Head of Performance and Planning

Job summary

Can you lead organisational planning and performance reporting that supports strategic decision making?

Do you have experience developing robust performance frameworks, business plans and reporting processes?

Have you worked with senior stakeholders to provide insight, assurance and clear performance information?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Head of Performance and Planning to lead the development of organisational strategies, annual business planning and performance reporting across the Agency. This is a high-profile role within Corporate Services, providing assurance to senior leaders and supporting effective decision making through accurate, timely and meaningful performance information. You will work closely with colleagues across MCA, including the Data and Analysis and operational teams and the Department for Transport to strengthen planning, reporting and governance arrangements, helping the Agency remain focused on delivery and continuous improvement.

Please note we are also recruiting for a Head of Risk and Resilience which may be of interest.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

As Head of Performance and Planning, you will lead the Agency’s strategic planning and performance reporting function, ensuring robust frameworks, accurate data and clear insight are in place to support delivery, governance and assurance at Executive Committee, Board and Department for Transport level.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Leading and developing the Performance and Planning function, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture.
• Overseeing the Agency’s performance reporting framework, ensuring timely, accurate and meaningful management information.
• Producing monthly and quarterly performance packs for senior governance forums, including Executive Committee, MCA Board and Sponsorship Board.
• Working with Data and Analysis colleagues and operational directorates to improve data quality, reporting consistency and insight.
• Overseeing the annual business planning process, ensuring plans align with MCA strategy, DfT priorities and wider government objectives.
• Developing reporting tools, templates and guidance to standardise processes and drive best practice across the Agency.
• Engaging with the Department for Transport on performance matters, ensuring effective escalation, alignment and resolution of issues.
• Supporting strategic planning, governance and formal committee activity across the Agency as required.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Be a credible and authentic leader, with the ability to articulate a vision, and engage people to deliver results.
2. Developing and operating robust Performance Reporting and Management Frameworks suitable for providing oversight at Board and executive level including development of tools and processes
3. Developing strategies and business plans, providing insight and clear understanding of strategic and corporate issues.
4. Managing and analysing performance data
5. Highly developed interpersonal, communication and influencing skills with a demonstrable ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders up to a senior level.
6. Excellent organisational and management skills with the ability to work proactively and at pace to deliver against multiple priorities.
7. Handling sensitive information with tact and maintaining confidentiality.

Additional Information

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services.

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Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Hybrid working available

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to MCA sites and to London for meetings and events, some with overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. Therefore, this role is not open to applications from those who require sponsorship – candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Behaviours

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