Strategic Lead - Changing Futures

Are you an experienced strategic leader who can bring people and organisations together to deliver complex public service programmes? Do you have experience of working across organisational boundaries, influencing senior stakeholders and turning ambitious policy into practical delivery? We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Lead - Changing Futures to join the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Changing Futures Phase 2 is a national programme funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government until March 2029. It aims to improve outcomes for adults experiencing multiple disadvantage, including homelessness, substance misuse, poor mental health, domestic abuse and involvement with the criminal justice system. The West Midlands has been selected to deliver the programme for the first time, bringing together partners from housing, health, social care, local government, criminal justice and the voluntary sector to provide more joined-up, person-centred and trauma-informed support.

The programme will focus on driving system change across Birmingham, Sandwell and Wolverhampton, helping services work more effectively together to improve outcomes for residents and reduce reliance on crisis-led interventions. Based within the Office for Public Sector Innovation (OPSI), the Changing Futures team plays a key role in supporting public service reform through collaboration, innovation and learning. Working closely with colleagues and partners across the region, the team develops and shares insight, evidence and best practice to inform wider system change and improve outcomes for people facing complex challenges.

As Strategic Lead, you will provide system leadership for the programme, overseeing its design, coordination and delivery across the West Midlands. You will lead a small multidisciplinary WMCA team covering lived experience, data and information governance and systems change, while working with senior leaders across local and national organisations. This is a high-profile role operating in a complex and politically sensitive environment. You will help shape the direction of the programme, build strong partnerships and ensure that learning, evidence and lived experience translate into meaningful system change.

What you will be doing:

• Lead the overall coordination and delivery of the Changing Futures Programme across the West Midlands.
• Provide strategic leadership on system change, supporting partners to improve coordination and outcomes across services.
• Oversee the development and delivery of the programme's delivery plan, ensuring alignment with MHCLG expectations and national requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective programme governance, reporting and assurance arrangements.
• Lead and develop the WMCA multidisciplinary programme team.
• Ensure lived experience, co-production, evidence and learning are embedded throughout the programme.
• Build and strengthen strategic relationships across local government, health, policing, criminal justice, the VCFSE sector and central government.
• Oversee the management of the annual MHCLG grant across the Combined Authority and local authority partners, ensuring effective financial oversight and compliance with funding conditions.
• Provide strategic advice, briefings and updates to WMCA senior leadership, governance boards and the Mayor's Office.
• Identify, assess and manage programme risks, dependencies and challenges.
• Oversee programme monitoring, evaluation and learning, ensuring insights are used to improve delivery and inform wider public service reform.
• Lead system mapping and identify barriers to effective delivery, working with partners to develop solutions.
• Ensure programme learning is captured, shared and used to inform future decision-making across the region.
• Support the development of local delivery models that reflect programme principles and the needs of people experiencing severe multiple disadvantage.
• Work with partners to identify opportunities for budget alignment and, where feasible, pooled budgets to support sustainable new ways of working.
• Support the development of investment cases that demonstrate the economic and social value of prevention and early intervention.
• Represent WMCA at regional and national forums and contribute to the wider Changing Futures evidence base and public service reform agenda.

What's essential:

• We are looking for an experienced programme and system leader who can operate confidently across complex organisations and bring people together around shared outcomes.
• Proven experience of leading complex, multi-stakeholder programmes in public sector environments.
• Experience of programme mobilisation, governance and delivery planning.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders across local government, NHS or central government.
• Experience of public service reform, system change or integrated delivery programmes.
• Experience of evaluation, learning and evidence-based programme design.
• Experience of working with or within local government, police, criminal justice, health or combined authorities.
• Strong programme management and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, relationship-building and influencing skills.
• The ability to operate effectively in complex and politically sensitive environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A strong understanding of public service systems, governance and funding structures.
• The ability to lead and develop the multidisciplinary team and create a culture of collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.
• The ability to work across organisational boundaries, manage competing priorities and build shared ownership among partners.
• Experience of funding alignment, commissioning or pooled budgets, and experience of working in emerging or ambiguous policy areas where precedent is limited, would be desirable.

Location: The location for this role is Summer Lane with at least X days a week spent in the office.

Salary and benefits:

• We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme.
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology.
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more.

Why join WMCA? WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours:

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation.
• Driven - We are focused on outcomes.
• Inclusive - We value difference.
• Innovative - We are courageous.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We're a Disability Confident Employer with 'Leader' status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.