Leadership Support Manager

Location: Bexleyheath

Working Hours: 36 (9am to 5pm)

Purpose

To enable the Chief Executive and CLT to deliver organisational objectives through Members, partners, CLT and the workforce, by working on behalf of the CE to enable best use of their time, and to deliver effective EA support to all of CLT and ELT.

To plan and organise CLT meetings effectively to ensure strategic focus on the forward plan and core business objectives.

To track progress on actions arising at CLT, problem solving or escalating issues.

To plan and develop content for leadership and staff engagement events and communications from the Chief Executive, ensuring messages are coordinated across CLT through the EAs.

To organise and coordinate corporate work on behalf of CLT, liaise with CLT to determine which opportunities will be pursued, who is responsible and track / chase progress.

To build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

To coordinate the organisation and agendas for all corporate boards.

To review letters, consultations and information from partners and external stakeholders, drafting or commissioning appropriate and timely responses on behalf of the Chief Executive.

Based on a steer from CE / HoS, forward plan the agenda and content for leadership and staff engagement events (ELT / HoS briefings) and liaise with colleagues responsible for delivering and presenting.

Responsibilities

To draft content for verbal and written communications from the Chief Executive, seeking input from subject matter experts as appropriate

To deliver ad-hoc projects on behalf of the Chief Executive

Horizon scan to identify consultation opportunities, maintain a tracker and log of responses.

Horizon scan to identify external funding opportunities, maintain a tracker and log of bids.

To deliver effective EA support to all of CLT and ELT via the Leadership Support team.

To keep under review and develop the structures, procedures and working methods.

Continuously modernise governance processes and ways of working, embracing AI, digitisation and automation to ensure the most efficient and effective delivery of Leadership Support services.

To ensure that leadership support team staff are recruited, managed, appraised and developed, and that effective arrangements are made for the training and development of all staff within the department.

To present timely and relevant advice and information to CLT and to ensure that CE is briefed on major and sensitive issues.

To deal promptly with all matters requiring the post holder's personal attention.

To be fully conversant with relevant statutory provisions, organisational processes and procedures; to develop the full range of managerial and professional skills and knowledge to satisfy the requirements.

To establish and develop effective working relationships and productive partnerships with all the relevant partners.

Essential

Preferably educated to degree level (or similar).

Experience of providing executive assistance to senior executives.

Experience of working with members/ politicians and officers at all levels within an organisation.

Experience of working in a local or central government setting.

Advanced use of MS office.

Understanding of emerging technologies (such as AI) and their potential for improving executive support.

Experience of team management.

Ability to lead and motivate a team.

Ability to deliver a high quality service to customers, with a strong focus on continuous improvement .

Ability to deliver at pace under time pressure, both individually and across a team.

Proactive and able to take accountability for solving problems.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to build strong relationships with colleagues at all levels and adapt style to different audience.

Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to priorities effectively and juggle a large range of tasks.

Good political nous, with the ability to pick up the nuanced political environment quickly.

Reliable and discrete, with a thorough understanding of confidentiality issues.

Excellent written communication skills, able to draft quickly, pulling together information on a range of areas.

Excellent analytical skills, able to digest a range of information quickly to brief the HOS or Chief Executive.

Willingness to work flexibly to support CLT, including evenings on an ad hoc basis.