Deputy Director Performance

Role Overview

The Deputy Director Performance position is a newly created senior role reporting directly to the Director of Planning, Performance & Risk within one of the UK's largest government departments. It offers a unique chance to influence and improve performance management within the complex justice system. The role supports the Permanent Secretary's strategic goal of enhancing performance transparency, reporting, and consistency, aimed at fostering a high-performance culture through innovation and rigorous standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a diverse, multidisciplinary team of approximately 15–20 members by defining a clear vision and operational model to strengthen department-wide performance management.
• Conduct thorough and evidence-based deep dives into critical performance areas, identifying risks, dependencies, and best practices.
• Ensure timely, high-quality performance data and insights are leveraged effectively for decision-making by key governance bodies, including ministerial audiences.
• Drive organizational change and improvements through targeted projects aligned with department priorities, linking outcomes, metrics, and delivery plans.
• Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis to develop actionable hypotheses for delivery improvement and engage senior leaders constructively to support changes.
• Build strong cross-organizational and external stakeholder relationships to deepen understanding of strategic objectives and system-wide outcomes.
• Oversee governance, reporting, and assurance processes, ensuring clear visibility of delivery progress, risks, and dependencies.
• Act as a trusted advisor to ministerial and executive teams, guiding performance improvement strategies.
• Foster a culture focused on continuous improvement, learning, and constructive challenge.
• Contribute as part of the department's leadership team, supporting corporate responsibilities and adapting the role as business needs evolve.

Person Specification

• Proven ability to use data, evidence, and analysis to enhance performance within complex operational environments.
• Experience driving fast-paced decision-making through data literacy, storytelling, and clear insight communication.
• Strong collaborative skills to build trust and credibility across stakeholders and confidently address challenging situations or entrenched practices.
• Established track record of influencing senior leaders including Ministers and Permanent-Secretaries.
• Leadership experience managing inclusive, high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams and navigating organizational change.
• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving capabilities and foresight to anticipate future trends and challenges.
• Preferably experienced with operational delivery in justice systems and familiar with performance reporting and governance frameworks.
• Knowledge of cross-government planning, performance, and assurance frameworks is advantageous.

Behaviours Assessed

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Additional Information

The role involves high-profile work subject to intense scrutiny, including ministerial oversight. It is part of a leadership team comprising other Deputy Directors and interfaces with five executive agencies, four headquarters groups, and Arm's Length Bodies. The postholder must be prepared for evolving responsibilities as the Directorate's shape adapts to emerging priorities.

There is a minimum three-year assignment expectation to support business continuity and development of expertise, although this is not contractually binding.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet specific UK government security requirements.

Eligibility

Applicants must be UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth citizens with the right to work in the UK, or nationals of the EU/Switzerland/Norway/Iceland/Liechtenstein with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, including eligible family members.

Salary and Benefits

• Annual salary: £86,000
• Employer pension contribution: £24,914 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
• 28.97% employer contribution to pension
• Access to learning and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements to promote work-life balance
• Inclusive workplace culture supporting diversity and wellbeing
• Annual leave and public holidays
• Season Ticket Advance for travel