Strategy & Policy Manager - Children's Services in Wokingham

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Strategy & Policy Manager to join our Children's Strategy, Transformation and Commissioning service here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full-time, permanent basis. As Strategy & Policy Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across Children's Services, connecting national reform, local priorities and the voices of children and families to shape services that make a lasting difference.

Working closely with Heads of Service, senior leaders, elected Members, partners and subject matter experts, you will lead the development, coordination and quality assurance of strategies, policies and delivery plans. You will combine strong strategic thinking with practical delivery. From translating complex policy into clear frameworks and producing insight for senior decision-makers, to monitoring progress and strengthening governance, your work will ensure our priorities are coherent, measurable and focused on long-term improvement.

At the heart of the role is collaboration. You will bring together colleagues across social care, education, early help, SEND, health and the voluntary and community sector, while ensuring children, young people and families have a meaningful voice in the strategies that affect them. At Wokingham, we are looking for an accomplished strategist and relationship-builder who can see the bigger picture, make sense of complexity and turn evidence into strategies that can be delivered. In return, you will join a collaborative, ambitious service with the opportunity to influence priorities across the whole Children's Services system and improve outcomes for local children and families.

You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:

• Generous Annual Leave - 31 days per annum (rising by 5 days with 5 years' continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays
• GP Helpline - Available 7 days a week
• Employee Assistance Programme - Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
• Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
• Free Onsite Gym - Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes - Including Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Local & Lifestyle Discounts - Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out and more
• Move through Menopause Course
• Sports & Social Group Activities - Including running, football, cricket and more

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate the development, review and refresh of high-quality strategies across Children's Services, ensuring a consistent approach and clear quality standards.
• Translate national policy, legislation, local priorities and reform requirements into practical strategic frameworks, policies and measurable action plans.
• Use research, data, demographics, demand forecasting, performance intelligence and feedback to inform strategic decisions and long-term planning.
• Produce clear, persuasive briefings, insight reports, governance papers and strategic narratives for senior leaders, elected Members, inspectors and partnership boards.
• Maintain oversight of delivery plans, milestones, outcomes, risks and dependencies, providing constructive challenge and escalation where progress is off track.
• Lead meaningful engagement and co-production with children, young people, families, practitioners and partners, working closely with the Participation Team.
• Align strategy, policy and transformation activity, identifying cross-cutting opportunities and supporting continuous improvement across the directorate.
• Maintain the Children's Services Strategy Register and ensure strategies and policies meet governance, publication, statutory and inspection requirements.
• Provide professional leadership, supervision and direction to officers and cross-service project teams, promoting high performance, inclusion and learning.

Candidate Requirements:

• Degree-level education or equivalent, or extensive relevant experience within Children's Services and transformation, together with evidence of continued professional development.
• Significant experience of developing strategies or policies within Children's Services, education, social care or a related public-sector environment.
• A strong understanding of national policy, legislation, regulatory frameworks and safeguarding responsibilities relating to children and families.
• Experience of research, needs assessment and analysis, with the ability to turn evidence and intelligence into clear priorities and recommendations.
• Excellent strategic writing, analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality documents for senior leaders, boards and inspectors.
• Proven ability to facilitate, influence and negotiate across complex partnerships, with strong political awareness, judgement and discretion.
• Experience of co-production and of embedding the voices of children, young people and families in service design and strategic decision-making.
• A collaborative, inclusive and resilient leadership style, with an outcome-focused and continuous-improvement mindset.

Our Area:

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside. We're home to a range of high-performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.