Emma Newby

• Outstanding Leadership Skills
• High level of political awareness. Part of MTFS cross-directorate group and cross-directorate task and finish groups with Councillor members including 'Case Work review'
• Responsibility for day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient and productive working of 50 staff members
• Successful project management across a wide range of software, workflow, process streamlining and work force strategy
• Outstanding business administration skills which have transformed Legal Support and Practice Management delivery over last 4 years
• Responsibility for commissioning and procuring all Legal Services contracts with an aggregate value of 1.8 mil per annum. Robust contract management of external legal framework providers.
• Problem solving attitude, displaying a high level of understanding of cross-cutting issues in Local Government
• High level of understanding of Governance demonstrated in developing cross cutting processes such as Procurement Process Map and Decision Report Process. This included Corporate communication, roll out and training.
• Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders internal and external including members, Senior Management and external stakeholders
• Passionate about learning and committed to continual self- development improvement.
• Introduced new and efficient ways of working across the Council i.e. Electronic Signing and Sealing including amendment of the constitution
• Led on re-organisation of administrative team to optimise value and efficiency
• High level of communication and negotiation skills
• Responsible for overseeing of the Ombudsman process including Corporate initiatives to drive performance and reporting to GMT and Cabinet annually, and compiling regular reports
• Excellent report writing ability, including formal decision reports, business cases, project plans and presentations. Audience includes Scrutiny Committee, Members, Directors and GMT
• Advanced ability to quickly understand and document processes, analyse these and streamline. Displays attitude of continuous improvement
• High level of financial acumen with responsibility for robust management and forecasting of Legal Services budget of 2.9 mil over 5 budget codes.
• Lead on Continuous Improvement Review of Legal Services
• Elected Chair of Women's Staff Network. Utilise's advanced leadership skills to influence and lead in this non-hierarchical structure.
• Passionate about Equality and Diversity. Sits on EDI steering group.

Streamlined and redesigned business function in Legal Services Directorate, including Governance, Electoral Services, Compliance and Legal Services.

Responsible for line management of 6 Legal Administrative staff and 4 trainee lawyers, with with operational management responsibility of over 70 staff.

Promoted and given additional responsibility as Head of Compliance with responsibility of a second team of 7 and delivery of GDPR and Freedom of Information Act statutory responsibilities.

Drove improved statutory performance of FOI's across the organisation.

Regularly reported performance to GMT and annually to scrutiny. Close working relationship with Chief Executive through work on EDI panel.

Built cross directorate relationships and acted as ambassador for Legal Services across the Organisation.

Conceptualised Legal Services re-organisation and supported the Director in the consultation and implementation of the structural design.

Acted as investigating officer and Chair on disciplinary panels.

Responsible for accurate record keeping of risk register, identifying trends and putting into place appropriate management measures.

Conceptulised, designed and implemented new system of instructing legal with a high level of efficiency and the ability to report on data easily and efficiently.

Excellent ability to harness the best use of digital tools delivering two new case management systems

Authorised as a Council Signatory and a delegated S151 Officer

Acted as Silver lead for the Directorate for Emergency incidents.

Devised appropriate SLA's for service area, monitored and reported on performance against KPI's.

• Quickly mastered governance structures and operational frameworks of Local Government, whilst applying business acumen from private sector to come up with innovative and efficient solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to apply transferable skills in a new environment and quickly learn new areas.
• Worked with Change Management Team to identify and deliver 10% of budget savings.
• Designed and implemented work flows for high volume transaction areas including Planning agreements and Right to Buy.
• Cross collaborative approach to service delivery working with different teams to ensure end to end efficiency.
• Assisted in the organisation of, and agenda for, member meetings, including Cabinet.
• Created and owned Legal Business Continuity Plan
• Rolled out new telephony system and change to Google based email system.

• Operations Manager of 25 persons of new start up office.
• Promoted from Operations to Regional Manager after 10 months.
• Responsible for all aspects of Human Resources including recruitment, retention, performance monitoring, appraisal, development and disciplinary processes.
• Responsible for client development and care across London Office. Evaluated competitor strategies to identify industry trends and gather market intelligence, informing strategic decision-making processes.
• Drafted business tenders and agreeing new terms of business. Ensuring these were commercially competitive.
• Promoted a healthy people culture including creating local vision and values charter and promoting staff buy-in.

• Responsible for all areas of costing, billing and work in progress for a firm of 60 Lawyers with turnover of over 12 mil. Line Management of a team of 5.
• Devised a suite of regular reports to oversee and drive performance.
• Identified relevant regulatory changes and ensured changes were made for compliance i.e. cost budgeting and Legal Aid reporting requirements.
• Responsible for Compliance with General Legal Aid contract, MLO, Solicitors accounts rules and Solicitors Practice Rules.
• Led regular review meetings with Partners.