Senior Performance and Evaluation Officer

Job Purpose

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is creating a new Senior Performance and Evaluation Officer role as we strengthen our Policy, Insight, Performance and Evaluation functions.

Reporting to the newly created Performance and Evaluation Manager, the Senior Performance and Evaluation Officer will play an integral role in driving forward programme and project evaluation and performance analysis and reporting across the organisation.

The role will support the development and implementation of a new Evaluation Framework, enabling a better understanding of the effectiveness and impact of the Combined Authority’s programmes, projects and activities. You will undertake and commission evaluations and provide evaluation expertise and guidance to colleagues.

The role will support the implementation and further development of the Combined Authority’s recently approved Performance Management Framework and production of regular corporate performance reporting to the Combined Authority Board, Thematic Committees and Corporate Management Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development, implementation and co-ordination of a new Evaluation Framework ensuring evaluation activity informs the wider work of the Authority, involves stakeholders and is beneficial, robust and joined up.
• Be a visible advocate for evaluation activity across the Combined Authority and partner organisations to promote good practice and help develop a culture of learning.
• Support the design and delivery of evaluation training resources, guidance and templates.
• Work collaboratively with senior managers and project managers to understand evaluation requirements and provide advice and guidance to ensure sound evaluation practices are embedded.
• Procure research and evaluation services and quality assure consultant delivered evaluations.
• Lead and support internal evaluations using qualitative and quantitative research methods, reporting findings in a way that provides valuable support to policy development ensuring effective dissemination of the relevant conclusions from evaluation to key stakeholders in order to shape future strategy and policy.
• Support the implementation, further development and organisational wider co-ordination of the Performance Management Framework.
• Produce quarterly performance reports for the Combined Authority Board, Thematic Committees and Corporate Management Team, including selecting indicators, supporting target setting and quality assuring data processing, analysis and visualisation.
• Through day to day working and projects create the means to strengthen collaborative working with partners across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Under the direction of the Head of Policy, Insight and Performance, support them in the supervision and mentoring of interns and/ or apprentices where appropriate

QUALIFICATIONS & KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Level 6 or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject such as Human Geography, Public Policy, Land and Movement Planning (or related disciplines or degree subject with significant analysis or statistical elements of study). Alternatively, equivalent knowledge gained through demonstrable experience in a directly related area of work
• Understanding of evaluation design and methodology including logic modelling and theory of change
• Understanding of performance management and reporting including indicator frameworks, target setting and benchmarking

Desirable

• Strong understanding of at least one policy area: transport, economic growth, climate change, skills, place making, devolution.
• Relevant professional qualification or membership
• Project management qualification
• Strong understanding of the operation of Central Government, Loval Government and Combined Authorities.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience of working in a role involving the delivery of high quality evaluations and/or performance reporting.
• Demonstrable experience of commissioning and undertaking process and impact evaluations, including defining success, generating research questions, designing evaluation methodologies, planning delivery and reporting findings.
• Experience of undertaking quantitative and qualitative research and reporting evaluation findings in a way that provides valuable support to policy and strategy development.
• Demonstrable experience of monitoring and reporting performance of services and/or organisations including data processing and analysis, performance indicator development, target setting, benchmarking and data visualisation.
• Experience of building and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders to ensure delivery of effective evaluation and/or performance reporting.
• Proven track record of maintaining appropriate networks and communities of practice for evaluation and/or performance best practice.
• Experience of working in fast paced environment, overseeing many projects simultaneously ensuring direct reports are meeting strategic objectives and deadlines
• Experience of driving change and improvement within an Evaluation or Performance Team

Desirable

• Experience of working in a senior role to develop and implement evaluation frameworks and/or corporate performance reporting.
• Politically astute with experience of working within a fast paced political environment, including working with Elected Members
• Good understanding of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, our remit and the issues facing currently facing the region

SKILLS

Essential

• Skilled in the use of Information Technology for analysis and performance reporting for example using MS Excel (or similar) Power BI (or similar) and statistical packages such as SPSS (or similar).
• Strong analytical capability with a high level of numeracy including competency in statistical analysis and ability to use data to demonstrate the impact of activity
• Proven ability to use national (e.g. Office of National Statistics) and local datasets of relevance to policy development for the Combined Authority e.g. economic, demographic, housing, transport and travel, skills and other datasets
• Adept at implementing the processes and protocols needed to underpin a proactive evaluation and corporate performance function
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills

Desirable

• Strategic planning, project management, risk management, budgeting, procurement and organisational skills

LEADERSHIP

Essential

• Works collaboratively and productively with peers, team and others
• Operates with integrity at all times
• Adaptable to changing circumstances and demands
• Creative thinker who thinks outside ‘tried and tested’ models or approaches
• Excellent oral and written communicator with the ability to present clear, accurate reports to a wide range of stakeholders
• Good relationship-builder that generates confidence in colleagues and stakeholders
• Embraces and embodies our CIVIL values
• Enthusiasm, can-do attitude, and willingness to take on new challenges

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

• To deputise for the Performance and Evaluation Manager as required
• Must be able to travel around Cambridgeshire & Peterborough