Head of Chief Executive's Office

Adecco; North East; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Adecco Group UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Head of Chief Executive's Office to lead governance, strategic planning and executive support for a London Borough on an interim 3-month contract. You will drive transformation and ensure delivery of council priorities, reporting to senior leadership and governance boards.

The role requires senior public sector leadership, strong governance knowledge, and excellent stakeholder engagement across Mayor, Councillors and external partners.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience in local government or public sector governance.
• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks and decision-making processes.
• Proven track record in supporting executives and governance boards.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic business planning support to the Chief Executive and leadership team.
• Lead on corporate governance and develop workplans for the Independent Board.
• Ensure governance activities align with organisational priorities and Value for Money commitments.
• Drive continuous improvement, transformation, and service excellence across the office.
• Support delivery of transformation initiatives and report to governance boards.
• Build relationships with Mayor, Councillors, Directors and external partners.
• Oversee performance management, customer care, and complaints handling.

Skills

Senior leadership

Public sector governance

Stakeholder management

Governance frameworks

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Head of Chief Executive's Office

Location: Newham, London
Contract: 3 Months (Interim)
Rate: 350 per day (Umbrella)

Are you an experienced senior leader with a strong background in local government governance, strategic planning, and executive support? We are seeking an ambitious and highly capable Head of Chief Executive's Office to join a London Borough on an initial 3-month contract.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of the organisation, providing strategic business planning support to the Chief Executive and Head of Office while driving the delivery of key Council priorities and transformation programmes.

This is an opportunity to work at the centre of a high-profile transformation and improvement agenda, influencing strategic decision-making within a forward-thinking organisation.

The Role

As Head of Chief Executive's Office, you will lead a specialist team responsible for delivering high-quality services that support the Chief Executive and the Newham Transformation and Improvement Board. You will play a crucial role in ensuring effective governance, organisational improvement, and the successful delivery of strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic business planning support to the Chief Executive and Head of Office.
• Leading on corporate governance arrangements and developing a comprehensive workplan for the Independent Board and its members.
• Ensuring governance activities align with the Best Value Notice and wider organisational priorities.
• Driving continuous improvement, innovation, and service excellence across the Chief Executive's Office.
• Supporting the delivery of key transformation and improvement initiatives.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with senior stakeholders including the Mayor, Mayor's Office, Councillors, Corporate Directors, and external partners.
• Overseeing performance management, customer care, complaints, and casework processes to ensure effective service delivery.
• Preparing high-quality reports, presentations, and briefings for senior leadership and governance boards.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Significant experience operating at a senior level within a local authority or public sector environment.
• Strong knowledge of local government governance frameworks, decision-making processes, and corporate governance.
• Experience supporting senior executives, political stakeholders, and governance boards.
• A proven track record of driving organisational improvement, transformation, and service innovation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at the highest levels.
• Strong understanding of customer care, complaints handling, casework management, and performance monitoring.
• Exceptional organisational, communication, and leadership capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet-based research tools.

If you have the expertise, leadership capability, and local government experience required to excel in this challenging and rewarding interim opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.

The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.