Head of Team, No.10 North

The Prime Ministers Office enables the Prime Minister to deliver the Governments overall priorities and to communicate the Governments policies to Parliament, the public and international audiences. From the Policy Unit, Press Office, Switchboard and Custodians to the Events & Visits team and the Private Office support; the diverse No.10 team draws on varied expertise from across the Civil Service and beyond. The teams come together to deliver excellent service to the Prime Minister while also making No.10 a great place to work.

No.10 North is focused on delivering good growth in every postcode and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live. No.10 North is the Prime Ministers centre for devolution, place and local growth. Based in Manchester and working across the United Kingdom, it connects places directly to the centre of government. It brings together local leaders, HM Treasury and other government departments to resolve problems that no single organisation can solve alone.

These are senior policy and delivery leadership roles at the heart of government. As a G6 in No.10 North, you will lead a team covering a substantial policy portfolio within devolution, local growth, place-based partnerships or related delivery priorities.

You will set strategic direction, translate the priorities of the Prime Minister and senior leaders into a focused programme of work, and provide authoritative advice on complex and politically important issues.

You will work across organisational boundaries to broker agreements and deals. You will build collective ownership, resolve disagreements to prioritise action, and ensure that policy is grounded in evidence, informed by places and capable of being delivered.

You will also play an active role in the wider leadership of No.10 North, helping to build an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing organisation as it establishes its permanent ways of working.

Role responsibilities will include:

• Leading a policy team or major portfolio, setting a clear direction, priorities and programme of work.
• Providing high-quality, timely and candid advice to the Prime Minister, Ministers, senior officials and political advisers.
• Translating political priorities, evidence, stakeholder insight, fiscal considerations and delivery realities into clear policy recommendations.
• Leading cross-government work, securing agreement between departments and resolving issues where responsibilities or interests are fragmented.
• Building strong relationships with HM Treasury, other central government departments, Strategic Authorities, Mayors, local government and other partners.
• Brokering agreements and deals across organisations, navigating competing interests and resolving complex challenges to achieve shared outcomes.
• Ensuring that insight and evidence from places are reflected in national policy and central government decision-making.
• Overseeing the development of policy for major government processes, which may include fiscal events, the 10-Year Plan, spending decisions, legislation and cross government strategies.
• Leading, motivating and developing a multidisciplinary team, creating an inclusive culture with clear objectives and strong performance.
• Managing resources, workforce planning, risks, assurance and governance across the portfolio.
• Contributing to the wider corporate leadership and development of No.10 North.

Essential skills and experience:

• Excellent strategic judgement, with the ability to connect political priorities, evidence, fiscal considerations and the practicalities of delivery.
• Significant experience of developing policy or strategy in a complex environment.
• A strong record of brokering agreements and deals and fixing problems, influencing and securing agreement across organisational boundaries.
• The ability to provide clear, concise and candid advice to senior decisionmakers.
• Visible and inclusive leadership of teams through ambiguity and change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong management of resources, risk, governance and delivery.
• Experience working in devolution policy, local government, regional economic policy, public service reform or place-based growth.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of working with Mayors, local leaders or other senior stakeholders.
• Experience of working at the centre of government or on a major cross-government priority.
• Experience of working on Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland devolution and Union policy, or working with or within the Scottish Government, Welsh Government or Northern Ireland Executive.

Additional information:

Office for the Prime Minister policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.