Sally Moss - Business Improvement Manager

Sally MossTell us about yourself 

I am a qualified Agile Project Management Practitioner with 15 years' experience in a Business Improvement role using tools such as Lean, Six Sigma, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, data analysis, demand management and time in motion studies. I have worked in the voluntary sector, local authorities and also in the private sector.

I am also a wife and mother of two who plays competitive netball.

What attracted you to join Swindon Borough Council?

Mostly the convenience of location compared to home, so that I have a short commute, but also the opportunity to work flexibly and on a part-time basis. I had also spent the previous five years working in a local authority in Gloucester, so it made sense to look for a similar role in the local authority where I live.

What do you most enjoy about working here?

The people I work with, who are great fun and work hard to support each other. Plus the opportunity to work flexible hours and from home when I need to. I also like the opportunity to make a difference and to explore creative and innovative ideas to improve outcomes for local residents.

Describe a typical day in your role?

I manage a team of three people, but working within a wider project team of ten. Most days begin with our daily stand-up meeting, where we go around the room letting everyone know what our plans are for the day ahead, and updating on any issues that came up the previous day. We throw a soft ball around the room to identify whose turn it will be to share next.

Then the rest of my day is usually spent in meetings, discussing opportunities for improvement work in various areas of the organisation. I get to work in all areas, which makes the role very interesting. Sometimes I will be holding discovery workshops to identify areas for improvement within a certain team or service, or I will be working with that team to map out their current processes to identify potential areas for improvement, to reduce waste, or duplication or failure demand. Then I have sprint review meetings at the end of the week with each of my team members, to talk about the progress towards their objectives they have made that week, and whether there are any issues that they need support with or risks that need managing.

I try to set aside half an hour each day to manage my email inbox. I also need to allocate time each week to looking ahead at what work might be coming into the team and monitoring performance dashboards to identify areas that we need to engage with to discuss future improvement work.

What motivates you at work?

I am very goal-driven, so I like to set targets and then work towards achieving them. I love working in a team where everyone works together to achieve a wider objective. Problem solving is my real driver, so this is the perfect role for me, as I get to use that skill on a daily basis.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to spend as much time as possible with my family and taking our French bulldog out for walks in the countryside. I am a bit of a foodie, so do love going out for nice meals. I have a great friendship group in the village where I live, and we enjoy spending quite a lot of time at each other’s houses. Our kids all get along well, so that makes life a lot easier.

I play netball for my local team in the Swindon District League and spend the rest of my spare time driving my children around to various clubs and activities.

Where is the best place you have visited?

I have been very fortunate to have travelled to lots of wonderful places - Australia, Tasmania, Vietnam, Indonesia, Canada, America, Egypt and all over Europe. But some of my favourite places are closer to home. A place that is very dear to my heart is Cornwall. I love the light and scenery there, plus it is fabulous for wonderful food and lots of great artists. I also love visiting France, particularly the Dordogne region. My husband and I hope to retire out there and run a few holiday cottages one day. And the place that I have not visited yet, but which is very much on my bucket list, is China, to see the Great Wall.

Who are your dream dinner guests?

David Attenborough, Bear Grylls, Judy Dench, James Corden, Russell Howard and Michelle Obama.

What is your favourite film or book and why?

J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of The Rings trilogy. I love the fantasy element and the good versus evil, where good triumphs, plus the character development and relationships. I also love the language and the descriptive nature of the writing, which really creates a perfect visualisation of the scene.

What are your ambitions and aspirations?

My ambitions are to work hard to support Swindon Borough Council to achieve its objective to become an efficient and effective organisation, which is fit for the modern generation and is financially sustainable, closely monitoring its performance and adapting according to those results.

I really want to ensure that business improvement and continuous improvement are fully embedded into the culture and day-to-day business of the organisation.