We are looking for someone to join the CfGS team to expand and develop the support we provide to the local government sector in England.
The successful candidate will be someone who has worked, or is still working, in a local government role that connects closely to our core areas of governance and scrutiny. They will most likely be someone with experience operating at “service manager” level or above.
As this is a fixed term post, it is likely to suit someone looking for a secondment – we will be able to demonstrate significant development opportunities for the successful applicant which will bring benefits to both you and your permanent employer. However, we are happy to consider applications from people looking for a standalone fixed-term contract.
What we need, and your role
We need an experienced local government scrutiny/governance practitioner to join us for a fixed period of one year, to focus on the delivery of support into the sector. This person, an expert in the field who is at ease working in and around complex political environments, will gain unique experience and skills, which will help significantly with ongoing career development.
The role will be focused on the delivery of governance support projects to councils, and the delivery of training, learning and development support, working with other members of the CfGS team. This will involve ownership of a diverse portfolio of work, with a number of projects needing to be managed and delivered simultaneously. In terms of consultancy, you will need to be able to diagnose and find innovative solutions to complex challenges and problems – and to develop and present recommendations in such a way as to deliver impact.
In terms of learning and development, you will need to be able to deliver standard CfGS material (and develop material meeting clients’ bespoke needs) in a way that is engaging and command confidence and credibility, linked to robust learning outcomes for participants. Outcomes from this work will feed into CfGS’s wider thought leadership and business development activity, and the postholder will have an opportunity to participate in this activity, developing a national profile in doing so.
What we offer
CfGS is a small team that works flexibly. We don’t stay rigidly within the terms of our job descriptions – collaboration and learning new skills through doing are important to us.
We want to ensure that your time with us is one framed by your own learning and development. At the outset we’ll discuss what your objectives might be – areas where you want to grow in confidence and develop your skills and experience – and (in the context of business need) we will try to design a portfolio of work that meets those needs.
In this context we can promise a supportive approach to line management – weekly one to ones, regular collaborative discussion about ongoing projects in team meetings, and an environment in which you will have autonomy and responsibility to deliver.
If you join us as a fixed term employee rather than a secondee, you will benefit from CfGS’s pension scheme (5% employer contribution) and 28 days of leave per year.