Overview
We are seeking a Strategic Business Support Manager (SBSM) to work alongside the existing SBSM to strengthen capacity and resilience across the Children, Education and Families (CEF) Directorate.
This part‑time strategic role focuses on enabling services to operate effectively by providing strong leadership, oversight and coordination of business support activity across social care and education.
Responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate business support functions across all Children’s Social Care and Education services.
- Provide strategic oversight and leadership, balancing demand, priorities and capacity across the directorate.
- Act as a strategic partner to Service Directors and Heads of Service, offering constructive challenge and practical solutions.
- Contribute to directorate‑wide planning, transformation activity and service redesign.
- Support the alignment of business support across social care and education, promoting a consistent, joined‑up approach.
- Lead the development of clear remits, processes, guidance and standardised ways of working.
- Champion best practice and continuous improvement, and the effective use of systems and technology.
- Provide senior oversight and support to business support staff, including workforce planning, service reviews, restructures and consultations.
- Support complex or high‑risk work such as business continuity planning, risk management and operational problem‑solving.
- Represent business support at senior meetings, working groups and directorate forums.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence aligned with the CARE values.
- Manage, develop and motivate a team of business support staff, ensuring they are equipped to deliver a responsive and professional service.
- Lead the development and management of systems and processes (e.g., education and social care asset management and helpdesk) to improve customer experience.
- Oversee financial administration, customer service and project work, supporting managers to meet service objectives and improve efficiency.
- Provide strategic oversight of financial processes and governance, including budget monitoring, forecasting and reporting.
- Lead and support service‑wide improvement projects, applying project management principles to deliver outcomes on time and within budget.
Qualifications
- Significant experience in business support leadership, ideally within a large, complex organisation.
- Strong understanding of Children’s Services, Education or public sector environments.
- Proven ability to work strategically while remaining grounded in operational realities.
- Experience of leading or supporting service improvement, change and transformation.
- Excellent communication skills, confidence to influence and challenge constructively.
- A collaborative, values‑driven approach and commitment to developing others.
Benefits
- Comprehensive wellbeing package covering all aspects of wellbeing, inclusive for family.
- Up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro‑rata) through salary sacrifice scheme.
- Flexible use of bank holidays.
- Additional voluntary contributions to pension with tax and National Insurance savings.
- Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches.
- Paid volunteering hours each year.
- Peer support groups via IDEAL network.
- Employee recognition awards.
- Our Cambs Rewards account offering in‑store and online discounts, plus Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes.
Equal Opportunities
We are a disability‑confident leader and fully support reasonable adjustments. We encourage candidates to contact the hiring manager to discuss support needs. We are committed to building a workplace that is compassionate, inclusive and diverse.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, employee network IDEAL and peer support groups foster an inclusive environment. We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring recruitment processes and take action to improve diversity.
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