Salary: £54,143 - £57,372 per annum

Grade: N

Hours: 37 Hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: York, North Yorkshire (Or Northallerton)

The Organisation

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was established as a new organisation in early 2024.  It is a public sector employer with access to powers and funding to unlock transport and housing improvements, boost skills provision and help the economy transition to net zero for York and North Yorkshire. The Mayor also holds responsibilities in relation to Policing, Fire and Crime. Making the most of the combined strengths of the city region and rural powerhouse, the Combined Authority is a long-term commitment to shaping a brighter future for generations to come. By working for us you will play a part in making positive changes, unlocking investment, supporting business and communities to thrive and creating new and better opportunities for people that live and work here.

The Opportunity

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority is seeking to appoint a Strategic Adviser to the Chief Executive to provide high-level strategic support at the heart of the organisation. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with the Chief Executive, helping the Chief Executive to shape and deliver the Mayor's vision and the Combined Authority's strategic priorities for York and North Yorkshire.

As a trusted adviser, you will provide strategic insight, policy analysis, research and intelligence to support decision-making across a complex political, organisational and regional landscape. Working across the breadth of the organisation and with external partners, you will help ensure priorities are translated into action, risks and opportunities are identified early, and organisational activity remains aligned to strategic objectives.

You will play a key role in supporting the Chief Executive's engagement with the Mayor, elected members, local authority partners, government departments and regional stakeholders. The role provides an opportunity to influence major strategic priorities, coordinate cross-organisational projects and contribute to the development of policy, performance and governance arrangements that support effective delivery and value for money.

The postholder will lead horizon scanning, policy development and intelligence gathering activities, providing high-quality briefings, reports and recommendations on emerging national, regional and local issues. You will also support the delivery of strategic projects and reviews, helping to ensure the Combined Authority remains responsive to emerging opportunities and challenges while delivering positive outcomes for communities, businesses and residents across the region.

This is a rare opportunity to work on some of the most significant opportunities and challenges facing York and North Yorkshire while operating in a highly visible role at the centre of a growing and ambitious organisation.

What you will bring

We are looking for an experienced strategic professional who can operate confidently in a complex and fast-moving environment, providing high-quality advice, challenge and support to senior leaders and stakeholders.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience of strategic planning, policy development, organisational improvement, performance management or change programmes.
• Strong political awareness and an understanding of the governance, policy and stakeholder landscape within which public sector organisations operate.
• The ability to build effective relationships and influence at senior levels across organisations and partnerships.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and translate it into clear advice, recommendations and actions.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the production of high-quality reports, briefings and presentations.
• Experience of managing strategic projects, coordinating activity across multiple stakeholders and supporting organisational delivery.
• The ability to anticipate emerging issues, opportunities and risks and provide pragmatic, evidence-based solutions.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure while managing competing priorities.
• A high degree of discretion, resilience and professional judgement, with the ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive environment.
• Experience within local government, combined authorities, public policy, governance, public affairs or a similarly complex environment would be particularly advantageous, as would an understanding of devolution, regional policy and partnership working

You will be joining a new and developing organisation at an exciting time. The benefits of working for us include:

·       Generous leave entitlement, starting at 28 days plus 8 bank holidays (pro-rota for part time staff)

·       Flexible working practices including working from other locations and from home

·       Local government pension scheme

·       Commitment to staff development and continuous learning

To find out more about our organisation please visit; https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk

Contact and Apply 

If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity or would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Sara Jeffs, Sara.Jeffs@yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk for an informal conversation.

Applying is easy, simply register your details, tell us how you meet our criteria in the supporting evidence section, remove your personal details from your CV and upload.

Key Dates:

Closing date: 29^th September

Interview date: 7^th October

Key Documents:

Job Description

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party.