Corporate Business Partner (CBS)

Overview

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for driving service excellence, transformation and customer-focused delivery?

We're looking for an outstanding Business Partner to join our Corporate Business Support (CBS) leadership team. This is a high-profile role where you'll influence strategic decision making, lead large and diverse teams, and play a key role in shaping how business support services are delivered across the organisation.

You'll work closely with Directors, Heads of Service and senior stakeholders to ensure our services remain agile, efficient and responsive to the changing needs of both internal and external customers. If you thrive on leading change, developing people and delivering measurable improvements, we'd love to hear from you.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

At Buckinghamshire Council, we're ambitious for our communities and our people. We are committed to delivering high-quality, customer-focused services while continually improving the way we work.

Corporate Business Support is at the heart of the organisation, providing critical administrative, information management and support services that enable teams across the Council to deliver for residents. As part of our senior leadership team, you'll help shape the future of these services, ensuring they are efficient, innovative and deliver value for money.

About the role

As a CBS Business Partner, you will provide strategic leadership and operational management across multiple service areas, ensuring the delivery of high-quality business support and information management services.

You'll:

• Lead and develop large, multi-disciplinary teams across multiple locations.
• Build strong relationships with Directors, Heads of Service and key stakeholders across the Council.
• Drive transformational change, service improvement and digital innovation.
• Develop and implement service plans that support both current priorities and longer-term organisational goals.
• Lead major projects and business improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to streamline processes and enhance customer experience.
• Manage significant budgets and resources, delivering value for money and maintaining strong governance.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing expert guidance on business support, information management, performance and service delivery.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, learning and development.
• Manage key supplier and contract relationships to ensure high-quality services and positive outcomes.
• Deputise for the Head of Service when required and contribute to the wider strategic direction of Corporate Business Support.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence how critical support services are delivered across one of the largest unitary councils in the country.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

We're looking for a proven senior leader who can inspire teams, build strong partnerships and drive meaningful change.

You will have:

• Significant experience leading business support, information management or operational services within a large and complex organisation.
• A successful track record of managing large teams and delivering excellent customer-focused services.
• Experience of leading service transformation, change programmes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance operational demands with long-term objectives.
• Experience of budget management, financial planning and resource allocation.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills, including experience working with senior leaders and partners.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex information and develop practical solutions.
• Experience of policy development, governance and working within legislative and regulatory frameworks.
• A commitment to developing others and creating a high-performing, inclusive culture.
• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience.
• Most importantly, you'll embody our PACT values and be passionate about delivering outstanding services that make a difference

Join us and help shape the future of Corporate Business Support at Buckinghamshire Council. We're looking for a leader who can inspire teams, build partnerships and deliver lasting improvements for our organisation and the communities we serve.

Other information

Closing date: Sunday 27th September 2026 

Interview date: tbc

Interview-type/process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Hazel Hutt

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Resources cover a wide range of specialisms, including Human Resources, Finance, ICT and Business Operations. Our main focus is supporting the other directorates to provide the best possible service to our residents. To do that, we have to make sure we have the right people in the right roles across the organisation. From our finance teams, working strategically to ensure the best value from public money; to HR keeping our employees healthy and happy, each service is vital in making sure Buckinghamshire Council has what it needs to run effectively and efficiently.

As well as providing high quality services to other areas of the Council, you could also be helping us build on the revenue which comes from our external clients. If you are ambitious, customer-focussed and bursting with new ideas, we want to hear from you.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/