Senior Policy Officer

Join us as a Senior Policy Officer and help drive the transformation of local government in Dorset. This is your chance to influence high-profile agendas, work alongside senior leaders, and help shape the services that matter most to our communities.

You'll:

• Work directly with senior leaders and decision-makers on high-profile agendas such as devolution and regional advocacy.
• Influence policy at a strategic level, helping to shape services that make a real difference to Dorset's communities.
• Be part of a supportive, collaborative team that values creativity, evidence-based thinking, and continuous improvement.
• Gain exposure to a wide range of services and partners, building a strong professional network and developing your leadership profile.

What you can expect to be doing

As a Senior Policy Officer, you'll act as the senior policy lead for the council, working closely with the Strategy, Performance and Sustainability service and wider directorates. You'll:

• Drive the development and implementation of corporate policies and strategic projects.
• Provide expert advice to senior officers and members on emerging policy issues.
• Coordinate and contribute to service reviews, inspections, and peer assessments.
• Build strong partnerships across the council and with external stakeholders to ensure joined-up, evidence-based policy development.
• Support the Head of Strategy and Corporate Director in driving service improvement and delivering corporate objectives.
• Operate in a matrix environment, often leading cross-cutting initiatives and contributing to strategic planning.

About you

We're looking for someone with a strong background in policy and strategy, who can think strategically and act with influence. You'll need:

• A degree or equivalent experience, with evidence of continued professional development.
• Significant experience in policy development and working with senior leadership.
• A track record of delivering change and improving services through strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to analyse complex information quickly and make sound recommendations.
• Confidence working in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.
• Strong IT skills and the ability to travel as required.

Experience working with government departments and existing links in the sector would be a bonus.

Further Information

If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Strategy & Policy Lead, Rachel Anderson-Holson, or Liz Crocker, Head of Strategy:

This role requires a minimum one a day week office attendance at County Hall, Dorchester. There may also be a requirement for other national travel on an ad hoc basis.

This post requires you to have access to sensitive information. It will be subject to a Basic Criminal Records Check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders .

About Us

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you're passionate about making a difference, we'd love you to join us.