Senior Operational Leader

Government Recruitment Service; Worthing; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in the UK is seeking a Senior Operational Leader to manage a diverse team of over 100 staff, focusing on strategic priorities and service delivery. This role involves motivating teams, making complex decisions swiftly, and ensuring compliance with policies. Frequent travel and overnight stays will be required for site visits. Ideal candidates should possess strong leadership and communication skills, along with the ability to foster collaboration and innovation among team members.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role with a focus on service delivery.
• Ability to lead and inspire large teams through complex challenges.
• Skilled in building relationships with stakeholders across various departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large, diverse team of over 100 colleagues to set strategic priorities.
• Make complex decisions and oversee business change initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with policies and manage sensitive staff-related issues.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Problem-solving

Communication

Collaboration

Emotional intelligence

Job description

As part of Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt (CFCD) Directorate you will be at the heart of DWP’s front line operations, helping to change people’s lives and supporting the CFCD purpose of fighting fraud in the welfare system.

As a 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, geographically diverse team of at least 100+ colleagues 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.
• A large part of the role is dealing with HR policy and procedures and carrying out the decision maker role on sensitive staff related issues.

Due to the geographically dispersed nature of this team, this role will require frequent travel and occasional overnight stays.