North Yorkshire Council is seeking an experienced and visionary Corporate Strategy and Performance Lead to drive and oversee performance management across Children’s and Young People’s Services. Covering the largest area of any council in England, North Yorkshire Council supports a population of 623,000 across a diverse range of communities. Following local government reorganisation, our large scale is matched by our ambition, building on a foundation of strong service delivery with significant potential to align our services for the benefit of our residents. The Strategy and Performance team is well respected within the service, supporting a culture of data-informed decisions and continuous improvement. This leadership role offers a unique opportunity to influence the direction of services for children and young people across the county, helping our services to develop and deliver the best possible outcomes. Based within the central Strategy and Performance service, you will lead a team to oversee the performance framework for the Children and Young People Services directorate, delivering evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership. You will play a crucial role in supporting the identification and delivery of a wide range of initiatives designed to improve the lives of children, young people, and their families in North Yorkshire. You will also work alongside Corporate Leads for other directorates to support a clear corporate performance picture and drive consistency and development of the strategy and performance capabilities across the council. Key Responsibilities Oversee performance management arrangements, ensuring that performance data is accurately collected, analysed, and reported to senior management and key stakeholders. Lead and manage a high-performing team to monitor, evaluate, and drive continuous improvements in service delivery. Provide expert strategic advice to senior leaders on children’s services, supporting decision-making with robust evidence and clear performance insights. Work with senior leaders to ensure that services for children and young people are effective, efficient, and meet statutory obligations and best practice standards. Monitor and evaluate service performance, identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement, and leading projects to address service gaps or areas of underperformance. Champion the voice and needs of children, young people, and families, ensuring they are central to strategic planning and service delivery. Lead on inspection-readiness preparations and exercises. Represent North Yorkshire Council at regional and national forums to promote best practice and share learning in children’s services. Act as the research lead for the directorate, identifying opportunities to use academic research to support greater insight and improvement. Key Requirements Extensive experience in strategic performance management roles, with strong understanding of children’s services, statutory requirements, and national standards that affect service delivery and outcomes. Proven ability to lead and influence at a senior level, managing and delivering large-scale performance improvement initiatives. Highly developed analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with experience working with senior leaders, elected members and external partners. A relevant degree or professional qualification in a related field, along with a commitment to continuous professional development. Why Join North Yorkshire Council? This is an exciting opportunity to join a supportive, forward-thinking team, working in one of the most beautiful and diverse counties in the UK. As Corporate Strategy and Performance Lead, you will play a pivotal role in improving the lives of children and families, and you will be supported by a collaborative team that is committed to making a real difference. We offer a competitive salary, a range of benefits including a generous leave entitlement, pension scheme, and access to a range of training and development opportunities. For further information, or to discuss the role, please contact Will Boardman ( will.boardmannorthyorks.gov.uk ) To apply please click Apply Now link below.