Description Cornwall Council is seeking an exceptional leader to drive our strategic vision and forge strong partnerships that deliver real impact for our communities. As Service Director of Strategy and Partnerships you will be a key member of the Council’s Leadership Team, responsible for leadership support to the Cabinet and Chief Executive on strategy, communications, stakeholder engagement, strategic partnership framework, Council reputation, devolution and inter-authority relationships. As the post-holder, you will be a key player in helping shape the role that Cornwall plays nationally in terms of the reorganisation of local government, and determining how the Council mobilises to deliver the priorities and ambitions of the current and future political administrations to deliver outstanding services to the public. You will be experienced at working closely with local, devolved and national politics and be able to connect this to Cornwall’s strategy in partnership with the Council’s Leadership. Through your leadership of the Council’s Communications and Engagement Services, you will drive community engagement in civil life, and you will be passionate about the role of local government in fostering a thriving democracy. To be successful in the role, you will be committed to public service and to Cornwall. You will champion the ambition of Cornwall, and its diverse residents, and support the Chief Executive and Leadership Team in positioning Cornwall at the forefront of local authorities nationally. You will be a collaborator, a convenor, passionate about diversity and inclusion, and be adept at delivering strategic impact across disparate portfolios and stakeholder groups to the benefit of the residents of Cornwall. To find out more about this role please see below and refer to the Success Profile. ABOUT TEAM CORNWALL As one of the largest unitary Council’s in the Country, Cornwall Council is an exciting, thriving Council. We have the widest set of responsibilities across all local authorities, and with this brings ambition, complexity, scale and impact. We have c. 5,800 employees and serve a population of c. 570,000 as well as being responsible for a wholly owned group of companies providing a wide range of services to the communities of Cornwall. Across the Council, we have an ambitious growth agenda, with a significant capital investment portfolio (c.£2.1bn) and large revenue budget of £770m and increasing. We proudly have good and outstanding children’s services and rapidly improving adult social care services and fire and rescue service. Our employee engagement scores continue to increase and currently at c. 76% we have an engaged, motivated and highly capable workforce. As the Service Director for Strategy and Partnerships, you would lead a team of around 150 and manage a budget of around £6m. You will lead a team of communications, engagement and strategy specialists as well as the Council’s business support and administration functions. Diversity of thought is central to how we operate, and we welcome new thinking and new ideas so that we can stay ahead of the curve. We recently welcomed the LGA to peer challenge our approach to Equality, diversity and inclusion and were shortlisted for a national award. We are an ambitious Council, which is enshrined in our values: Fair, Ambition, Inclusion and Respect (FAIR). Our work to secure more devolution continues, and we support recent calls for a Minister for Cornwall to maximise investment and opportunity into Cornwall. Whilst we might be geographically remote, our Council ambition is reflected in how we are investing in our infrastructure and Cornwall has never been more connected, with recent announcement of a mid-Cornwall metro, a great airport, and recent improvement work to the A30. We are also connected digitally and seriously innovative in this space – Cornwall played a pivotal role in the development of transatlantic communication – and we continue to innovate in terms of digital and green energy. TO APPLY To apply for this role please click on the Apply button below and fill out the requested information. When prompted, please upload a two-page statement of suitability and CV demonstrating evidence across the following criteria: Proven experience in a senior leadership role within a complex political organisation. Able to navigate and thrive within a complex and ambiguous environment being adept at finding consensus and forward momentum. Strong strategic thinking and the ability to link service, directorate, and corporate priorities, able to work confidently in a matrixed environment to connect the organisation’s overall strategic priorities. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with experience of working with the press and public to gain confidence from partners, residents, employees and stakeholders. Experience in managing strategic partnerships and external affairs with the ability to champion Cornwall on the national and international stage. Outstanding and proven leadership skills with the ability to directly and indirectly lead and inspire diverse teams, driving performance and innovation and a demonstrable passion and track record for improving Diversity and Inclusion. Please also note that this position will be subject to a basic criminal record disclosure check. The deadline for applications is on Tuesday 11 th March (at 9am). To support your application, you may wish to refer to some of the following: We are proud of the fact that our mission is focused on EVERYONE starting well, living well and ageing well regardless of age, gender, race, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or any other status for that matter. Underpinning the mission are our four Outcome Delivery Plans which sets out how we are going to deliver for our communities: A brilliant place to grow up A thriving, sustainable Cornwall Council Vibrant, safe, supportive communities An empowering and enterprising Council You can access a copy of our 2023/24 Annual Report. Our commitment to equality and diversity Our recent LGA Equalities Peer Challenge Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Indicative timetable: Closing date: Tuesday 11th March 2025 (9am) Technical interview: w/c 17th March (this will be on-line) Assessments and Final Interviews: Thursday 27 March Details of the Panel Members and arrangements for interviews will be provided to selected candidates. Working Pattern: 37 hours per week. Hybrid working is available however there is a requirement to attend New County Hall, Truro on a regular basis. What you’ll get in return: Cornwall Council’s ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. Our core employee rewards and benefits include: A competitive salary. A defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions A generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave. R elocation scheme A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services. Additional Information: Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. The full success profile is attached here. We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview. For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact careerscornwall.gov.uk Application Process Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against the criteria above using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process. Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact careerscornwall.gov.uk if you have any queries or require assistance with your application. About Us Cornwall Council deliver services to more than half a million local people and over five million visitors a year. Find out more about working and volunteering for us. Fairness and inclusion are at the heart of our vision for Cornwall. In order to best serve our communities, we are striving to achieve a diverse workforce that is inclusive of all backgrounds, cultures and identities; e.g., race, disability, sex, gender, age, religion and sexual orientation. We are an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer, and we will assess applicants on their merits. Cornwall Council is committed to safeguarding and following safer recruitment principles to help make sure our staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children, young people and adults at risk. It’s a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keeping all service users safe from harm.