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- Tasks: Lead the Performance and Governance team, ensuring compliance and transparency during local government changes.
- Company: Join Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, a dynamic organisation committed to public service excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, sign-on bonus, generous holiday, and hybrid working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on governance and policy while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong negotiation, collaboration, and decision-making skills required.
- Other info: Supportive environment with training and mentoring for your professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 48600 - 51156 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's Performance and Governance team at a time of significant change for local government. You'll be working with the Head of Service on Local Government Reorganisation, ensuring the Council remains compliant, transparent and on track with its policy and performance objectives. You'll take the lead on a number of governance areas whilst we undertake this significant change.
We're looking for someone who can understand complex situations, undertake research, suggest policy and performance changes, and apply sound and ethical decisions based on good governance factors. Being able to take decisions in a complex and changing environment, and leading a high performing, multi-skilled team are essential features of the role.
About the Role
You’ll take the lead role in delivering the Council's corporate governance arrangements and managing policy and performance initiatives. A typical day might see you working with the Chief Executive to respond to a contentious and high impact Ombudsman complaint, working with departments and Legal Services to respond to a complex and politically sensitive Freedom of Information request, attending meetings about the Council's Artificial Intelligence usage policy and how this impacts on data protection, and working with the Head of Policy and Governance and other local authorities on plans for local government reorganisation, reviewing and updating our corporate objectives and strategic plan, and managing corporate performance indicators. You’ll have a small, but highly expert team to help support your work, but this will be a leadership role working with some of the most senior people at the Council, and we are looking for someone with the skills and experience to hit the ground running.
You will champion good information governance, data protection and information rights at the Council, and you will actively promote a culture of good complaints handling and best practice, identifying and promoting opportunities for continuous improvement while ensuring the Council has appropriate arrangements in place to meet legislative requirements. You will provide strategic advice on a range of local government issues and act as a subject matter expert for corporate governance.
About You
We are looking for someone who:
- Is an effective negotiator and able to advocate for information governance across the Council
- Has the ability to work collaboratively and in partnership to influence service delivery
- Makes sound decisions based on legal and ethical considerations, and good governance requirements
- Can assess complex service data and make recommendations for improvement
- Quickly adapts to and champions new working practices and technology
- Has excellent communication skills to effectively engage with a range of audiences
- Can lead and deliver practical improvements through projects, programmes and initiatives
Due to the nature of the work, a high level of discernment and respect for confidentiality is required. With such a varied and high impact role on offer, we don’t expect you to excel in all areas immediately, but we will support your growth within the role through training, coaching and mentoring, because we believe in developing our people and empowering them to excellent public services.
What you’ll get:
- In addition to your salary, you will receive a sign-on payment of £5,238 (50% paid on completion of probation and 50% at 18 months). This is for new staff joiners to TWBC, not internal applicants.
- The starting salary for this post is £48,598 per annum. At TWBC all new staff have a review at 12 months and another at 24 months. After the first successful review, your salary will move to £49,877 and after the second successful review your salary will move to £51,156.
- TWBC also has an annual review of all salaries. We are awaiting confirmation of the changes to salaries which will come into effect from 1 April 2026.
- 26 days' holiday (rising to 29 with 5 years' continuous Local Government service) + UK bank holidays + 3 extra days in December
- Generous Local Government Pension Scheme – Employer contribution of 19.7%
- Access to HAPI an all-in-one benefits hub, giving you easy access to a wide range of employee perks, wellbeing support, discounts, and everyday savings.
- Hybrid working to support work/life balance
- Free parking near the Town Hall
- Free tea, coffee and wellbeing perks like an Employee Assistance Program, flu jabs, eyecare vouchers, and more
Ready to apply? If you would like to talk through the role, please contact Jane Clarke, Head of Policy and Governance.
Job Description and Person Specification available below.
Advert closing date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Interview date: Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Salary range: £48,598 – £51,156 per year
Policy, Performance and Governance Manager in England employer: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Policy, Performance and Governance Manager in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those already working at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching current local government issues. Being able to discuss these topics shows you're not just interested in the role but also in the bigger picture of governance.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Policy, Performance and Governance Manager, you'll need to advocate effectively. Role-play scenarios with a friend to build confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Policy, Performance and Governance Manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Policy, Performance and Governance Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading a high-performing team, don’t forget to share examples of your leadership experience. Talk about how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past, especially in complex environments.
Demonstrate Your Decision-Making Abilities: We want to see how you make sound decisions based on legal and ethical considerations. Include specific instances where you've had to navigate complex situations and the outcomes of your decisions.
Apply Through Our Website: To ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, please apply through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quicker!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
✨Understand the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Policy, Performance and Governance Manager. Familiarise yourself with local government structures, current governance issues, and the specific challenges faced by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. This will help you speak confidently about how your skills align with their needs.
✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios
Given the nature of the role, be ready to discuss complex situations you've navigated in the past. Think of examples where you've made sound decisions based on legal and ethical considerations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this position involves leading a small expert team, be prepared to share your leadership experiences. Highlight how you've successfully managed teams, influenced service delivery, and championed new practices. Discuss any projects where you’ve delivered practical improvements and how you engaged your team in the process.
✨Engage with Current Issues
Stay updated on current local government issues, especially those related to governance, data protection, and AI usage policies. Bring these topics into your conversation during the interview to demonstrate your proactive approach and genuine interest in the role. It shows that you're not just looking for a job, but are invested in making a positive impact.