Director / Head of Improvement
Bedford Borough Council
Interim – 6 months
Rate: Please submit CV with desired hourly/day rate
Bedford Borough Council is seeking an experienced Director / Head of Improvement to support and work closely with the Deputy Chief Executive, leading the delivery of organisation‑wide improvement, transformation and efficiency programmes.
This is a senior interim role, focused on delivering sustainable cost reduction, improved productivity and high‑quality services while meeting statutory obligations in a complex local government environment.
Purpose of the Role
To lead corporate improvement and efficiency programmes that deliver measurable, cashable benefits, aligning financial sustainability with service performance and organisational outcomes.
Key Accountabilities
* Own the delivery of corporate savings targets and efficiency programmes
* Set and drive the organisation’s improvement and transformation strategy
* Ensure all initiatives deliver measurable, cashable benefits
* Align financial sustainability with service performance and outcomes
* Provide assurance to senior leadership and elected members on progress, risks and impact
Key Responsibilities
* Lead a portfolio of improvement and efficiency programmes, including service redesign, demand management and digital initiatives
* Embed robust governance, programme management and benefits realisation frameworks
* Oversee the development of robust business cases
* Work closely with finance to ensure accurate modelling, tracking and validation of savings
* Partner with service directors to identify and deliver efficiencies across services
* Use data, benchmarking and insight to inform decision‑making and prioritisation
* Build organisational capability in continuous improvement, including Lean approaches
* Engage effectively with elected members and key stakeholders, managing political and public sensitivities
Skills & Experience
* Proven track record of delivering large‑scale savings and improvement programmes within local government
* Strong financial and commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of local authority funding and budgeting
* Extensive experience in programme delivery, governance and benefits tracking
* Ability to influence and operate credibly at senior level in complex political environments
* Strong analytical, problem‑solving and communication skills
Success Measures
* Delivery of agreed savings targets, on time and in line with approved business cases
* Improved efficiency, income generation and cost reduction across services
* Strong financial assurance and audit confidence
* Effective management of risks and delivery challenges
* High levels of stakeholder confidence and engagement
* A sustained and embedded culture of continuous improvement
Key Outputs
* Corporate efficiency strategy and improvement roadmap
* Savings delivery reports and risk dashboards
* Approved business cases and investment proposals
* Portfolio‑level performance and benefits tracking
* A clear “plan on a page” that can be communicated across the organisation