Delivery Lead - Children's

Dorset Council; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Office in Dorchester

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking an experienced transformation leader to drive reform across its Children’s Services, working with senior leaders, practitioners and partners to deliver service redesign and digital improvement. The role sits within the Transformation Management Office and the Children’s Services Leadership Team, with a focus on outcomes, delivery and collaboration.

The successful candidate will lead cross‑functional programmes, manage complex change, and shape a fast‑moving,

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading large-scale transformation and service improvement programmes across Children’s Services.
• Ability to work strategically while delivering tangible outcomes.
• Proven track record building relationships with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a diverse portfolio of transformation, reform and service improvement activity across Children’s Services.
• Drive delivery of strategic priorities with measurable benefits.
• Coordinate cross‑boundary work to respond to the needs of children, young people and families.
• Lead complex change programmes, manage interdependencies, risks, governance and benefits realisation.
• Support digital innovation, data and technology adoption.
• Provide strategic leadership and challenge to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Transformation leadership

Programme management

Stakeholder engagement

Children’s Services knowledge

Change management

Job description

Lead the next chapter of transformation in an Outstanding Children's Service

At Dorset Council, our Children's Services are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and we're ambitious about what comes next.

We're looking for an experienced and inspirational leader to drive transformation and continuous improvement with us across Children's Services, helping us improve outcomes for children, young people and families while creating sustainable, efficient services for the future.

This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping some of the most important services we deliver. Working across early help, education, SEND and social care, you will work with leaders to deliver service redesign, reform, digital innovation and continuous improvement programmes that make a real difference to the lives of Dorset's children and families.

As a key member of both the Children's Services Leadership Team and the Transformation Management Office, you'll work alongside senior leaders, practitioners, partners and communities to turn ambition into action and ensure change delivers meaningful results.

You’ll be joining a forward‑looking Transformation Management Office that works across the council to redesign services, improve customer experience and deliver Dorset Council’s long‑term vision. The Children’s Services Leadership Team are driven and ambitious working to ensure the services delivered are high quality and child centred. The service is a fast‑paced environment and an exciting place to work where change is a constant in the work we do, supporting Babies, Children and Young People to reach their full potential. You’ll have the freedom to innovate, build strong partnerships and influence change at both a strategic and operational level.

What You Will Do

• Lead a diverse portfolio of transformation, reform and continuous and service improvement activity across Children's Services.
• Drive delivery of strategic priorities, ensuring programmes achieve measurable benefits and sustainable improvements.
• Work across organisational boundaries, bringing services together around changes that respond to the needs of children, young people and families.
• Lead complex change programmes, managing interdependencies, risks, governance and benefits realisation.
• Support Children's Services to make the most of digital innovation, data and technology.
• Provide strategic leadership, challenge and support to senior stakeholders across the council and partner organisations
• Lead, support and develop a team of change professionals, managing capacity and demand across a varied transformation portfolio.
• Take a product, test and learn approach to change
• Work closely with the wider Transformation Management Office leadership team to ensure Children's Services priorities align with the council's broader transformation ambitions.

About You

You’ll be an experienced transformation, programme or service improvement leader with a strong understanding of Children’s Services and the challenges facing local government.

You’ll Bring

• Significant experience leading large-scale transformation and service improvement programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Children’s Services, safeguarding responsibilities and relevant statutory frameworks.
• The ability to work strategically while maintaining a focus on delivery and outcomes.
• Experience of building relationships and influencing senior leaders, partners and stakeholders.
• A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with a passion for improving services and outcomes.
• Experience of programme management, benefits realisation and organisational change.

Further Information

For more information about how our Delivery Leads work at Dorset Council, please reach out to Laura White, Delivery Lead - Adults - [email protected]

We support flexible and hybrid ways of working. As a key leadership role, regular attendance at our offices in Dorchester and other Dorset locations is expected. You should anticipate being office-based and working alongside services on a regular basis, typically at least one day per week.

Interviews will be held on Monday 7 September and candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation to support their interview.

Posts requiring B/C clearance This post requires you to have access to sensitive information. It will be subject to a Basic Criminal Records Check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You Will

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.