Senior Policy & Strategy Officer Ref: 45-25

Salary: Grade 7, £37,763 - £43,882 per annum
Hours: Full time 37 hours per week
Place of Work: Dereham, Norfolk (some remote working)
Basis: Permanent

Would you like a job where what you do:

• Allows you to work across the Council, supporting the delivery of corporate priorities.
• Solves problems and supports the development of critical policy and strategy work.
• Enables the Council to think creatively, through the delivery of high-quality research work.

We are seeking a Senior Policy & Strategy Officer to support the Corporate Strategy Unit (CSU) providing capacity and expertise across the Council to deliver against the key corporate priorities, formulate policy and secure external funding.

You will:

• Support the CSU in helping to shape the Council's response to key national and regional policy changes, such as Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution.
• Provide critical policy support to the Executive and Senior Leadership Team, ensuring that they are kept appraised of key issues and opportunities.
• Identify and secure external funding to deliver key priorities within Breckland.
• Provide capacity for 'horizon scanning' activity, ensuring that Breckland are responding proactively to changes.

About you:

Collaborative

• I look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge.
• I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input.
• I recognise, appreciate and praise others for their contribution.

Ambitious

• I always ask myself 'How could we do this better?', taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it.
• I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things.
• My approach to work is filled with positivity and optimism.
• I am a proud ambassador, taking pride and responsibility for the work we do and encouraging others to do the same.

Results-driven

• I review my own performance and ask for feedback to learn and improve.
• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions.
• I am driven, showing courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan.
• I keep to my promises and challenge myself and others to deliver high-quality services.

Empowering

• I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo - acting on opportunities to generate income or reduce costs, embracing new technology and promoting digitalisation.
• I ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don't go well, learning from it for my own and for the organisation's development.
• I appropriately challenge unacceptable behaviour.

Supportive

• I treat others as I would want to be treated myself, ensuring that I am welcoming, friendly and approachable.
• I care for my colleagues, take an interest in them, and show support for their personal identities and what's important to them.
• I understand and take care of my own wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of those around me.
• I give time to colleagues who need help or support.

OK, I'm interested...but is it really the job for me?

As our Senior Policy & Strategy Officer, you will:

• Provide policy support for the Executive and a Senior Leadership Team. Keeping leadership appraised of important issues and opportunities.
• Assist the CSU in in bid-writing, and funding development activity. Identifying and securing sources of investment that can advance Council priorities.
• Provide direct support and capacity to the Council's LGR and Devolution response programme, working collaboratively with other key partners.
• Provide analysis and problem-solving capacity for corporate critical project activity.
• Support delivery of the Council's priorities and key projects with data and research expertise.
• Also be responsible for writing reports, attending meetings, giving presentations and working to tight deadlines. A flexible approach to working hours and travel will be essential to successfully manage the demands of the role.

Closing date: 09:00 Monday 27^th October 

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2024 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 90% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 89% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 94% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 91% said they felt supported by their manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Job summary

Description of duties

• Provide direct support and capacity to the Council's LGR and Devolution response programme, working collaboratively with other key partners.
• Provide policy support for the Executive and a Senior Leadership Team. Keeping leadership appraised of issues / opportunities and identifying means to develop Breckland's position with national and regional Government
• Assist the CSU in in bid-writing, and funding development activity. Identifying potential sources of investment and working with relevant teams to support securing them.
• Provide analysis and problem-solving capacity for corporate critical project activity.
• Provide capacity in data and research in support of the Council's objectives and delivery of key projects
• Responsibilities will also include writing reports, attending meetings (internal and external), giving presentations and working to tight deadlines. A flexible approach to working hours and travel will be essential to successfully manage the demands of the role.

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service. This will be in consultation with the post holder, as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of local/national policy agenda and understanding of the key issues facing local government.
• Experience of working in a policy/strategy related role for at least 2 years.
• Experience of working with senior managers in a multi-disciplined organisation in a professional and co-operative manner.
• Experience of working with elected members or in a political environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, senior management, including those from other departments and disciplines

Desirable

• Previous working knowledge and experience of developing policies and strategies.
• Experience of securing external grant funding.
• Experience of working in partnership with a variety of different stakeholders to achieve common goals.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Excellent, clear and concise written oral and written communication skills.
• Political awareness.
• Proactive with a 'can do' attitude and track record of delivering successful outcomes.
• Ability to plan, organise and co-ordinate effectively.
• A commitment to own development and to supporting training and development initiatives.
• A professional approach when dealing with officers at all levels of the council, external partners, elected members and residents.

Desirable

• Strong data analysis skills
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Ability to use initiative and identify innovative solutions.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a related field or evidence of equivalent learning through experience
• A full driving licence and access to own transport.

Desirable

• A postgraduate qualification relevant to Policy / Strategy etc.

Essential Behaviours

Collaborative:

• 'I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input'.
• 'I listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge'.
• 'I celebrate success with my colleagues'.

Ambitious:

• 'I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things'.
• 'My approach to work is filled with positivity and optimism'.
• 'I work hard to build relationships inside and outside my own area of work'.

Results Driven:

• 'I am driven to achieve results and show courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan'.
• 'I understand our council priorities and how I make a difference.'
• 'I keep to my promises and challenge myself and others to deliver high-quality services'.
• 'I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions'.

Empowering:

• 'I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo'.
• 'I take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisation's development'.
• 'I look for and act on opportunities where we can generate an income or drive down costs'
• 'I appropriately challenge unacceptable behaviour'.
• 'I ask for help and support when needed'.

Supportive:

• 'I treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, valuing their thoughts, background and experience'.
• 'I understand and take care of my own well-being and of that of those around me.'
• 'I treat others as I would want to be treated myself ensuring I am welcoming, friendly and approachable'.
• 'I care for my colleagues, taking an interest in them, showing support for their personal identities and what's important to them'.
• 'I give time to colleagues who need help or support, even when the pressure is on'.

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

• As an employee of Breckland Council you must comply with the Health & Safety policy and attend the compulsory Health & Safety training as and when requested. You will be required to undertake any necessary training to enable you to perform your duties effectively

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role, please contact Jack Fulham (Policy Manager) by emailing jack.fulham@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date - 9.00am Monday 27 October
Interview date - Friday 31 October

APPLY ONLINE

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies. These are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.