18055 - Head of Corporate Services - Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Probation Service is seeking an experienced senior leader to provide strategic leadership of the Corporate Services function. The function comprises a breadth of specialist areas, and the successful candidate will be required to exercise informed judgement and make strategic decisions across the full remit. This includes, but is not limited to, Estates and Facilities Management, Counter Corruption, Information Assurance and Security, Staff Engagement, Business Management, Risk Management, ICT Training, Corporate Administration, Workforce Planning, and Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.

The postholder will lead the Corporate Services function while also operating effectively within the wider Regional and Senior Leadership Team. This role requires close collaboration with key Business Partner functions, including Health, Safety and Fire, Finance, Human Resources, and Learning and Development. A critical aspect of the role is the ability to build strong, trusted relationships at a senior level. The postholder will work closely with the Regional Probation Director and foster collaborative, high‑performing relationships across the Senior Leadership Team to support the delivery of organisational priorities.

The job holder will be accountable for developing and delivering short, medium and long‑term strategic business plans for the region, with overall responsibility for implementation. These plans must ensure opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness are proactively pursued. The job holder will put in place appropriate governance arrangements to oversee the delivery of corporate services, identify and manage corporate risks, and elevate any significant issues to the attention of the Regional Probation Director. They will be accountable for ensuring adequate management/financial contracts and processes are in place for the region.

Responsible for representing the region in the development, improvement and implementation of collaborative working arrangements for corporate services policies and processes, including engagement with Headquarters and Shared Services. The job holder will directly manage and coordinate the activity of Business Managers across the region (including litigation and inquests), and teams responsible for ICT, Complaints, the Divisional Support Hub, Equalities and Staff Engagement to ensure a consistent approach is deployed across all business units. The job holder will also oversee and provide strategic direction for the delivery of functional leadership services such as HR, Finance, Learning and Development, Health and Safety and Business Strategy and Change, to ensure that all corporate services operate effectively across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for the development and delivery of the Regional Business Plan and business risk registers, with overall responsibility for implementation.
• Accountable for ensuring that corporate governance is embedded, monitored and reviewed in the region.
• Accountable for delivering all objectives within delegated budget, including specific programmes of work (e.g. regional learning and development budget).
• Monitor and control the overall use of the regional budget, ensuring appropriate governance frameworks promote accountability.
• Responsible for ensuring management information systems are in place to monitor, analyse and report on corporate performance across the region, identifying operational, resource or organisational issues that may impact performance or increase business risk.
• Lead business partner activity across the region, providing a collaborative approach and keeping the Regional Probation Director updated with timely progress reports.
• Lead Business Manager activity across the NPS region, ensuring compliance with policy and process in corporate activities.
• Lead the development of regional corporate support systems, policies and processes in response to business needs, reviewing and assessing effective practice in business services.
• Responsible for ensuring the delivery of strategic employee communications using a range of techniques suitable to audience, message and engagement objectives.
• Provide leadership and management of the Regional Complaints Team, ensuring compliance with policy and process.
• Identify opportunities for more efficient delivery of business services and develop proposals to convert those opportunities into new ways of working.
• Ensure effective HR systems are in place to manage and develop staff in line with organisational HR policies and procedures, achieving performance objectives and enhancing productivity.
• Liaise with staff to receive, collate and analyse corporate performance information, developing systems and compiling reports as necessary.
• Develop and utilise data to identify trends and take appropriate action to maintain and enhance performance.
• Plan, implement and manage systems for the exchange of sensitive information, data and intelligence.
• Accountable for ensuring all risk assessments are undertaken in line with Health and Safety and that staff are aware of their personal responsibility to ensure Health, Safety & Fire compliance.
• Lead a culture within the region that promotes equality and values diversity through effective development and implementation of systems, policies and processes.