Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

The starting salary for this role is £68,774 per annum, based on a 36 working hour week.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 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

The Corporate Strategy and Policy Team is situated at the heart of the council and our mission is to lead thinking and stimulate collective action to enable delivery of the council's and residents' ambitions for Surrey. We add value and expertise around corporate strategy and strategic planning, policy analysis, design and development, strategic risk management and we champion equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in all that we do.

We work on a breadth of topics, projects and issues which are centred around delivering and advancing the Community Vision for Surrey in 2030. Most recently our focus has included developing the council's proposals around devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and we expect this topic to frame our work going forwards. If you want a role with a varied workload, you'll be at home in CSP. We work in collaboration with colleagues across every service area of the council and our work programme reflects the council's priorities and focus areas, whilst also responding to our changing operating context.

About the Role

In this role you can expect to develop the Council's strategy, and work in diverse policy areas to help shape thinking, recommendations, proposals and solutions. You will need to maintain an understanding of the broader policy and political context for your work, building relationships with colleagues across the council to support effective stakeholder engagement, including supporting and briefing senior officers and politicians. You will also play a key role in supporting the development of the Strategy Team to ensure we have the right capacity and capability to deliver on the council's ambitions. Devolution and LGR presents a huge opportunity for the council to play a leading role in reforming local government services, but it also brings uncertainty, so you will need to be adept at managing and supporting others through this, and able to respond agilely to what else might be on the horizon.

You will be a skilled communicator with an excellent grasp of public policy issues. A thought leader, ready to generate new ideas and insights. The capability to engage with technical detail of policy and legislation as well as to propose creative and more provocative ideas that can stimulate debate is vital, as is the ability to distil research and complex ideas into briefs, articles, and policy recommendations for both expert and general audiences.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be shortlisted to interview for this position your application will clearly evidence:

• Significant experience of developing and delivering evidence-led high profile/high impact strategies and policies.
• Experience of strategic business planning in large or complex organisations.
• Experience of managing stakeholders, influencing and negotiating in complex, political environments.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to inform strategic and creative thinking when dealing with complex and ambiguous analytical or policy challenges.
• Understanding of the key strategic issues facing local government, the wider public sector and partners.
• Experience of developing and delivering public affairs activity at regional or national level.

Application Questions 

To apply for this role we invite you to upload your CV and respond to the following application questions (with a maximum of 250 words per answer):

1. What are your motivations for applying?
2. Please tell us, and provide examples of, your experience developing and delivering evidence-led high impact strategies or policies.
3. Describe a time when you built or strengthened relationships with partners/stakeholders and what your personal impact on the situation was.
4. Please describe a situation when you have used your quantitative and/or qualitative analytical skills to inform strategic and creative thinking and what impact this had on the overall outcome.

Contact us 
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Adam Whittaker by email or on MS Teams.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 01/06/2025 with interviews planned for week commencing 09/06/2025

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! 

Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Values

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values. 

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

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. 

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