An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead the Strategy & Continuous Improvement Team.

The key responsibilities of this role include the following;

Strategic Planning and Organisational Performance

Lead the development and delivery of the Constabulary’s strategic and business planning framework, ensuring alignment with the Police and Crime Plan and national policing priorities.
Provide strategic insight and analysis to the Chief Officer Team to support evidence-based decision-making.
Ensure that performance, governance, and risk information is integrated to drive strategic improvement and accountability.
Lead corporate horizon scanning and environmental analysis to inform strategic direction and resource prioritisation

HMICFRS Inspections and External Reviews

Act as the strategic lead for HMICFRS inspections, ensuring robust planning, coordination, and delivery of inspection activity across the organisation.
Oversee the management of inspection recommendations, action tracking, and reporting to ensure compliance and demonstrable improvement.
Maintain strong relationships with external inspectorates, auditors, and oversight bodies, representing the Constabulary at regional and national levels.

Audit, Governance and Risk

Lead the development and implementation of the corporate audit, risk, and governance frameworks, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance.
Coordinate internal and external audit activity, working closely with internal audit providers and the Joint Audit Committee.
Ensure effective risk identification, management, and mitigation processes are embedded throughout the organisation.
Provide high-quality assurance reporting to Chief Officers, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and governance boards

Continuous Improvement and Organisational Learning

Establish and lead a corporate continuous improvement programme, supporting departments to identify efficiencies, innovate, and enhance service delivery.
Promote a culture of evidence-based practice, learning from a range of sources including internal reviews, debriefs, external scrutiny, academia, industry, research and policing bodies e.g. College of Policing, NPCC.
Implement structured problem-solving and improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent).
Champion collaboration across local and regional partners to share learning and best practice

Survey, Research and Insight

Lead on force-wide survey and feedback programmes, including staff and public perception surveys, to capture insight and inform strategic decision-making.
Analyse and interpret survey and performance data to identify trends, improvement areas, and organisational strengths.
Ensure results are communicated effectively and drive tangible actions for improvement

Leadership and People Management

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team across strategy, audit, risk, and performance functions.
Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture that values integrity, innovation, and professional excellence.
Manage resources effectively, ensuring value for money and delivery of high-quality outputs.
Promote diversity, wellbeing, and continuous professional development within the team

The entry requirements for the role are;

Education and Professional Qualifications

Degree-level qualification in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Public Policy, Risk Management, or related discipline).
Postgraduate or professional qualification in governance, audit, or continuous improvement (e.g., Chartered Internal Auditor, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma) desirable.
Membership of relevant professional body (e.g., Institute of Internal Auditors, CIPFA, or Institute of Risk Management) advantageous.

Knowledge and Experience

Substantial experience in strategic planning, governance, risk management, audit, or performance improvement within a complex organisation.
Strong understanding of public sector inspection regimes (especially HMICFRS) and compliance frameworks
Proven track record of leading continuous improvement or organisational development programmes.
Deep understanding of governance, assurance, and risk management principles.
Experience of producing high-quality strategic reports and assurance products for senior boards and external bodies.
Experience of engaging with senior leaders, partners, and regulators in complex stakeholder environments.

Skills and Abilities

Strategic thinker with the ability to link insight, risk, and performance to organisational outcomes.
Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage across all levels.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on evidence-based improvement.
Skilled in developing and maintaining governance and performance frameworks.
Demonstrated ability to deliver through others and manage multidisciplinary teams effectively.

Values and Behaviours

Embodies the Code of Ethics for Policing, demonstrating integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Champions continuous improvement and innovation.
Promotes inclusion, fairness, and respect in all aspects of leadership.
Builds trust through open communication, professionalism, and commitment to public service.

Should you have any questions or would like to know more about the role please contact Dhanmita Boodhna at Dhanmita.Boodhna@herts.police.uk.

Additional Advert Information

Internal Applicants
To apply for this role, internal applicants must have successfully completed their probationary period.
If you qualify as an internal candidate within the advertising force, you may upload either your CV or the internal role summary form attached to this advert.

Vetting Process
Please note that, as part of the vetting process, the BCH Vetting Unit may need to contact your current line manager for a Supervisor Appraisal. This requirement aligns with the 2025 National Guidelines for Vetting (APP 6.5.18).
Examples of when this may apply include:

Moving into a role requiring MV clearance (even if you currently hold MV clearance)

Moving into or working in a role involving close contact with vulnerable individuals

If any of the above apply to you, please expect your line manager to be contacted when you submit your vetting application.

Redeployment and Redundancy
This vacancy is open to employees at risk of redundancy and will remain available to redeployees until a final offer has been agreed and accepted.
Redeployees at risk of redundancy will take priority over all other applicants at any stage of the recruitment process. If successful, redeployees will remain on their home force’s terms and conditions.

Role Profile
We recommend downloading and saving a copy of the role profile, as it will no longer be accessible once the advert closes.

Commitment to Inclusion
As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to be themselves. We provide workplace adjustments wherever needed so that all colleagues can thrive.
If you have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under the Offer an Interview Scheme.