Chief of Staff

West of England Mayoral Combined Authority; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 84,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Volunteer leave

LGPS pension

Hybrid working model

Job summary

West of England Combined Authority is seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff to support the Mayor in delivering ambitious regional priorities. You will lead the Mayor's Office, coordinating policy, public affairs, communications, and executive support, while providing strategic, evidence-led advice to influence decision making.

You will build influential relationships across government, public services, business and civic bodies, ensuring priorities translate into deliverable actions and robust

Qualifications

• Exceptional strategic judgement, political awareness and the confidence to provide candid, evidence-led advice.
• A track record of turning complex ambitions or emerging opportunities into tangible outcomes.
• The ability to build influential relationships across government, public services, business and civic institutions.
• Strong leadership of people and multidisciplinary teams, with the judgement to prioritise and maintain delivery focus.
• Integrity, discretion, resilience and a clear understanding of impartial public-service leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Mayor's Office, bringing together policy, public affairs, communications, engagement and executive support.
• Provide trusted advice and constructive challenge while respecting governance and accountability.

Skills

Strategic judgement

Political awareness

Relationship building

Leadership

Integrity & discretion

Job description

Role Overview

Our Mayor has ambitious priorities: better transport, more affordable homes, access to good and green jobs, stronger communities and an economy in which more people can share the benefits of growth.

We are looking for an exceptional Chief of Staff who can help turn those ambitions, and the opportunities of devolution into meaningful regional impact. As the Mayor's principal strategic adviser and leader of the Mayor's Office, you will operate at the heart of regional decision making. You will help spot and shape opportunities, connect the Mayor with government and regional partners, support influential conversations and negotiations, and ensure that priorities are translated into credible, coordinated and deliverable action. You will also lead a high-performing Mayor's Office, bringing together policy, public affairs, communications, engagement and executive support. Working closely with the Chief Executive, senior officers and Directors, you will provide trusted advice and constructive challenge while respecting the Authority's governance and clear lines of accountability.

Inclusive Recruitment

We want everyone to have a fair opportunity to work with us. We are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Our recruitment processes are designed to be fair, accessible and free from unlawful discrimination, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Reasonable Adjustments

If you have an accessibility need, disability, condition or need any additional support that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Resourcing Team at [e-mail]. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Role Requirements

• Exceptional strategic judgement, political awareness and the confidence to provide candid, evidence-led advice.
• A track record of turning complex ambitions or emerging opportunities into tangible outcomes.
• The ability to build influential relationships across government, public services, business and civic institutions.
• Strong leadership of people and multidisciplinary teams, with the judgement to prioritise and maintain delivery focus.
• Integrity, discretion, resilience and a clear understanding of impartial public-service leadership.

You may have built your career in local or central government, a public body, a major partnership, business or the voluntary sector. What matters most is your ability to operate credibly in a complex environment, bring people together and make things happen.

Learning & Development

We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering you to thrive in your career. We prioritise your growth and success by providing a diverse range of learning and development opportunities. Our goal is to keep you motivated, equipped with essential skills, and confident in delivering excellent services.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous service. There is also the option to increase your annual leave with our annual leave purchase scheme.
• 2 days of paid leave each year to volunteer
• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Flexible, family friendly and hybrid working options to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals. We follow a hybrid working model with typically 2 or 3 days in the office each week
• Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England, The salary for this role is £84,497 to £92,366. This is the full-time equivalent salary, and will be pro-rata for part-time. We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments for external candidates typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.