Department Director - Education Agency

A leadership position in one of our most important societal missions!

The Oslo School's mission is to contribute to both personal development and education. We shall give pupils and participants knowledge, skills and competences that enable them to master further education and working life, and to be active participants in society.

The Oslo School is in the process of implementing a new strategy that provides direction for our continued work. Oslo's challenge landscape is complex, and many of the challenges the municipality faces are multifaceted, requiring targeted efforts and holistic development. To succeed with this, we must strengthen and develop central processes and structures across the whole of the Oslo School and Oslo municipality.

From 1 September, the Education Agency has a new organisational model where the goal is to strengthen holistic governance, coordination and support to the schools. Department Director for Organisational Governance and Service Development will report to the Assistant Director for Organisation and will be part of a management group with seven other department directors. The new model organises the agency into two core areas; one for school development and quality work, and one for organisation.

Oslo municipality is in a demanding economic situation with a need for tight prioritisation and efficient use of resources. The position will be central to ensuring good financial management and strengthened control of the municipality's funds.

We are seeking a strategic and socially committed leader who will have overall responsibility for leading a newly established department with five sections. The role involves leading through managers, setting direction and ensuring coherence between strategy, budget and follow-up, as well as contributing in interaction with the political level.

As Head of Organisational Governance and Service Development you must be able to see the strategic picture while also having the necessary focus on analysis and critical details. You set direction and make decisions also when it is demanding. We are looking for you who work knowledge-based and holistically, promote cross-cutting collaboration, have an interest in finance and digital development, and lead employees/managers in a politically governed organisation.

The position requires that you have solid leadership experience from larger, knowledge-based organisations and experience with organisational governance, financial management and governance dialogue in the public sector. To succeed in the role, experience in leading complex processes across professional communities and in interaction with external actors is important.

Key responsibilities

• Further develop and manage the agency's organisational governance system, including framework, processes and annual cycle

• Maintain overall financial management

• Ensure good coherence between strategy, budget, risk and governance processes

• Maintain and develop the governance dialogue with the political level, and ensure follow-up of decisions and commissions

• Provide relevant and accessible management information and good decision support to the leadership

• Lead and coordinate cross-cutting development work and collaboration with external actors

• Ensure efficient and professional shared administrative services and holistic deliveries in the organisation

• Develop managers and employees, and build a strong culture of collaboration, learning and improvement

• Ensure that the department delivers in line with legislation and overarching guidelines

• Strategy, budget and personnel responsibility for the department, including follow-up responsibility for five managers

• Lead employees in line with UDA's general leadership expectations

Qualifications

• Higher education at master's level, preferably in economics

• Solid financial understanding and experience of strategic organisational governance in a larger organisation

• Good understanding of public administration and the interaction between politics and administration

• Broad leadership experience, including experience with change management

• Good system and assignment understanding

• Understanding of the complexity of a large municipal organisation

• Good Norwegian language skills, both spoken and written

Personal qualities

• Analytical and strategic with the ability to create engagement and direction

• High work capacity and drive to deliver

• Ability to build trust and good relationships

• Holistic and system-oriented approach to development and leadership

• Good collaboration and communication skills

• A unifying leader who shows trust and is receptive to input

• Development-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement

Personal suitability will be emphasised in the selection process.

We offer

• The opportunity to contribute to one of our most important societal missions and be central to the development of the Oslo School

• The opportunity to influence how a large and complex organisation is governed and developed

• Work closely with the agency's top management and central decision-making processes

• Management responsibility for competent and committed managers

• A solid professional community characterised by high wellbeing, collaboration and engagement

• An agency characterised by professionalism and innovation

• Arenas and meeting points for professional development

• Competitive terms, flexible working hours, and good pension and insurance schemes

About the Education Agency

The Education Agency in Oslo ensures that 90,000 pupils and apprentices learn and thrive, develop academically and socially, and get to use their curiosity, commitment and creativity. As one of our 17,000 employees in Norway's largest municipal agency, you will work with colleagues with broad professional competence and with heart for the Oslo School.

Workplaces in Oslo municipality shall be characterised by diversity, and our employees shall reflect the city's population. We encourage all qualified persons to apply for jobs with us, regardless of age, functional ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background. Oslo municipality places emphasis on adapting working conditions if you have a need for this.

Please note that applicants may be placed on the public applicant list even if the applicant has requested anonymity, but in that case you will be notified of this.

Read more about the Oslo School at https://www.oslo.kommune.no/skole-og-utdanning/