Overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive person with a passion for improving the lives of people in Leeds to join the council's Policy team. The successful applicant will provide leadership and management for the team's strategic planning and policy development functions, working closely with colleagues from across the council and partner organisations to support and further develop our approach to evidence-led strategic planning and delivery of the Leeds Ambitions. The postholder will also contribute to ongoing development of enhanced policy-research collaboration between the council and the city's universities. This is a strategic role at the heart of the council with significant cross-council and cross-partnership working, requiring strong, positive relationships with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of strategic planning and policy development, alongside strong influencing and negotiation skills, would be desirable.
About the team
The council's Policy team has a broad remit to provide insight to decision-makers with the aim of improving services and outcomes. Core elements of the team’s wider role include data analysis, business planning, and policy development and support, including co-ordination and leadership of the wider policy community, policy influencing and regional/national partnerships, and academic-civic research collaboration. The IPS (Intelligence and Policy Service) provides a wide range of insight to frontline services, senior managers, elected members and partners with the aim of informing decisions and improving services and outcomes across locality, service, city and wider levels.
Responsibilities
* Lead the development and delivery of IPS priorities in one or more areas: Data Analysis; Business Planning; Policy Development and Support.
* Provide responsive, timely and accurate intelligence and analysis that meets stakeholder needs.
* Build intelligence capacity through self-service, innovation, and collaboration with partners while ensuring good information governance.
* Ensure intelligence informs improvement conversations and actions; enable managers to own and use intelligence, linking data with other evidence and considering trends, benchmarking, forecasting, and equalities characteristics including disadvantage.
* Lead developments and improvements to intelligence/data analytical systems and processes, including Leeds Observatory, GIS and related tools; promote best practice across councils and partnerships.
* Support the development of the council's corporate plan and ensure consistency with key strategies and the authority’s policy direction.
* Lead corporate risk management, performance management frameworks, and business continuity planning; enable informed decision-making and service improvement.
* Provide strategic leadership for online and offline consultation and engagement, including survey design and analysis and community engagement.
* Provide support to senior managers and elected members on national, regional and local policy areas; promote cross-policy coordination and a common strategic narrative.
* Represent Leeds City Council at external policy meetings; collaborate with partners across the Leeds City Region and West Yorkshire to inform policy development.
* Demonstrate council values and behaviours; manage staff within IPS, develop objectives, and review performance; build strong relationships with stakeholders.
* Oversee procurement, implementation and ongoing management of IPS technical solutions; maximise use of technology to improve performance.
* Prepare and deliver briefings, reports and presentations to senior managers, elected members and partners; manage delegated budgets in line with procedures and rules.
General responsibilities
* Maintain knowledge of local, regional and national issues as they relate to IPS functions; develop staff and provide leadership across the service.
* Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards and best practice in pursuit of service delivery excellence; work within policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Information Governance and Equality and Diversity.
* Lead the procurement and management of IPS technical solutions; develop cross-council and cross-partnership relationships.
* Flexible and adaptable to change; contribute to personal development opportunities and organizational priorities.
* Support equality, diversity and inclusion; promote an anti-discriminatory approach and uphold Leeds City Council values and codes of conduct.
* Contribute to continuous improvement and delivery of Leeds Ambitions: Healthy Lives, Inclusive Growth, Thriving Communities, and a Resilient Sustainable City.
* Understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures; manage workload and deliver work on time through team leadership.
* Develop and manage staff, delegate responsibilities, provide training needs analysis, and support performance appraisals.
* Be aware of and support difference; challenge incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, or abuse; engage in appraisal and development activities to maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills.
* Work within the flexibility protocol and adapt to evolving priorities; knowledge of national frameworks and data sources relevant to the role.
Note: The duties outlined are not exhaustive and may include other duties consistent with the post. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, sponsorship eligibility must be considered before applying.
Qualifications and experience
* Experience at a senior level in data analysis, business planning and/or policy development and support; extensive experience of managing staff.
* Proven ability to build positive and collaborative relationships to apply insight to improve services and outcomes; experience delivering performance improvement.
* Ability to lead cross-service teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver work to deadline; experience of evolving service delivery approaches.
* Strong communication skills: assess and present complex qualitative and quantitative information; write reports for diverse audiences; negotiate and influence stakeholders.
* Proficient in Microsoft packages and familiar with analytical software; project leadership and change management skills.
* Knowledge of Leeds City Council strategies, policies and current direction; understanding of the council’s political context and public service pressures.
* Detailed knowledge of one or more IPS functional areas and relevant legislative/regulatory requirements; experience of working with data analysis, business planning and/or policy development.
Expiry note: This description does not indicate that the role is closed; candidates should apply as directed. If the role is closed for any reason, it will be indicated in the job posting.
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