Head Of Service – Youth Justice

This senior leadership role directs a medium-sized, complex service area. The position requires high organisational awareness and extensive collaboration across various service sectors. The post holder develops medium-term business plans and informs long-term strategic planning. This ensures the delivery of high service standards and the achievement of strategic objectives. The role involves substantial co-ordination, partnership working, and commissioning arrangements to meet defined outcomes within wider policy frameworks.

• Lead service development plans focused on partnership, co-ordination, and commissioning activities.
• Translate overarching strategy into clear operational priorities and sub-function activities.
• Develop business plans for the medium term and contribute recommendations for long-term strategy.
• Drive transformation and organisational change while maintaining service performance, financial limits, and statutory duties.

• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners, public sector bodies, and stakeholders.
• Influence key decision-makers at political, senior, and management levels to promote local interests.
• Manage complex partnerships to ensure high-quality public service commissioning and delivery.
• Resolve high-risk disputes and complex operational issues through collaboration.

• Set operational direction based on organisational frameworks and provide tactical advice to providers.
• Analyse local intelligence and data to identify alternative, responsive service delivery models.
• Implement operational standards to meet internal reporting needs, legislation, and best practice.
• Promote health and safety by fulfilling all designated management responsibilities.

• Manage annual budgets ranging from £5m to £50m to ensure maximum value for money.
• Plan resource allocation across financial and human assets to deliver specific outcomes.
• Lead professional teams, motivating staff to cultivate a high-performance culture.
• Address performance issues promptly to maintain productivity within fixed resource levels.

• Degree or equivalent high-level strategic experience.
• Expert knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations.
• Business insight to align services with wider strategies.

• Senior leadership experience managing complex service areas.
• Partnership delivery on high-profile, innovative projects.
• Risk management experience handling reputational hazards.
• Budget oversight managing portfolios from £5m to £50m.

• Stakeholder management at senior and political levels.
• Performance coaching to build high-achieving professional teams.
• Influence and persuasion to resolve complex disputes.