Location: Barrow (including agile working / working from home)
Contract: 2 x permanent roles
About these opportunities
‘Team Barrow’ is a dynamic partnership between Westmorland & Furness Council, central Government and BAE Systems. Our vision is to enable Barrow to deliver its role in protecting our nation, expanding our national defence capability, supporting energy security and revitalising Barrow and Furness as a place where people choose to live, work and thrive.
In January, we set out a high-level strategic plan for the town. The Plan for Barrow describes how we will support a growing workforce, diversify and strengthen the town’s economy, and increase productivity. We are working to do this by delivering improvements to housing and the town centre, businesses and the local economy, education and skills, health and communities, and transport. Barrow now has a generational opportunity unlike anywhere else in the country via the Barrow Transformation Fund. The Fund is a long term commitment of £200 million over the next 10 years to achieve our collective vision. For our story so far please see our Barrow Rising website.
We are looking for forward-thinking individuals to join Team Barrow who are passionate about delivering positive change. In return we’ll provide an ambitious and supportive working environment with collaborative partnership working opportunities.
We’re at the beginning of an exciting journey – come and join us.
About the roles
These are strategic leadership and management roles, overseeing the shaping and delivery of ‘Team Barrow’ workstreams. Five separate workstreams have been identified to drive forward initiatives and report to the Barrow Delivery Board (Economy, Masterplanning & Place; Transport; Education, Employment & Skills; Health, Equity & Wellbeing; and Community & Social Impact).
We’re looking for individuals with experience leading in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Economy, Masterplanning and Place
- Transport
Working with Team Barrow colleagues, internal and external stakeholders, the successful candidate will develop business cases and strategies to shape how projects will be delivered within a workstream theme, in line with the vision and objectives of the Delivery Board. This will be influenced through highly effective engagement with fellow workstreams, existing and new partners, including those from the private, public and voluntary sector and will involve complex and particularly difficult challenges to be overcome with relevant stakeholders to seek full support of project outcomes and enable successful delivery.
A key element of the roles will be to provide strategic management and technical expertise to ensure projects are delivered effectively and remain innovative and efficient.
Who we are looking for
To fulfil these roles, we are looking for candidates who can lead, manage and motivate others to deliver projects whilst acting as role models, embodying our Team Barrow Charter of partnership working as well as the council’s corporate values and behaviours. Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate a positive attitude, act with honesty and respect for others, have excellent interpersonal skills, political awareness, and experience of operating in a politically sensitive environment.
In addition to the above, the successful candidates will also have:
- A relevant professional qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience.
- Extensive knowledge of at least one of the workstream themes.
- Extensive knowledge of relevant local authority and wider public sector strategies and initiatives.
- Knowledge and understanding of service standards and performance criteria.
- Experience of delivering change in a large, complex organisation.
- Working within an effective project approach and the effective use of change management principles and practices.
- Highly developed communication, challenge and negotiating skills with the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences. Clear commitment to excellent customer service.
- Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to coach others in these.
- A successful track record in developing effective working alliances together with a proven ability to network.
- Experience developing external partnerships, with other organisations and stakeholders, to deliver key strategies and programmes.
- Experience of customer engagement and advocacy in continually improving services.
- Experience of working in a dynamic and complex environment, handling multiple projects, developments, and other business as usual tasks.
What we can offer you!
- Excellent training and development offers
- Flexible working opportunities
- Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Boost your pension with Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (facilitated by AVC Wise)
- Various perks and discounts schemes, including money off your phone contract and local gyms
- Competitive rates of pay
For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
Would you like to find out more?
For further information about this role, such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view the below attachments:
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Phil Drane, Programme Director, on 07554 358528.
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 13th April 2025
Interview date: W/C 28th April 2025
Safer Recruitment
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect all workers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.
As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.
We also offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or care experienced and under 24 years old, that meet the essential criteria for the role.