Corporate Change & Improvement Manager

Dudley Council is seeking an outstanding senior leader to direct our Corporate Change & Improvement function at a critical point in our improvement and transformation journey. This is a high-impact corporate role with significant visibility across Corporate Management Team, elected members and external partners. You will lead the PMO and Business Operations & Support services, embedding strong governance, assurance and performance disciplines that safeguard delivery of the Council's Improvement Plan and wider transformation portfolio. The Opportunity As Corporate Change & Improvement Manager, you will:

• Oversee the full corporate portfolio - ensuring strategic alignment, prioritisation, inspection readiness and measurable benefits realisation.
• Strengthen governance and assurance - embedding proportionate, transparent frameworks that ensure statutory compliance, effective risk management and organisational resilience.
• Lead portfolio performance and financial oversight - delivering consolidated reporting, milestone tracking, risk escalation and benefits management at corporate level.
• Align resources to priorities - coordinating financial, people and digital capacity across a complex and evolving change landscape.
• Drive process and systems optimisation - modernising operating models, embedding standard operating procedures and ensuring a clear "single source of truth."
• Oversee corporate change control and organisational design - ensuring transformation is impact-assessed, governed and sustainably embedded.
• Champion a high-performance culture - building capability within the PMO and change function and embedding continuous improvement disciplines.
  
  We are seeking a high-calibre public sector leader with:
• Significant experience operating at senior corporate level within local government or a complex public sector environment.
• A strong track record of leading improvement portfolios in politically sensitive, multi-agency contexts.
• Deep expertise in governance, assurance, performance management and statutory compliance.
• Experience supporting inspection readiness and organisational recovery or improvement journeys.
• The credibility and judgement to influence senior officers, elected members and external stakeholders.
• A passion for strengthening accountability, digital maturity and sustainable organisational performance.
You will combine strategic clarity with operational grip - capable of seeing the whole system while driving disciplined execution.

Top tip when applying - As we've got a new recruitment system the application process has changed a little and we hope you'll like it! You'll first need to register and create a profile the first time you apply. Creating your profile will enable you do things such as track your application progress, view emails you've received from us and manage communication preferences, manage your interview bookings and offer information if successful. About Dudley Council It's an incredibly exciting time to work in Dudley Council as we embark on numerous multi-million pound regeneration schemes which will be real game-changers for the borough. In addition to the exciting schemes such as the Midland Metro we also have the ongoing and very serious challenges of ensuring vulnerable people across the borough receive the services they deserve. At Dudley Council we have a 'one council' ethos that builds an effective and dynamic organisation which grows the economy and creates jobs, creating a cleaner and greener place and supports stronger and safer communities. We are rightly proud to be the historic capital of the Black Country and, working with our partners, Dudley Council is also committed to looking forward and helping to deliver our borough vision of 'Forge a Future for all' www.dudleyboroughvision2030.org.uk We ensure communities influence council decisions and are committed to delivering services in partnership with communities. We provide flexible and responsive service in partnership and help communities help themselves. In joining a local authority that serves 320,000 residents you will become an integral part of a council that:
• is ready to embrace change, providing an environment in which you will be encouraged to make your mark
• is aware of its key challenges and the need for a new energy to innovate the council, in order to find cost effective ways of delivering services
• has aligned its political and managerial leadership structures and is committed to protecting, securing and transforming the lives of children, families, the vulnerable and older people
• wants borough residents to have their say through our community forums
• dedicates time to meaningful consultation and listen to the views of our residents
• is working with the community to encourage active involvement of our residents