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 will 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.
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.
What you’ll do
- Lead and shape the GMCA’s scrutiny function.
- Work directly with the Mayor, scrutiny members and senior leadership teams.
- Influence how major decisions are reviewed, challenged and improved.
- Support democratic accountability across a complex and ambitious organisation.
- Help develop new approaches to scrutiny in response to devolution and national policy change.
- Provide confident, impartial advice to scrutiny chairs, elected members, the Mayor and senior officers.
- Help shape a balanced, strategic and deliverable scrutiny work programme.
- Support pre‑decision scrutiny and ensure governance processes are transparent, robust and legally compliant.
- Oversee the Forward Plan of Key Decisions and contribute to strong organisational decision‑making.
- Build effective working relationships with local authority leaders, government officials, partners and stakeholders across Greater Manchester.
- Deputise for the Head of Governance & Scrutiny, supporting wider service leadership and management.
- 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
- Experience in governance, scrutiny, democratic services, policy, committee management or a related field.
- Strong political awareness and the confidence to work with senior elected members and senior officers.
- Excellent drafting, briefing and presentation skills.
- The ability to build credibility quickly and work effectively across organisational boundaries.
- Sound judgement, resilience and the confidence to provide clear, independent advice in a politically sensitive environment.
- A genuine interest in strengthening democratic accountability and public decision‑making.
Equal Opportunities
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.
Mandatory Information
Politically Restricted – This post is classified as politically restricted, as the post holder will be required to regularly advise the GMCA, its Committees, or communicate with the media on behalf of the GMCA.
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