**Head of Transformation**

**Braintree District Council**

Fixed Term, Full Time

From £77,192 - £84,036 per annum

Location: Braintree

Closing Date: 11th June 2024

**_
Essex County Council are delighted to be working in partnership with Braintree District Council to recruit for the role of Head of Transformation. This is a fixed term opportunity for a period of 24 months._**_ _

**The Opportunity**

At Braintree District Council, we are committed to improving outcomes for all our residents whilst tackling inequality. To be able to deliver on this commitment we must make our organisation fit for the challenges that face us now and in the future - this will mean doing things in a different way, and doing different things.

We are starting from a strong position with ambitious growth plans delivered over the last five years and a history of robust financial planning, so we are ready to take on these challenges. Our transformation programme, Fit for the Future, seeks to find solutions to these challenges, bringing financial resilience. It is paramount that our plans for the future are shaped by our people who work in the organisation now, therefore co-design sits at the heart of this programme.

**The role**

This key role will provide leadership to drive this change programme and will require an innovative and ambitious change leader to shape it whilst ensuring that the services our residents and businesses rely on can continue to be delivered, despite the challenges being faced.

The role will lead the programme delivery of workstreams including the review and redesign of services, including shared services, organisational design and embedding a culture of transformation and change leadership across the Council.

A key element of the programme will be aligning with similar programmes across Essex and beyond and maximising the benefits of change to all.

**Accountabilities**
- Responsible for collaborating with and advising the Corporate Management Team in shaping and delivering the Transformation Programme.
- Responsible for programme delivery to Member and Officer Boards.
- Provide professional advice and present information on the Transformation programme to the Cabinet, Scrutiny Committee and Corporate Policy Development Committee and any other Council or external body.
- Support the Corporate Director in the design of the Fit for the Future programme, including the identification of additional capabilities and capacity.
- Oversight and direction of the Fit for the Future programme ensuring that programme management in place and governance requirements are met.
- Lead and manage any resources that would be working on the Transformation Programme.
- Lead the development of an effective change management programme embedded within the Fit for the Future programme.
- Oversee the design and delivery of effective and timely reporting on the programme to both officer and Member forums.
- Working closely with the Head of Finance, develop an achievable savings plan that captures the cashable benefits of the Fit for the Future programme.
- Ensure effective risk management of risks related to programme, actively seeking to mitigate risks and identify contingencies.
- Be the owner of the resources allocated to the programme, including acting as budget holder and the effective commissioning and management of third-party goods and services related directly to the project.
- Providing advice and support for workstream sponsors and leads.
- Ensuring that enabling services across the organisation are properly engaged, with particular emphasis on digital enabling.
- Work closely with partners in other local authorities across the Essex system to ensure alignment of Transformation programmes and sharing of resources, knowledge and good practice wherever possible.
- Develop succession plan for embedding agility and continuous improvement in the organisation following the end of the temporary role.

**The Experience You Will Bring**
- Strong track record of delivering cross organisational change programmes.
- Can demonstrate change leadership in complex organisations.
- Experience of working in a political organisation.
- Experience of working in partnership across a number of different organisations.
- Understanding of local government and challenges facing the sector
- Degree qualification or relevant professional qualification
- Experience in managing at a strategic level within local government.
- Considerable experience of managing projects and project resources effectively and appropriately.
- Experience of working collaboratively with key partners and stakeholders to deliver effective services.
- High level of political acumen, with an ability to operate sensitively in a political environment.
- Experience of implementing service improvements and transitional change

**Why choose Braintree?**

Braintree is an ambitious and dynamic Council and is becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England