Senior Manager, Performance and Governance

London Gov; London; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 40,000

Job description

Senior Manager, Performance and Governance

Key information

Salary: £66,063 (subject to pay award) pro rata 0.6

Good Growth

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport, culture and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London

Culture is the lifeblood of our city. It is the force that gives London its sense of identity, binds communities together, attracts visitors, drives the economy and encourages investment. The Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London Unit exists to make London an exciting, world-leading city of inspiration and opportunities for everyone.

We do this through a wide range of policy and programmes that support the arts and creative industries to grow and be accessible to all, and the capital to be the number one destination for 24-hour culture and entertainment. Projects include supporting the creative industries sector through Film London, British Fashion Council and London Games Festival; Creative Enterprise Zones, the East Bank culture and education quarter, the London Museum, the Fourth Plinth contemporary art commission series, London Borough of Culture and supporting London as a 24 Hour city.

This is an exciting time to join our welcoming and collaborative team, as we strengthen London’s cultural infrastructure, support creative professionals and businesses putting down roots and developing, provide cultural opportunities across the city and cement its status as the world’s creative capital.

About the role

The Senior Manager Performance and Governance is an exciting new role for an individual with significant skills in governance and operational planning. As part of the Unit’s Senior Management Team, you will provide day-to-day leadership and support, both internally for the Unit and strategically for the GLA and the Mayor’s Office.

You will support the Assistant Director of Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London Unit and the Senior Manager World City and Operations and lead the corporate reporting and governance function within the Unit.

You will help the Assistant Director to embed required changes within the Unit. You will work across the GLA with other leads of performance and governance and the Mayor’s Office to ensure the work of Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London is appropriately prioritised. This role is crucial to the smooth running of the Unit, ensuring the team is resourced and accountable to deliver work for Londoners.

What your day will look like

• Providing strategic leadership and influence on a range of initiatives for the Unit such as internal reporting and monitoring project delivery
• Contributing to Senior Management Team meetings/discussions on internal and external issues, from deadlines to strategic planning
• Implementing new systems and processes to help the Unit deliver their goals including our new Unit delivery plans
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders to help the Unit deliver the Mayor’s mandates from the governance and legal teams to the London Museum and World Cities Culture Forum.
• Providing and contributing to written and oral briefings and specialist reports related to culture and the creative industries and key issues as required.
• Being part of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion working group recommending and implementing improvements across the Unit.
• Supporting the team to meet deadlines
• Advising project leads on funding agreements, signing off FOIs and Mayoral Decisions.
• Providing support to the Operations team when the Senior Manager World City and Operations is not working (this post is also 0.6)

Principal accountabilities

• Lead the development and execution of Unit wide operation and improvement plans, ensuring there is a particular emphasis on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for the Unit on reporting for all the Unit’s programmes and governance including but not limited to quarterly reporting, grant management, information asset registers, freedom of information requests, risk registers, subsidy control, GLA Decision making processes and board recruitment.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and coordinate reporting and governance operations more widely across the Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London Unit. This will include the design and implementation of new processes e.g. project initiation and programme reviews and ways of working. It will also include providing bandwidth for the Senior Management Team by coordinating tasks.
• Develop and lead a programme of work for Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London internal reporting for key strategic processes, including (but not restricted to) Mayoral mandates, and ensure the Unit is responding to requests appropriately.
• Represent and deputise for the Assistant Director and Senior Manager World City and Operations as required including in areas of HR and finance, including support with briefings.
• Manage staff and resources allocated to the job in accordance with the GLA’s policies and code of ethic and standards, including health and safety.
• Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job; and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-departmental and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Key relationships

Accountable to:Senior Manager, World City and Operations, with a dotted line to the Assistant Director for CCI24

Accountable for:Programme Governance Officer and Operations Team in absence of the Senior Manager World City and Operations

Key contacts:Culture, Creative Industries and 24 hour London Unit, Senior Management Team and Operations Team, Good Growth Directorate, GLA Governance, Legal and Mayor’s Office.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Significant experience of developing delivery plans, project monitoring and reporting, setting and monitoring KPIs and creating dashboards.
• Programme and project management – able to manage a broad portfolio, drive progress and change, introduce new systems as required, manage risks and monitor delivery. Highly organised, with an attention to detail and able to work at pace.
• Experience of leading on governance issues, legal issues, board recruitment, grant management processes and funding agreements.
• Strategic thinking – able to see the links between different programmes and policy areas, to identify opportunities to work across silos, and to understand and work effectively within the wider political, social and economic context.
• Experience of leading on promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in projects and a commitment to driving equality, diversity and inclusion through all the Unit’s work.

Planning and organising

… is thinking ahead; managing time, priorities and risk; and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Monitors allocation of resources, anticipating changing requirements that may impact work delivery
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
• Gains buy-in and commitment to project delivery from diverse stakeholders
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

Building and Managing Relationships

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Actively engages partners and encourages others to build relationships that support GLA objectives
• Understands and recognises the contributions that staff at all levels make to delivering priorities
• Proactively manages partner relationships, preventing or resolving any conflict
• Adapts style to work effectively with partners, building consensus, trust and respect
• Delivers objectives by bringing together diverse stakeholders to work effectively in partnership

Communicating and influencing

…is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well-thought-through arguments
• Persuades others, using evidence-based knowledge; modifies approach to deliver messages effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Manages performance issues effectively to avoid adverse impact on team morale and performance
• Promotes a positive team culture that respects diversity and deals with barriers to inclusion

Responding to pressure and change

…is being flexible and adapting positively, to sustain performance when the situation changes, workload increases, tensions rise or priorities shift.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Clarifies direction and adapts to changing priorities and uncertain times
• Takes ownership for communicating change initiatives clearly, ensuring smooth implementation
• Uses change as an opportunity to improve ways of working, encouraging others’ buy-in
• Maintains a focus on key priorities and deliverables, staying resilient in the face of pressure
• Keeps staff motivated and engaged during times of change, promoting the benefits

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit BOTH of the following:

• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to learn more about the role before applying, there will be two briefing sessions for this role, held online, at which you can get further information and ask questions. These sessions will take place at 9.30 am on Thursday 10 April and 5.30 pm on Monday 14 April. Join the meeting now

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview and asked to do a short presentation.

The interview dates are: 6/7 May 2025

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

The GLA is proud to be a Level 2: Disability Confident employer. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and accessible organisation, and creating a truly inclusive and accessible workplace and culture for our disabled staff. We have named Disability Equality as a key corporate priority within our EDI Strategy. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled applicants. Should you wish to opt into the scheme, please let us know during your application.

Need a document on this page in an accessible format?

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of a PDF or other document on this page in a more accessible format, please get in touch via our online form and tell us which format you need.

It will also help us if you tell us which assistive technology you use. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.