Role Responsibility
PLEASE NOTE: Applications for this role are currently open only to existing staff of Kent County Council, Medway Council and Kent's District & Borough Councils.
Shape the future of local government in Kent & Medway
This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in one of the most complex and highprofile public sector transformation programmes in the country.
The Kent & Medway Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Programme is delivering fundamental change to how local government is designed and delivered across the region. We are now looking for an experienced Senior Policy Manager to help lead this journey, ensuring services remain safe, resilient and ready for the future.
If you thrive at pace, enjoy working across organisational boundaries, and want to make a lasting difference for our residents, this role offers challenge, visibility and impact in equal measure.
About the role
Reporting to the Programme Director, the Senior Policy Manager will be the lead policy professional for the LGR Programme.
You will:
1. Design and oversee the policy architecture that underpins the joint Local Government Reorganisation Programme across Kent & Medway
2. Provide authoritative, impartial policy advice to the Programme Director, Programme Board, and senior leadership
3. Ensure the emerging programme design and framework, implementation plan and service blueprints comply with statutory requirements, emerging legislation and government guidance
4. Interpret and apply primary legislation and national policy, helping shape transitional and day one policy frameworks for the new council(s)
5. Lead the development, coordination and quality assurance of all LGR policy papers, briefings and submissions
6. Act as the senior policy interface with government departments, the strategic partner, sector bodies, national LGR networks and peers across Kent & Medway
7. Support lobbying and engagement where national policy or guidance is still emerging
What youll bring to the team
You will be an experienced public sector policy professional with a strong track record of working in politically sensitive environments.
Were looking for someone who can demonstrate:
8. Experience leading complex policy development in local government or the wider public sector
9. Knowledge of local government reorganisation and devolution
10. Understanding of local government governance, statutory frameworks and political processes
11. Excellent written skills, with the ability to produce highquality briefings for Members and senior officers
12. Confidence to provide constructive challenge and impartial advice at senior levels
13. Ability to work calmly at pace amid uncertainty and evolving policy direction
Why join the Kent & Medway LGR Programme?
14. Be at the heart of onceinageneration public sector change
15. Work with talented colleagues from across Kent & Medway in a genuinely collaborative environment
16. Gain exposure to senior decisionmaking and complex system leadership
17. Develop your career through a highly visible, strategically important role
18. Make a real difference to how services are delivered to residents for years to come
Our shared Kent and Medway values
We are one team, working openly and collaboratively across Kent & Medway. We are caring, respectful and peoplecentred, open and accountable, curious and ambitious, and proud of the difference we are making together.
Interested?
Applications are currently open to existing staff of Kent County Council, Medway Council and Kent District & Borough Councils only.
This is an opportunity to step into a senior, influential role at the heart of LGR. If youre ready to help shape the future of local government in Kent & Medway, wed love to hear from you.
This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.