Director of Violence Reduction Partnership
£89,333 per annum - Grade 13
Leeds / Hybrid
Full time / Fixed term for 12 months
Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.
We are excited to announce a unique opportunity for an exceptional leader to join us as the Director of Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP).
With funding secured for the coming year, this role is offered on a fixed-term basis, with the potential for extension subject to future funding. Secondments are also warmly welcomed.
We are seeking an experienced leader who is driven to address the root causes of serious violence across West Yorkshire. As our Director of Violence Reduction Partnership, you will bring a deep commitment to tackling inequalities and a bold ambition to create lasting, positive change for our communities.
This is a rare and influential role - ideal for someone with a strong track record in partnership working, offering the chance to shape the future of the Violence Reduction Partnership and deliver on the Home Office's national mission to prevent and reduce serious violence. As Director, you will lead VRP's strategic direction, deliver the Response Strategy, and drive forward the Mayor's Police and Crime Plan, as well as the new Serious Violence Strategy launching in May. The role also provides oversight of the Mayor's Women's Safety Unit - an innovative, first-of-its-kind team dedicated to tackling violence against women and girls in the region, and leadership of the VRP's interface with Operation Jemlock.
As Director, you will work with the wider VRP to champion and fund vital local projects that undertake positive preventative work with children and young people in particular. We take a fundamentally different approach to violence reduction, one where the public sector institutions and communities that make up West Yorkshire act together to help cut violence with early intervention, prevention, education and partnership working. Using its innovative public health approach, the VRP considers how the causes of violence can be addressed. Public health approaches start from the principle that prevention is better than cure.
Our Offer
Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.
The Role
Reporting into the Director of Policing, Place and Environment, your key responsibilities will include:
Provide strategic leadership of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership to achieve the Home Office national aims to prevent and reduce serious violence, and deliver the vision and lead the direction of the team to deliver the Response Strategy and Mayor's Police and Crime Plan to be a Safe, Just and inclusive West Yorkshire.
Coordinate a system wide, evidence led, public health approach across West Yorkshire to reduce serious violence through strong effective relationships and influence with key stakeholders and partners, including senior leaders at the Home Office, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Deputy Mayor, Chief Constable, WYCA, CSPs, Health/ICS, Serious Violence duty holders, HMICFRS, VRP Core Members, third sector and community leaders.
Drive and influence collaboration, sustainability and shared outcomes with key stakeholders both nationally and locally, being a role model for change and success.
Achieve, deliver and hold accountability for all requirements of the Home Office core grant.
About You
You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:
Extensive practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role.
Previous leadership experience shaping and driving system change at a local, regional and national level.
Previous experience developing and leading strategic relationships across partners, stakeholders and with Government, with the ability to meet the objectives of the VRP in reducing serious violence in West Yorkshire.
In depth knowledge of the emerging and best practice evidence in reducing and preventing violence, vulnerability and exploitation.
Highly developed communication skills with the proven ability to strongly lead, influence, negotiate and challenge.
To Apply
If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.
Further Information
The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.
Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.
Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.