[Johana Fiserova]

Head of Overview & Scrutiny

Salary range £47,394.00 - £57,915.00 pa.

Ref: RCD00011

The Newham Overview and Scrutiny Unit has an opening for a talented individual to join our team as Head of the Unit. Newham is one of London’s most diverse boroughs and host to the 2012 Olympics and we’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to making Newham a place where people choose to live, work and stay.

The Overview and Scrutiny Unit is responsible for supporting elected Members in conducting the key role of acting as a check and balance on Executive decision-making, including that of the Council's key partners, to ensure that decision making is robust and policy development is sound.

The Council has four Scrutiny Commissions and an over-arching Overview and Scrutiny Committee responsible for the work of the Commissions. The head of Scrutiny provides support to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Scrutiny Commissions. The nature of this support centres around policy development, research and analysis, as well as project managing and leading in-depth reviews into subjects of importance to the Scrutiny Commissions.

We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate that they have a good understanding of local government and the challenges it currently faces, an in-depth knowledge of local authority governance and partnership arrangements and their functioning and in particular, the role overview and scrutiny plays in these arrangements. The ability to operate effectively within democratic processes is essential, as is the pre-requisite of political acumen and skills enabling the development of productive working relationships with council members, senior officers and partners that command respect, trust and confidence. Indeed, experience of working with elected Members, senior officers and partner organisations, ideally in a local government setting, is a requirement, as is the ability to facilitate, build and maintain strong working relationships with these key role-players. The ideal candidate will also have a demonstrable track-record of excellent project management, policy development and analytic/research skills.

Ideally, you will also have substantial experience of working at a similar level within a policy or project management setting. Experience of managing resources, including managing budgets, conducting appraisals, providing training and supervising staff is also essential.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Clive Mentzel on 0203 373 7872

Closing date: 1st June 2012 at 23:59.

For further details and to apply online: www.newham.gov.uk

Link to advert in the Guardian: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4457801/h...-scrutiny/