Senior Manager

This role has a starting salary of £45,680 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new permanent Senior Manager for Projects, Policy and Process to join our team. The team is based in Woking and we currently come into the office two days a week. We also travel to other offices in line with the work we are doing at the time. We work on very diverse pieces of work where some tasks sit within the team permanently and others sit outside. No two days are the same!

Rewards and Benefits:

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Team

As the Senior Manager, you will join the System, Transformation and Policy Team within the Quality, Performance, Relationships and Support (QPRS) service. Our team provides the design and redesign expertise that ensures processes are effective and powers change in CFLL. Our key partners are Education and Lifelong Learning and Children's social care where we identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.

About the Role

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for driving impactful change? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your ideas can help shape the future of services for children, young people, and families?

We're looking for a Senior Manager to lead service redesign initiatives across Surrey's Children, Families, and Lifelong Learning (CFLL) directorate. This is your opportunity to make a real difference-developing evidence-based business cases, overcoming barriers to change, and delivering projects that improve lives.

You'll work closely with service leads, corporate teams, and external partners to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality. You'll also play a key role in preparing the service for future challenges and supporting teams to have robust policy and processes in place to help them manage a range of issues particularly related to business continuity. As part of your role you will be required to provide practical support to teams who lead inspection processes.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• Experience in service redesign and project management, with a track record of delivering complex change.
• A strong communicator, confident in presenting to diverse audiences and building relationships across services with good digital skills.
• Analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to assess complex issues and develop creative, practical solutions.
• Organisation skills and be self-motivated, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Application Questions

To apply, alongside your CV, you will be asked to answer the following questions:

• What motivated you to apply for this role?
• Using an example, please tell us about a time when you had to lead a detailed piece of work in an area when some of the partners were reluctant to change or support the project. How did you ensure that you could complete the task effectively and achieve the desired outcome?
• Using an example, describe a time when you introduced a change in process. Describe how staff reacted to the change and what activities you undertook to see the project through from start to finish.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 29th of June 2025 with interviews planned for the 10th of July and the 15th of July 2025.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.