Policy Systems Change Lead

We are looking for a highly strategic, politically aware Grade 7 Policy Systems Change Lead to join the award-winning One Public Estate (OPE) programme.

The OPE team is a friendly, supportive, and diverse group operating in a fast-paced environment. This critical position offers significant autonomy, stretch, and a unique opportunity to shape the future landscape of public sector asset management. If you have extensive policy development experience, a proven track record of breaking down institutional silos, and the capability to influence senior leaders across central government, we would love to hear from you.

About One Public Estate (OPE)

OPE is a unique and impactful partnership between the Office of Government Property (OGP) in the Cabinet Office, Local Government Association (LGA) and the Ministery of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Established in 2013, we work with 98% of local authorities in England and have supported over 850 transformational property-led projects.

Our mission is to help central and local government partners unlock public land and property to drive regional economic growth, deliver integrated citizen services, and release land for housing (supporting the target of 1.5 million homes in this Parliament).

We are currently embarking on an exciting transition to an evolved, place-based asset management model. This includes shaping systemic changes across government to address policy barriers and maximize outcomes across the collective public estate. This role will be a critical driving force behind our long-term policy reform and future investment strategies.

As the Policy Systems Change Lead, you will research and initiate systemic reform, working across the public sector to address entrenched policy barriers to collaborative working in local places. You will design and implement solutions that move the public sector away from siloed and fragmented decision-making.

Operating with a high degree of autonomy, your specific responsibilities will include:

• Systemic Reform Workstream: Lead the development of the systemic reform workstream, focusing on influencing the reform of existing national policies, guidance, standards, and controls that drive siloed decision-making.
• Cross-Government Strategy: Develop and enact a comprehensive policy, engagement, and influence strategy across HM Treasury (HMT), MHCLG, Cabinet Office, NISTA, and other relevant policy departments and Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) to help drive the above.
• Spending Review (SR) Leadership: Establish a clear route map of engagement over the Spending Review period with HMT and MHCLG. Take the lead on developing and drafting the overarching SR business case, drawing on real-world learning from Pathfinders, Local Asset Management Plans (LAMPs), and "Size of the Prize" data.
• Duty to Collaborate: Scope, build the evidence base for, and establish the business case for a formal "Duty to Collaborate," clearly outlining benefits and progressing its practical implementation across public bodies.
• Ministerial Engagement: Secure Ministerial backing and cross-departmental buy-in for the strategic direction and proposed policy reforms of the programme.
• Strategic Direction: Give clear direction across the programme team and wider external stakeholders to develop robust policy interventions, balancing a range of different socio-economic objectives.

Essential Experience

• Policy Development & Implementation: Extensive experience leading complex policy development and implementation across the public sector, preferably within a property, estates, land use, or local government environment.
• Political Awareness & Strategic Vision: Strong political acumen and the ability to generate innovative ideas, navigate system complexities, and assess policy impacts within a fast-moving, high-profile environment.
• Breaking Down Silos: A proven track record of breaking down policy barriers, joining up separate programmes across government, and fostering collaboration between central and local government frameworks.
• Senior Stakeholder Persuasion: Exceptional communication and relationship skills, with a demonstrated ability to listen to, persuade, and create strong buy-in among senior partners (such as SCS, Chief Executives, and HMT officials).
• Autonomy & Evidence-Based Decisions: Proven ability to work with a high level of autonomy, taking the initiative to develop robust, evidence-based proposals and make timely decisions in an ever-changing landscape.

Desirable Criteria

• Prior experience working directly on central government Spending Review (SR) bids or major business case developments (such as Green Book models).

Additional information:

Cabinet Office 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.