Senior Manager, Strategic Coordination

Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills and Employment and Health, Children and Young Londoners.

About the team

The Performance, Co-ordination & Collaboration Unit plays a central role in helping the Communities & Skills directorate operate effectively and deliver against the Mayor's priorities for London. The Unit brings together expertise in strategic planning, governance, business management, communications, performance and organisational co-ordination, helping ensure that complex programmes and services are joined up, informed by evidence and focused on achieving impact for Londoners.

Working at the heart of the directorate, the Unit supports senior leaders to navigate complexity, strengthen collaboration across teams, and ensure that decisions are informed by high-quality insight, analysis and engagement. It offers a unique opportunity to work across a wide range of policy and programme areas, building relationships and influencing outcomes across City Hall and beyond.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and strategically minded professional to play a key role in supporting the successful delivery of the Communities & Skills directorate's priorities.

Working closely with senior leaders, you will help co-ordinate directorate-wide planning and delivery, provide strategic insight and analysis, support governance and reporting processes, and contribute to complex projects that cut across teams and policy areas. You will help identify opportunities, risks and interdependencies, ensuring leaders have the information and support they need to make effective decisions and deliver positive outcomes for Londoners. This role will support the delivery of a number of the directorate's key priorities, including contributing to the GLA's engagement with the Government's ambitious programme of public service reform and devolution

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working across a broad and varied portfolio, building relationships, solving problems and turning complex information into practical action.

What your day will look like

• Supporting strategic planning, co-ordination and governance activity across the directorate.
• Providing analysis, briefings and advice to support senior decision-making.
• Identifying risks, opportunities and connections across programmes, projects and priorities.
• Co-ordinating cross-cutting projects and work involving multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Supporting the directorate's responses to London Assembly scrutiny, including Assembly questions, committee activity and Mayoral Questions, helping ensure responses are timely, accurate and aligned across teams.
• Working closely with colleagues across the GLA, including corporate teams, the Mayor's Office and other directorates, to ensure effective collaboration and information sharing.
• Building strong relationships and helping maintain a positive, inclusive and collaborative working culture.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Experience of strategic planning, programme co-ordination, policy development, organisational improvement or related work within a complex organisation.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to understand complex issues, identify key insights and develop practical recommendations.
• Experience of supporting the delivery of cross-cutting projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience of preparing briefings, reports or advice for senior audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy.
• The ability to build effective relationships, influence others and work collaboratively across organisational boundaries.
• Building and Managing Relationships (Level 3): Developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people to deliver shared goals.
• Communicating and Influencing (Level 3): Presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly and building support for ideas and approaches.
• Strategic Thinking (Level 3): Understanding the bigger picture and using insight to identify opportunities and challenges for the future.
• Planning and Organising (Level 3): Managing priorities, resources and risks effectively to deliver high-quality outcomes.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

This role is based at London Fire Brigade’s Head Office (Union Street SE1 0LL).

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Clare Harrisson would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at clare.harrisson@london.gov.uk .

This role DOES NOT meet the criteria for sponsorship for external candidates. It may meet the criteria for sponsorship for some internal candidates, in limited circumstances. Please contact the hiring manager if you wish to discuss this further.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: W/c 16 November 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments.

• 30 days’ annual leave
• interest free season ticket loan
• interest free bicycle loan
• a career average pension scheme

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

The GLA is proud to be a Level 2: Disability Confident employer. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and accessible organisation, and creating a truly inclusive and accessible workplace and culture for our disabled staff. We have named Disability Equality as a key corporate priority within our EDI Strategy. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled applicants. Should you wish to opt into the scheme, please let us know during your application.

Need a document on this page in an accessible format?

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader)and needa version of a PDF or other document on this page in a more accessible format, please get in touch via our online form and tell us which format you need.

It will also help usif you tell us which assistive technology you use. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.

#J-18808-Ljbffr