Salary: Band 9, £42,861 - £49,716 (Please note it is Northumbria Police policy to appoint at the beginning of the band)

Location: Agile, Middle Engine Lane with a requirement to travel across the organisation as required

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, permanent

Working for #TeamNP

Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.

As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.

As a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.

Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.

Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

Learn about our full benefits package

The role

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Corporate Hub as a Continuous Improvement and Assurance Adviser.

You will deliver initiatives that drive continuous improvement across the Force, enhancing operational effectiveness, productivity, and the overall quality of service. This involves applying recognised methodologies such as Lean, systems thinking, demand analysis, and structured problem solving to understand how workflows through the organisation and to pinpoint areas where inefficiencies or delays occur.

Through this approach, the role focuses on identifying and addressing waste, duplication, unnecessary demand, and service pressures that hinder performance. By analysing current processes and practices, the aim is to create more streamlined, efficient, and resilient ways of working that support better outcomes for both staff and the communities the Force serves.

Whilst the role is based at Middle Engine Lane Police Station, there may be occasions where travel across the Force to engage with business areas as part of the planned programme of improvement work is required.

What you’ll do

Lead and deliver continuous improvement initiatives across operational and support functions, using recognised tools and methodologies to enhance processes and remove waste, duplication, delays, and unnecessary demand.
Facilitate workshops, improvement events, and problem solving sessions with operational teams. Coach leaders and staff in continuous improvement techniques to build sustainable capability embedded in daily operations.
Translate complex operational challenges into structured improvement activities with measurable outcomes and benefits. Identify opportunities to reduce cost, demand, and duplication while enhancing victim experience and organisational capacity.
Deliver internal audits and assurance reviews that provide independent insight into governance, risk management, and internal controls. Assess compliance with legislation, national standards, internal policies, and agreed procedures.
Produce clear, evidence based audit reports and presentations assessing compliance containing practical, actionable recommendations for improvement, and present these findings confidently to a range of stakeholders.

Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description

What you’ll bring

Degree level education (or equivalent experience) with strong knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods, practical application of improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA), and proven experience in evaluation, quality assurance, or continuous improvement within a complex organisation.
Excellent organisational skills with the ability to balance and prioritise competing demands while effectively managing research and evaluation projects.
Strong ability to understand policing strategy and business models, using research to inform strategic decision making and effectively solve complex business problems.
Experience leading research projects and improvement activities, with strong relationship management skills, effective teamwork, and the ability to act as a trusted adviser to senior managers.
Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities; able to engage senior internal and external stakeholders, think critically with attention to detail, and work collaboratively and productively with a wide range of partners.

We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Michelle Caisley, Superintendent Performance by email at michelle.caisley@northumbria.police.uk

What we offer

26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force
Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support
Access to gyms in some stations
Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
Cycle to work scheme
Opportunity to volunteer in local community

We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace where meaningful connections are key. For roles designated as agile or home based, employees are expected to work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. However, this role will require greater flexibility, with additional workplace attendance dependent on the programme of work. Hiring managers will be happy to discuss how this works in practice at interview stage. This approach helps build strong relationships, supports wellbeing, and fosters collaboration across teams.

Just so you know

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Continuous Improvement and Assurance Adviser with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face to face interview including a presentation. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, working together to improve the lives of disabled employees. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In cases of very high application volumes, we may prioritise those who most closely meet the criteria, applying the same fair approach for all candidates.

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a permanent role subject to a six-month probationary period.

If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Apply