Transformation Project Manager (Children, Education & Families)

Job Introduction

About us

Are you passionate about improving the lives of children, young people and families in Oxfordshire? Are you skilled in bringing people together to deliver change? If so, we'd love to hear from you. 

Join Oxfordshire County Council on an exciting journey towards Delivering the Future Together, our ambitious transformation programme which will enable us to be an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. We’re seeking the right people who can help us get there while embracing our value of ‘daring to do it differently’, as we continue to strive to do better.

Children, Education and Families (CEF) is a directorate of dedicated children’s services professionals who support children, young people and families form 0-25, across a wide range of services from early help to children we care for, education services for all and specialist support for children with SEND.  

Faced with continuing increases in demand, costs, and complexity of needs across children's social care and education, we have established a transformation team and set up programmes to tackle key areas, such as SEND reform, Family Hubs, Families First and increasing placement sufficiency for children we care for. Our goal is to achieve the best possible life outcomes for children and young people in Oxfordshire and to make our services sustainable and fit for the future.

If you like a challenge and want to tackle issues that make a real difference to local people's lives, it’s a really exciting time to join us.

About the role: 

This is a specialist role, responsible for the successful delivery of priority projects that involve service redesign, change management and continuous improvement. As part of this, you will:

• Lead and manage service improvement projects, across the end-to-end life cycle, from business case and project initiation through the phases and implementation to agreed time, cost, and quality criteria, with a relentless focus on improving outcomes for children and young people and financial sustainability of services.
• Work with, and gain commitment from internal clients and stakeholders to an agreed project mandate, objectives and expected measurable outputs for service improvement initiatives, including implementation.
• Provide subject matter expertise, support, and guidance to project proposals, including the most suitable approaches to service improvement, change management and continuous improvement. 
• Provide rigour in delivery of service transformation projects in accordance with accepted best practice and in align with corporate approaches, the council’s values (Delivering the Future Together) and aspirations to develop new ways of working across all services. 

About you

You will be motivated by making a tangible difference to the lives of children and young people and as a transformation and change management professional in a service design and improvement environment.

You will need to demonstrate a track record of delivering improved service performance including outcomes, operational efficiency, and cost reduction/avoidance.

Experience of working in local government and/or the wider public sector service economy would be desirable, but not essential, as private sector experience will enable us to look at our challenges from another perspective.

Rewards & Benefits

• Annual leave starting at 30 days per year (plus bank holidays)
• Culture of flexible working and technology to support agile working 
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support 24/7
• Range of family friendly policies
• Childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, electric car scheme, range of staff discounts including travel, holidays, insurance, food, health & leisure activities
• Excellent learning and development opportunities
• Explore more here

How to apply

To apply, you will need to complete an online application form. This includes a section asking you to explain how you meet the requirements of the job role and selection criteria, as specified in the job description. Please take the time to reflect on this section and provide specific evidence of why you are well-suited to this role to support our shortlisting process. You should also attach your CV to the application form.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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