At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage the Policy Team, providing strategic direction and oversight.
- Company: Prominent public sector organisation with a focus on policy and strategy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunity for extension.
- Other info: Join a senior leadership team with significant visibility and influence.
- Why this job: Play a pivotal role in shaping policy during a critical organisational transition.
- Qualifications: Significant leadership experience in UK Central Government or complex policy environments.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
Area of Work: Public Policy, Strategy, Government Relations
Contract Type: Interim
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: Initial 6-month contract with potential for extension
Location: Liverpool - Hybrid Working (2 days per week on-site)
Sector: Public Sector
Start Date: ASAP
Overview
Hays is delighted to be supporting a prominent public sector organisation in the appointment of an Interim Head of Policy & Strategy. This is a critical leadership position created to provide strategic policy leadership and organisational stability during a period of transition. The successful candidate will lead a well-established policy function, providing senior-level advice, strategic direction and oversight across a broad and complex policy portfolio. Working closely with executive leaders and senior stakeholders, you will act as the organisation's leading source of policy expertise, bringing together subject matter experts from across multiple disciplines to develop cohesive policy recommendations and strategic priorities.
The Role
Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will be responsible for leading the organisation's Policy Team and ensuring policy development continues at pace throughout a period of organisational change. You will provide strategic oversight across a diverse policy portfolio, helping to shape organisational priorities while managing complex stakeholder relationships across government and the wider public sector landscape. The position requires a confident and credible leader capable of operating at executive level, influencing senior decision-makers and providing high-quality policy advice in a fast-moving environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the Policy Team, providing strategic leadership and direction.
- Oversee the development and delivery of policy and strategy across multiple organisational priorities.
- Act as a trusted senior adviser on policy matters to executive leaders and key stakeholders.
- Bring together policy experts and specialist teams to develop coherent policy recommendations.
- Build consensus across complex internal and external stakeholder groups.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment of policy objectives.
- Support the organisation through a period of transition and change.
- Ensure policy development and strategic thinking are delivered to a high standard and within agreed timescales.
- Represent the organisation with senior partners, government stakeholders and external organisations.
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- Significant leadership experience within UK Central Government or a similarly complex policy environment.
- Proven track record of leading policy and strategy functions.
- Experience managing broad policy portfolios across multiple disciplines.
- Strong people leadership, team management and coaching capability.
- Demonstrable experience influencing senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
- Ability to navigate complex organisational and political landscapes.
- Excellent strategic thinking, judgement and problem-solving skills.
- Experience delivering high-quality policy outcomes under pressure and against competing priorities.
Desirable
- Previous experience leading cross-government or multi-stakeholder policy agendas.
- Experience within economic, growth, corporate strategy or wider public policy functions.
- Exposure to highly regulated, politically sensitive or complex operating environments.
- Experience supporting organisations through periods of restructuring or transformation.
- Knowledge of housing, homelessness, economic development or related policy areas.
Person Specification
- Credible and authoritative policy leader.
- Excellent communicator capable of engaging confidently with senior stakeholders.
- Collaborative and collegiate leadership style.
- Skilled at bringing together diverse viewpoints to achieve consensus.
- Politically astute with excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguous and evolving environments.
- Resilient, adaptable and delivery-focused.
- Able to quickly establish themselves as a trusted adviser and strategic partner.
The Opportunity
This assignment offers the opportunity to play a pivotal role within a high-profile public sector organisation at an important stage of its development. You will join a senior leadership environment where policy, strategy and stakeholder engagement are central to organisational success, providing leadership across a broad portfolio with significant visibility and influence. The role will suit an accomplished policy professional who can quickly add value, build confidence amongst stakeholders and provide strategic leadership through a period of change.
Please note: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Head of Policy & Strategy employer: Hays
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