Please note, the recruitment for this role is being administered by the Local Government Association on behalf of Local Partnerships LLP.
About Local Partnerships
Local Partnerships LLP is jointly owned by the Local Government Association, HM Treasury and the Welsh Government. We occupy a unique position in the public sector, facilitating change through working impartially and collaboratively across all parts of central, local and regional government, and devolved administrations.
Our vision is as simple as it is challenging: to strengthen the public sector to deliver more effectively, achieve more swiftly, and give value for money to the taxpayer and customer.
Our impact report for 2020-2021 can be found at:
https://localpartnerships.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Local_Partnerships_impact-report_2020-21_v1-2.pdf
We currently have a number of commercial projects which involve working with local authorities and other public sector bodies, including central government, and are looking to increase the size of our commercial delivery team.
The projects include:
- Undertaking options appraisals and developing business cases for major sourcing projects, including the establishment of alternative delivery models
- Reviewing existing local authority commercial initiatives, investments, traded services and entities (such as wholly owned companies)
- Supporting local authorities and the wider public sector with complex commercial projects in order to increase their overall commercial capability and capacity
- Supporting public sector bodies to develop commercialisation strategies and to establish appropriate governance arrangements to effectively oversee their commercial projects
- Developing training and development material including guidance to support the delivery of commercial best practice across local authorities and the wider public sector
- We would particularly welcome applications from individuals who currently hold senior commercial and/or financial roles within local government. We will also consider part time working arrangements if this is required.
About the role
Project Directors are responsible for the successful delivery of a major stream of business activity for Local Partnerships. You may work on your own but will more often form part of a team of different specialists undertaking an assignment stretching over weeks or months, or occasionally years, for a client who will typically be a central government department or one or more councils.
The role is assigned to a programme area headed by a Programme Director. While every assignment is different, Project Directors typically bring their professional expertise and project management skills to bear on complex projects and problems and ensure the Local Partnerships’ quality standards are met in completing the assignment on time and budget.
You need to understand decision-making in the public sector, including the role of elected politicians, in addition to their professional expertise. Almost all assignments involve preparing reports containing complex written and analytical information for the client, so excellent communications skills are vital. Knowledge transfer to the client is a key part of the role.
The role may be based anywhere in the UK. They will need to travel to clients’ offices around the country.
To support commercial projects and programmes, the role-holder should have a commercial, procurement and / or financial background and experience of working with the public sector either as an employee or in a consultative or advisory role. They may also have experience from senior commercial and/or financial roles within local government.
About you
- Educated to a degree standard, with professional qualifications appropriate to the role. An accountancy qualification would be preferred.
- Extensive experience advising procuring authorities (at senior and contract management level) of contractual, commercial and operational issues.
- Detailed knowledge of government (local and central) procurement methods and contracts, strategic and commercial management, outsourcing, governance issues and change management.
- Substantial experience of overseeing and leading the delivery of high profile complex commercial projects in a public sector environment with a track record of effective delivery.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and management skills including the ability to deliver solutions that meet collective needs and communicate in a variety of different ways.
- Able to specify, create and manage effective teams within organisational structures to deliver projects and commissions.
You must have the right to work in the UK, the Local Partnerships are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.
From a specific commercial projects perspective, we are looking for:
- Extensive experience of undertaking financial analysis of complex commercial projects in the public sector
- Experience of developing and reviewing financial models
- Experience of undertaking benchmarking in a public sector environment
- Experience of data analysis
- Knowledge of governance arrangements and legislation associated with the establishment of commercial initiatives and entities in a public sector environment
Closing Date: 5pm, Friday 13 May 2022
Interview Date: to be confirmed, by the end of May2022
We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community, regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, transgender identity, religion or belief.