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Government Recruitment Service; Stretford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer scheme

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is seeking a Senior Operational Leader to guide a large, geographically dispersed team of Higher Executive Officers. You will set strategic priorities, drive performance, and ensure compliant service delivery across the CFCD. Travel and site visits will be frequent to support engagement and outcomes.

The role requires strong leadership, decision-making, and collaboration with other government bodies. A commitment to public service values and governance is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven senior management leadership experience.
• Ability to make complex decisions quickly and provide technical guidance.
• Strong relationship-building with senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams.
• Ability to drive performance and continuous improvement.
• Understanding of HR policy and sensitive staff issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large, geographically diverse team of HEOs, setting strategic priorities and driving performance.
• Make sound, complex decisions at pace and instil technical knowledge in your team.
• Oversee change, lead performance reviews, and drive continuous improvement.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with senior representatives from other government departments and external bodies.
• Provide visible, effective leadership through site visits and clear communication.
• Motivate teams to operate flexibly, seek feedback, and personalise services for customers.
• Encourage creative thinking and collaborative working to drive innovation.
• Ensure compliance with DWP policies, managing risk exposure.
• Be aware of HR policy and carry out decision-maker roles on sensitive staff issues.
• Frequent travel and overnight stays are expected.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

People management

Decision making

Change management

Travel readiness

Job description

DWP helps people lift themselves out of poverty and to stay out of poverty, through work, saving and support. This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is bigger than ever. As part of Counter Fraud and Compliance Directorate (CFCD) you will be at the heart of DWP’s frontline operations, helping to change people's lives and supporting CFCD's purpose of fighting fraud in the welfare system.

As Senior Operational Leader, you will role model excellent senior management leadership, taking responsibility for the flexible, effective, personalised delivery of customer service, quality, and performance.You will provide transformational leadership to a geographically diverse team, leading through others, driving people engagement and inspiring colleagues to deliver objectives.

CFCD is a great place to work where the leadership team are passionate about attracting the best talent whilst nurturing and valuing new and existing colleagues to be the best they can be. We are looking for people who can demonstrate our values and commitment to leadership which are based around Collaboration, Resilience and Inclusivity. We look for emotionally aware leaders who enable teams to be innovative, adaptable and flexible. We want you to be comfortable challenging the norm and finding daring and dynamic solutions that support our values and enable colleagues to shine in whatever role they do.

As a Senior Operational Leader, you will:

• Lead a large, potentially geographically diverse team of Higher Executive Officers (HEOs), setting strategic business priorities and driving performance.
• Make sound, complex decisions at pace and instil technical knowledge in your team.
• Use initiative to seek solutions to problems; making interpretative judgements where circumstances fall outside of available guidance.
• Oversee business change, lead performance reviews, and drive continuous improvement.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with senior representatives from other government departments and external bodies.
• Provide visible, effective leadership through regular site visits and clear communication.
• Motivate teams to operate flexibly, seek feedback, and personalise services for customers.
• Encourage creative thinking and collaborative working to drive innovation and service improvements.
• Ensure compliance with DWP policies and procedures, managing risk exposure.
• Be aware of HR policy and procedures, carrying out the decision-maker role on sensitive staff related issues.

Due to the geographically dispersed nature of this team, there will be frequent travel and overnight stays.

Senior Operational Leader

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £44,447 to £44,447 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Stretford Job type: Permanent Posting date: 16 Sept 2026 Closing date: 29 Sept 2026

• Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.