Strategic Policy Lead: Public Reform & Devolution

Wollborg Michelson Personnel Service Inc; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Shared Cost AVC scheme

28 days annual leave + statutory days

EV car benefit scheme

Healthcare plans

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking a Policy Manager to join the Employment, Skills, Health and Communities Directorate. You will lead strategic policy development responding to devolution, reform and fiscal sustainability, shaping regional policy and supporting long-term transformation across employment, skills, health and inclusive growth.

You will work within the Insight and Intelligence Team to analyse national developments, engage stakeholders and produce high-quality policy

Qualifications

• Significant experience in policy development, strategy or public sector reform within a government, public sector, research or think-tank environment.
• Strong understanding of the policy landscape relating to devolution, public service reform, local government, employment, skills or economic development.
• Proven ability to analyse complex systems and develop coherent policy responses to multifaceted challenges.
• Strong track record of using research, analysis, evidence and insight to influence policy and strategic decision-making.
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience producing high-quality strategic papers, briefings and recommendations for senior audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience working across organisational and sector boundaries.
• Ability to navigate political environments and provide advice on politically sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Experience managing competing priorities and delivering high-quality outputs in fast-pace and evolving contexts.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively through partnerships, networks and matrix-management arrangements.
• An understanding of systems leadership, place-based working and cross-sector collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead policy development on major strategic challenges affecting the West Midlands, including public service reform, devolution, economic inclusion and workforce transformation.
• Develop evidence-based policy positions that support greater regional influence over employment, skills and wider public services.
• Work with senior leaders and partners to shape responses to emerging government priorities and reforms.
• Analyse national policy developments and assess their implications for the region, informing strategic responses and recommendations.
• Support the development of integrated approaches across employment, skills, health, economic development and local government agendas.
• Use research, data, evaluation and insight to identify system-wide challenges and opportunities for reform.
• Produce high-quality policy papers, briefings, strategic reports and advice for senior leadership, elected members and external stakeholders.
• Build productive relationships with local authorities, government departments, public sector partners, employers, providers and representative bodies.
• Facilitate collaboration across organisations and sectors to address complex cross-cutting challenges that cannot be resolved by a single institution acting alone.
• Represent the organisation in regional and national policy discussions, networks and strategic forums.

Skills

Policy development

Public sector reform

Stakeholder management

Analytical capability

Written communication

Cross-organisational collaboration

Job description

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking a Policy Manager to join the Employment, Skills, Health and Communities Directorate. You will lead strategic policy development responding to devolution, reform and fiscal sustainability, shaping regional policy and supporting long-term transformation across employment, skills, health and inclusive growth.

You will work within the Insight and Intelligence Team to analyse national developments, engage stakeholders and produce high-quality policy