.
* Provide leadership and oversight of insight and intelligence to support robust budget monitoring, modelling and reporting for high‑risk areas such as High Needs funding.
* Establish a strategic overview of resource use, supporting and challenging senior leaders to mitigate financial risks.
* Oversee information systems and champion innovation, including the adoption of new digital tools and reporting platforms such as Power BI.
* Lead and develop data and finance teams, ensuring clarity of vision, high performance and professional growth.
* Coordinate analytical resources across services to drive efficiency and coherence.
* Contribute to wider leadership within the Improvement & Transformation service, deputising when required.
* Collaborate across the council and with external partners to meet corporate and statutory reporting requirements.
* Build strong partnerships locally, regionally and nationally to support the directorate’s data and insight ambitions.
* Ensure timely and high‑quality responses to statutory returns, inspections, FOI requests and partner queries.
About You – Essential
* Exceptional skills in data gathering, analysis and interpretation, with the ability to present complex information clearly to different audiences.
* Strong analytical thinking, able to draw conclusions and translate insight into action for senior leaders, elected members and operational services.
* Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to engage partners at every level across a multi‑agency system.
* Proven leadership and team management experience, with a focus on developing others.
* Good political awareness and ability to work effectively in sensitive and high‑profile environments.
* Experience with programme and transformation leadership and management approaches.
* Thrives in a complex, fast‑paced and dynamic environment.
* Thorough knowledge of national SEND policy, inclusion, and/or support for children with additional learning needs.
About You – Desirable
* Experience leading intelligence, performance or analytics functions within a local authority or public sector setting.
* Experience of financial oversight, budget monitoring and managing high‑value funding areas.
* Experience implementing or optimising data systems, business intelligence tools such as Power BI, and case management systems.
* Knowledge of statutory reporting requirements and inspection frameworks within SEND / Inclusion.
* Experience working across multi‑agency partnerships at a strategic level.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
We are a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
English fluency: the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential.
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