Strategy, Policy and Performance Officer - Ref: SS01024

This role provides the opportunity to be part of a team that works right across the Council on key strategic programmes. The Policy & Strategy Unit was only formed in 2022, but since then we have been busy building and establishing the team and driving pieces of work that shape the direction of Walsall Council. We've already developed We Are Walsall 2040 , our strategic partnership vision for the borough's future based on a huge engagement exercise with over 8,000 partners, residents and businesses. This year, we're focussing on reviewing our corporate priorities and delivering a new Council Plan that aligns to this long-term vision, alongside a refreshed approach to measuring our performance and delivery against our outcomes. This is in addition to supporting a diverse range of strategic work across all our directorates that includes Levelling Up, supporting our Devolution approach and working with the West Midlands Combined Authority. The impact you will have on policy and
performance to support delivery of our Council Plan and borough ambitions is a real selling point of this role.

Your enthusiasm for an intelligence-led approach to Council priorities will be a real asset. You will have an aptitude for thinking strategically about the Council's work and the way it's delivered across the full range of Council services - so your experience in the shaping and development of cross-cutting policy and strategy in a local government or public sector arena will help you shine. The work you do will regularly inform decision making across the organisation up to the most senior level and so the ability to produce briefing notes and reports to the very highest standard is essential. Also key will be your capability to build strong working relationships with colleagues at all levels and present your work to a range of audiences.

The Policy and Strategy Unit also leads the Council's strategic Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) agenda. Your awareness of the importance of EDI considerations in policy development, and of the Public Sector Equality Duty more broadly, will be a tremendous benefit as we formulate a new EDI Strategy to complement the Council Plan.

Following shortlisting, the selection process will comprise a test (linked to the key skills and abilities needed for the role) and an on-line interview. We anticipate that interviews will take place week on 21 and 22 March 2024, although full details will be communicated to shortlisted candidates after the closing date of the job advert.

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Note that due to the nature of the role, political activities of the post holder are restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Here at Walsall, we want to attract the best talent. That's why - as well as a satisfying and rewarding job - we offer a range of attractive benefits. Working arrangements in most jobs are flexible (you may work flexitime, full or part time and job sharing is usually available) and you can expect generous holiday entitlements, a first class pension scheme and plenty of opportunities for training and personal development., Part of the Black Country, famous for its enterprising and industrial past, Walsall is reinventing itself to become a progressive modern community. The borough is centred around the major town of Walsall, but also includes five smaller and distinctive district centres (Bloxwich, Aldridge, Willenhall, Darlaston and Brownhills), together with numerous villages.

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To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce.

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You will receive a salary in the range of £38,223 to £43,421 per annum plus generous annual and flexitime leave. We will be committed to your professional development and finding opportunities to expand your skills will be as important to us as it is to you. For further reasons to join us please visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/employee-benefits