Statutory Scrutiny Officer & Deputy Head of Governance & Scrutiny
Contract: Fixed-Term Until February 2028
Are you an experienced governance or scrutiny professional looking for a role with real influence and visibility? Or are you working in a related officer role and looking for the chance to broaden your experience in a high-profile, politically aware environment?
This is a rare opportunity to help shape and lead scrutiny in Greater Manchester working closely with the Mayor, elected members, senior officers and strategic partners across the city-region. You’ll play a central role in supporting transparent, robust and effective decision-making, while helping scrutiny add value at the earliest stages of policy and delivery.
This role offers an exceptional development opportunity for someone who wants to deepen their experience, raise their profile and build valuable relationships across Greater Manchester, before taking that learning and insight back into their substantive role.
Why this role?
Greater Manchester has some of the most comprehensive scrutiny arrangements of any combined authority in the country. With devolution continuing to evolve, this role offers the chance to work at the forefront of modern public governance in a fast-moving, high-profile environment.
As Statutory Scrutiny Officer, you will:
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lead and shape the GMCA’s scrutiny function;
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work directly with the Mayor, scrutiny members and senior leadership teams;
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influence how major decisions are reviewed, challenged and improved;
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support democratic accountability across a complex and ambitious organisation; and
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help develop new approaches to scrutiny in response to devolution and national policy change.
For someone joining on secondment, this is an opportunity to gain unique strategic experience, strengthen political awareness and broaden your understanding of governance across a major combined authority. It is also a chance to develop relationships and insight that will add real value when you return to your substantive post whether through stronger partnership working, greater confidence advising members and senior leaders, or a broader understanding of how decisions are shaped across the system.
What you’ll do
In this key role, you will:
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lead the effective operation and ongoing development of the GMCA’s scrutiny function;
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provide confident, impartial advice to scrutiny chairs, elected members, the Mayor and senior officers;
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help shape a balanced, strategic and deliverable scrutiny work programme;
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support pre-decision scrutiny and ensure governance processes are transparent, robust and legally compliant;
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oversee the Forward Plan of Key Decisions and contribute to strong organisational decision-making;
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build effective working relationships with local authority leaders, government officials, partners and stakeholders across Greater Manchester; and
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deputise for the Head of Governance & Scrutiny, supporting wider service leadership and management.
You will also play an important role in developing scrutiny in response to the changing devolution landscape, including implementation of the Trailblazer Scrutiny Protocol and related governance developments.
Who we’re looking for
We’d love to hear from candidates who bring:
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experience in governance, scrutiny, democratic services, policy, committee management or a related field;
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strong political awareness and the confidence to work with senior elected members and senior officers;
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excellent drafting, briefing and presentation skills;
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the ability to build credibility quickly and work effectively across organisational boundaries;
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sound judgement, resilience and the confidence to provide clear, independent advice in a politically sensitive environment; and
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a genuine interest in strengthening democratic accountability and public decision-making.
You may already be working in governance and scrutiny and be looking for your next challenge. Equally, you may be in another role within local government or the wider public sector and want the opportunity to develop your experience in a broader, more strategic and member-facing environment.
This secondment would particularly suit someone who wants to return to their substantive role with enhanced strategic awareness, stronger experience of working with senior elected members, and a wider understanding of governance, scrutiny and decision-making at city-region level.
Why join us?
This is a chance to work at the centre of one of the UK’s leading devolved institutions, in a role that combines influence, variety and public impact. You’ll gain exposure to major strategic issues, work closely with senior leaders and elected members, and help shape how good governance and effective scrutiny support better outcomes for Greater Manchester.
As a secondment opportunity, the role offers the added benefit of focused professional development within a defined period allowing you to build new skills, confidence, networks and experience that you can take forward in your longer-term career. Whether you are looking to test yourself in a more strategic environment, expand your experience of member-level working, or bring new insight back to your current team, this role offers a strong platform for development.
If you are motivated by public service, enjoy working in a complex political environment, and want a role where your advice, judgement and relationships really matter, we’d love to hear from you.
About us:
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) brings together the cityregion’s ten councils and key partners including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) - to deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy. Our shared vision is to create a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life. We work to grow an inclusive economy and ensure people have what they need to live happy, healthy lives, tackling inequalities. Our policy department include Digital, Economy, Education, Work & Skills, Environment, Place Making, Public Service Reform, and Safer & Stronger Communities - who are supported by our essential corporate functions like Finance, Legal & Governance, People Services, Procurement and Communications.
We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.
To find out more about working for us please click here: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/
Our offer:
In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here:
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