Interim Service Lead – Projects | Transformation
Location: Home Counties
Organisation: Local Authority
Working Pattern: Hybrid – 40% office based
Department: Transformation, Customer & ICT
Reports to: Service Director – Transformation, Customer & ICT
The Role
We are supporting a local authority with the appointment of an experienced Interim Service Lead – Projects to provide senior leadership across its corporate projects and transformation portfolio.
The post will lead the Council’s Projects Service, with responsibility across project governance, service redesign and capital transformation, while playing a key role in the delivery of wider organisational transformation, continuous improvement and strategic change.
Operating as a senior member of the Transformation, Customer & ICT leadership team, the successful candidate will provide strategic advice to Directors, Members and Corporate Board and will deputise for the Service Director where required.
This is a broad leadership role requiring someone who can combine strong programme and project governance with hands-on experience of delivering complex organisational transformation within local government.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Council’s Projects Service and provide effective leadership across project governance, service redesign and capital transformation.
- Oversee and drive major transformation activity across the organisation, improving efficiency, service delivery and customer experience.
- Provide strategic advice to the Service Director, Executive Directors, Members and Corporate Board.
- Act as a senior advisor on project, programme and transformation matters.
- Strengthen project and programme governance, ensuring appropriate methodologies, controls, reporting and escalation processes are in place.
- Lead and support major corporate projects and transformation programmes.
- Ensure transformation activity is informed by robust data, management information, performance metrics and benefits tracking.
- Drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities to improve organisational efficiency and value for money.
- Support the development and delivery of the Council’s transformation strategy and annual service plan.
- Lead significant organisational change, including new operating models, structures, systems and ways of working.
- Build strong relationships across the Council and with external partners.
- Provide leadership and performance management to senior managers within the service.
- Manage resources and budgets effectively and ensure strong financial control.
- Represent the Council at senior internal and external forums where required.
- Deputise for the Service Director – Transformation, Customer & ICT.
Essential Experience
The successful candidate will have:
- Significant experience working within local government or a comparable public sector environment.
- Strong experience delivering corporate transformation and organisational change.
- A proven track record of leading complex projects and programmes within a large organisation.
- Significant senior leadership and team management experience.
- Experience implementing new organisational structures, systems, processes and ways of working.
- Strong knowledge of project and programme governance, including methodologies, reporting, risk, assurance and escalation.
- Experience working with senior leadership teams, elected Members and other senior stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of the political and operational environment within local government.
- Experience managing budgets and resources and delivering value for money.
- A strong understanding of benefits realisation, performance management and data-led decision making.
- Experience working successfully with external partners and third-party organisations.
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
- Recognised Project Management qualification.
- Membership of a relevant professional body would be advantageous.
Candidate Profile
We are particularly interested in candidates who have operated at Head of Transformation, Head of Programmes/PMO, Head of Corporate Transformation, Service Lead or Assistant Director level within local government.
The strongest candidates will be comfortable operating between strategy and delivery: capable of advising senior leaders while also providing challenge, structure and grip across complex transformation programmes.
Experience of Local Government Reorganisation, unitary transition, large-scale operating model change or major council-wide transformation would be particularly valuable.
Key Skills
- Strategic transformation leadership
- Programme and project governance
- Service redesign
- Organisational change
- Benefits realisation
- Senior stakeholder management
- Political awareness
- Financial and resource management
- Performance management
- Risk and assurance
- Data-led decision making
- Collaborative leadership
