Principal Strategy Manager

Reference number: 363351

Salary: £51,626 - £58,506

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Job summary

The Principal Strategy and Performance Manager is core to how we deliver our mission to protect and improve the environment, holding government and other public authorities to account.

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead key programmes of work which get to the heart of how the OEP is delivering, and how we can achieve more. You’ll work closely with our Board and Executive Committee on a range the most important matters for the OEP.

We’re looking for someone who can understand context and analyse information to bring real insight on issues of strategy and performance. You’ll need to be able to build trusted relationships at all levels, to convey information clearly and confidently to senior decision makers and be able to challenge leaders constructively based on insight and evidence.

The role is a senior one within our Business Strategy and Planning team, which is central to all that the OEP does. We are a small team whose role is to ensure that the OEP works purposefully and well, that our work is well defined, understood and strategically aligned. In doing this, the team supports planning, strategy, governance, project, programme and risk management as well as providing the private office of the organisation.

The Office for Environmental Protection’s mission was created by the Environment Act 2021. Our role is to hold Government and public bodies to account. We do this in several ways including reporting on progress against environmental targets, advising on changes to environmental laws and receiving complaints from the public which can lead to us taking enforcement action.

With a total staff of just over 70, we are a dynamic, friendly and flexible organisation covering both England, Northern Ireland, and environmental matters reserved to the UK government. We offer flexible working arrangements, including part time and job share arrangements, high profile, dynamic work and the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.

To find out more about the OEP, what we do, who we are and our current work, visit the OEP website.

The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra in England and DAERA in Northern Ireland which means it operates independently from Defra. Our employees are public servants and as part of the benefits package, employees have the opportunity to enrol in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Job description

The Principal Strategy and Performance Manager is a prominent role with opportunity to have a big impact on our organisation’s success.

You will lead our work to understand how we implement our strategy and plans and what we’re achieving and help us to take actions in response. You’ll be an internal critical friend to our Executive Committee and Board, keeping us true to our mission, strategy and objectives.

You’ll continuously improve our strategic management information, and interpret it, ensuring that the Executive Committee and Board have up-to-date, accurate and purposeful information. You’ll provide clear insight as to what it means, and options and recommendations on the actions that can be taken in response.

This includes developing and delivering:

· Our programme management approach, change controls, delivery monitoring and reporting.

· Our active prioritisation of our work programme to ensure maximum value for money from the resources available to us.

· Our risk framework, supporting the Executive Committee, Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and Board in the management of strategic risks and assuring good management of risk throughout the organization.

· How we measure our impact, designing and delivering specific evaluation projects and supporting the Executive Committee and Board interpret the findings.

· Our performance framework and indicators.

· Reporting our performance to stakeholders including Government, and the public through our annual report and other publications.

You’ll take a lead role in our organisational business and resource planning, ensuring our work delivers our strategy, is coherent, well planned and deliverable including:

· Working with the Executive Committee, Board and others to develop our organisational business plan.

· Working with others to support our allocation of resources within Government planning processes, including spending reviews and annual business planning cycles.

· Developing the OEP’s corporate plan for publication.

You’ll lead our small project management team, ensuring that good project management is embedded across all of the OEP’s work so that we deliver our planned activities, to time, budget and scope and with the outcomes we intend.

You’ll also support the Head of Business Strategy and Planning in developing and implementing the OEP’s corporate strategy, including:

· Supporting the Head of Business Strategy and Planning, Executive Committee and Board to develop, implement and review the OEP’s strategy.

· Leading specific projects to assess and recommend solutions to key issues relating to our strategy and plans.

· Being a role model and advocate for the OEP strategy and helping ensure it is understood and clear to colleagues internally and key stakeholders externally.

The Business Strategy and Planning team’s work is challenging, stimulating and central to ensuring the OEP succeeds in protecting and improving the environment. The role holder will work in an agile and flexible way across the team and wider OEP to meet organisational priorities, as these change and deputise for the Head of Business Strategy and Planning across all their responsibilities.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,626, Office for Environmental Protection contributes £13,939 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Leave and Flexible Working

The OEP offers 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days over 5 years for all new entrants.

Additional paid leave is available where necessary to cater for a variety of situations including, but not limited to, family-related leave, volunteering days, exam and study leave, public duties and trade union activities. In addition, we offer a generous enhanced maternity leave, parental leave and shared parental leave policy.

The OEP is supportive of flexible working and has a flexible working policy to allow for variations in individuals working hours where this is compatible with business need.

Staff Wellbeing

Staff wellbeing is extremely important and the OEP strives to provide access to numerous resources to aid the wellbeing of its employees. Current initiatives include:

· Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice and guidance to support employees with both personal and employment issues. This may include personal wellbeing, career development or legal matters such as landlord/tenant disputes.

· Access to an Occupational Health Service to provide a range of support service to help with the way you feel at work.

· Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and wider Defra Group mental health first aid network and resources.

· Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.

· Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.

· Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/lenses if required for VDU use.

Salary Sacrifice, Discounts and SmartTech Benefits

All employees have access to the STaR, Reward Gateway an online platform providing access to hundreds of discounts, offers and cashback options with well-known retailers. They offer a SmartTech scheme, a Cash Healthcare plan and numerous other benefits and services.

Location and Office Attendance

All OEP roles are based in Worcester and/or Northern Ireland. This role is based in Worcester.

All GB employees will be contractually based at the Worcester office. The OEP embraces a blended working model and supports a combination of office and home working which will be dependent on business need and individual circumstances. Our current office attendance approach requires 40% attendance in one of the OEP offices or on official OEP business at offsite meetings with partners and customers. This approach enables thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice.

If GB based, travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to the Worcester office.

Employees based in Northern Ireland will be contractually home based. There will be an expectation of travel to Worcester but this will be dependent on business need and individual circumstances. As a guideline, it’s envisaged that travel to Worcester would be between 4 and 6 times a year, fully funded by the OEP. However, travel will be a 2-way commitment, with other OEP staff members being expected to travel to NI at a similar frequency. Northern Ireland based staff currently have access to a touch down space in Belfast to enable collaborative working.

If the candidate is an internal candidate, they will be applying for the role at the advertised location. TUPE restrictions may apply.

Criminal Record Check

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

· OEP Recruitment

Email: recruitment@theoep.org.uk

· Recruitment team

Email: recruitment@theoep.org.uk

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 15 September 2024.