Post title:

Director of Place

 

Conditions and Grading Arrangements:

JNC for Chief Officers of Local Authorities

Responsible to:

Chief Operating Officer

Responsible for:

All staff within the portfolio

Main purpose of the post

Provide leadership and strategic direction, inspire team working and high standards of service delivery ensuring that mechanisms are put in place to sustain, achieve and maintain corporate working that enable to Council to achieve its objectives. To work in partnership with organisations across the city and beyond to deliver improved quality of life for York’s residents.

Dimensions

Revenue budget for 2018/19:

   Gross Expenditure:                        £XXXm

   Income                                            £1XXXm

   Net budget                                       £XXm

Capital Programme (2018-23)           £XXm

Indicative full time equivalent posts: 770 (Sept 2020)

                                                            

Principal responsibilities – Corporate role

Support the Council and Chief Operating Officer in the corporate management of the Council.  Lead, plan and deliver the Council’s corporate priorities including existing and new legal responsibilities and functions conferred upon the council

Facilitate corporate working across services and help lead the Authority so it is able to meet its immediate and long term future with confidence

Contribute to the corporate formulation and delivery of the Council’s policy objectives and plans and help shape and deliver the City and Council visions

Develop and articulate a clear vision for co-ordinated services in the City of York and provide a framework and common sense of purpose in order to ensure an effective shared programme of joined-up service delivery

Lead the necessary cultural and other changes to ensure that the citizens of York and other service beneficiaries are at the centre of service provision using effective partnership working with all sectors (private, voluntary, community and public) in order to focus resources jointly on improving outcomes

To conceive, initiate, manage and participate in Council wide developments and initiatives in pursuit of the Council’s aims and objectives and consistent with changing the culture of the Council

Develop and maintain a corporate performance management regime ensuring early identification of potential issues in order to take decisive and effective corrective action

To support and contribute to the Council’s corporate policy making on all matters and to ensure that these are translated and reflected into directorate plans, programmes and services which are reviewed and updated to meet changing needs and priorities of the City and the Council’s stakeholders

To develop and maintain effective working relationship with Members of the Council and with other service teams within the Authority to ensure a corporate response to the development of services

To cover for any other Director or the Chief Operating Officer as necessary

Principal responsibilities – Corporate Director of Service role

Define, develop, procure, manage and evaluate the range of services for which the postholder is responsible

Co-ordinate services across the Authority and City with others to give maximum benefit

Ensure the continual improvement of the services for which the postholder is responsible, setting clear priorities and targets and intervening where necessary in order to maintain standards of performance

To keep abreast of new developments in order to anticipate and define the Council’s strategies and responsibilities in the areas for which the postholder is responsible

Provide leadership on behalf of the Council in relation to the community safety partnership, strengthening governance and accountability. Annually refresh service plans and strategies where required to ensure that local people are safe, and promote happy and healthy living in York.

 

Discharge the council's statutory responsibilities in relation to the council's strategic and enabling housing functions and ensure suitable arrangements for the delivery of housing management and maintenance.

Utilise effective programme management methodologies to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and in accordance with the agreed specification

Take lead responsibility for putting in place arrangements to meet the requirements of external inspectors in respect of annual and other performance assessments

Participate in the development of effective corporate engagement strategies so that all can understand and fulfil their roles in the delivery of effective services

Sphere of influence

Ensure that budgets are managed effectively within the corporate mechanisms to achieve value for money and outcomes are measured against corporate priorities, development milestones and performance targets

Hold services to account for their performance, overall budgets and service standards to ensure that services provided meet targets set within the corporate framework

Carry forward existing partnerships and lead work with partner agencies to establish strategic priorities for the Council seeking to align resources of all partner agencies with jointly agreed priorities that complement and reflect corporate priorities

Develop, mentor and appraise directly accountable staff and through directly accountable staff ensure employees are well managed, developed, motivated and empowered within the corporate framework

Recruit, manage, motivate and develop employees ensuring their health, safety and well-being at work, in order to ensure all aspects of service delivery are provided to the highest possible standard

Person Specification

The postholder will need to demonstrate their experience in the criteria listed in Parts One and Two of the Person Specification

Part One: Experience

A proven track record of high achievement at senior management level within a service environment of comparable scope and complexity and with an understanding of the issues facing City of York Council and the areas for which the postholder is responsible

Experience of successful strategic and corporate management and a proven track record of leading in the formulation and delivery of strategic objectives and policies within a large, multi-disciplined organisation

A demonstrable track record of leading, motivating and managing multi-disciplinary teams to achieve significant, sustainable service improvements and outstanding results, through internal and external partnerships

Evidence of establishing a performance management culture, including service planning, target setting, performance appraisal and the management of diverse staff groups

Extensive experience of delivering customer focused services that are responsive and flexible with regard to customer need

Evidence of successful strategic and operational resource management, including evaluating competing priorities within tight financial limits and managing progressive and innovative budgetary arrangements

A proven track record of innovating service deliver in order to drive out efficiencies and maximise value for money.

Extensive experience and demonstrable success in the generation and management of major organisational and corporate cultural change

Evidence of success in building and enhancing the reputation of an organisation with external bodies, the community and the media

A track record of working in and forging successful partnerships with a wide range of internal and external bodies including governmental and non-governmental organisations, the private and voluntary sectors to successfully deliver cross sector projects that meet City of York Council’s corporate objectives

Proven experience of effectively working as part of a team and of successfully operating in a team environment

A proven track record of working effectively within a political environment, providing clear, balanced advice and guidance on strategic issues that achieve the corporate and service objectives of the organisation

Part Two: Knowledge, Abilities and Skills

A thorough understanding of best practice and contemporary issues affecting the provision of the areas for which the postholder is responsible, and an understanding of good management practice and value for money in a local authority setting

Ability to operate effectively within the democratic processes, with the political acumen and skills to develop productive working relationships with Council Members and colleagues across the Authority that command respect, trust and confidence

Ability to provide visible and supportive transformational leadership, empowering, enabling, motivating and developing the workforce and fostering a positive organisational culture

A detailed knowledge and understanding of the challenges involved in seeking to provide fully integrated services to customers

Knowledge of leading edge service delivery and a proven ability to translate best practice into service transformation

Understanding and a record of achievement in promoting fairness and inclusion in employment and service delivery

Financial and commercial awareness, with strong analytical skills and an excellent aptitude for developing innovative solutions to complex problems

Ability to propose, develop and implement effective strategies in pursuit of agreed goals and to make clear, informed, appropriate and timely decisions

Highly developed networking, partnership, advocacy, negotiating and presentation skills that are persuasive and influential with others

Outstanding negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills to relate effectively to employees, service managers, Council Members, the general public and other stakeholders and command their respect, trust and confidence

Personal Style & Behaviour

A strong corporate orientation and a demonstrable commitment to tackling issues in a non-departmental manner

An inspirational, motivational, enthusing leader with a clear vision for the Council and its contribution to the overall development of the City and the areas for which the postholder is responsible, with high levels of energy, stamina and resilience

Personality, conduct and credibility that engages and commands the confidence of Council Members, senior managers, staff, the public, external partners and other stakeholders

A personal commitment to using customer insight to determine service delivery

Highly innovative and forward thinking

Commitment to personal development

Key Relationships

Reports to Chief Operating Officer

Key relationship with other members of the Corporate Management Team

Leads and Manages the Directorate

Advises Members, Chief Oerating Officer, Directors and managers on those service areas the postholder is responsible for

Key relationships with external advisers, and partnership working with other service providers and agencies including:

 

·        Trade unions

·        Relevant professional bodies and networks

·        Regional and national local government bodies

·        Regional and national agencies and departments of central government

·        Public, private, voluntary and community sector partners

·        North Yorkshire Police

·        Local Enterprise Partnership

·        Scrutiny Committee

·        Housing Partners

·        Other Local Authorities, in particular neighbouring Council’s

 

Director of City and Environmental Services Specific Areas of Responsibility

 

 

City Development and Sustainability

·        major development projects and initiatives

·         development management

·         urban design

·         heritage and conservation

·         natural environment services

·         sustainability and climate control

·         building control property information

 

Strategic Planning and Transport

 

·        local development planning

·        local transport plan,

·        quality bus partnership park and ride

·        highways and network management

·        public transport

·        parking policy 

·        major infrastructure projects

 

Highways, Fleet and Waste

·        Fleet

·        highways maintenance

·        waste services

·        the transformation of these services

 

Housing and Community Safety

·        Housing Management Services;

·        Building Services, Repairs and Planned Maintenance

·        Community Safety

·        Older Persons Accommodation Programme