21794 - Deputy Head of Service - Hertfordshire - East of England in Watford

The Efficiency & Innovation team will be responsible for optimising the use of the resource available to the NPS. The Efficiency Lead will support the Efficiency and Innovation Senior Manager to deliver resource management, identifying and coordinating efficiency priorities and business development activity. The job holder will be responsible for ensuring that the NPS spends public money wisely and will therefore become fully involved in all aspects of contracting and suggesting ideas for delivering cost savings.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties:

• Contribute to Efficiency in Service Delivery
• Collate service standard information regarding services provided nationally by the NPS to ensure that they are delivered in accordance with the service delivery indicators and specifications
• Ensure the effective use of public money across the organisation through the analysis of this service standard information
• Create an activity-based costing model for the NPS and ensure that it is up-to-date
• From cost model information, identify areas for efficiencies and raise these to the Efficiency and Innovation Senior Manager
• Develop Management Information reports as well as systems and process for collecting customer feedback on the balance between efficiency and effectiveness
• Develop action plans/new processes for new projects together with suppliers and stakeholders to address inadequate performance and areas of waste in the organisation
• Ensure efficient delivery of services in accordance with service delivery indicators and specifications
• Identify areas for efficiencies and recommend actions for the team
• Define systems and processes which enable collection of information on organisational performance
• Development of management information reports which enable performance analysis

Develop Team and Partnership Working:

• Develop productive working relationships with colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders
• Contribute to proposals to meet external tendering requirements
• Contribute to external contracts and agreements
• Build own and team’s understanding of organisational markets and customers, through liaison with key stakeholders
• Environmental scanning and work with external agencies

Plan and organise:

• Support development of programme formation and implementation
• Plan, implement and manage the sharing of knowledge and good practice to inform innovation and improve service delivery across the organisation

Determine the effective use of resources:

• Create budgets and unit costs for programmes of work
• Identify areas for efficiency
• Advise on financial and resourcing issues to inform objectives and forward planning
• Manage budget for the area of Efficiency

Use communication effectively:

• Providing information, feedback and advice
• Influencing and persuading
• Using appropriate skills, styles and approaches

Enhance own performance:

• Manage own resources and professional development

Use information to take critical decisions:

• Liaise with staff to receive, collate and analyse information, using 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

Manage People:

• This post may hold line management responsibility for other members of the team
• Supervise the work of the Efficiency team member
• Train and provide advice and professional development across the Division in the area of efficiencies

Manage Diversity and Quality:

• Contribute to a culture and systems that promote equality and value diversity
• Adhere to the diversity policies of the service and collaborate as appropriate with the Equalities and Diversity Unit

Manage Quality:

• Contribute to continuous quality improvement
• Monitor external markets, practice, trends and development to ensure best practice internally
• Manage compliance with quality systems

Manage Projects:

• Ensure an effective approach to project and process evaluation
• Maintain effective communication with project stakeholders

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Experience:

• Demonstrate experience of stakeholder management
• Demonstrate experience of successfully identifying and improving efficiency of an organisation

Technical requirements:

• NVQ Level 5 or equivalent in a relevant subject (or appropriate practical experience).
• Microsoft: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Working Arrangements & Further Information:

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays.
• Pension: The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).
• Training: The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.