Job Purpose

1. Lead the Service Unit, be the principal point of contact for Elected Members for the Service Unit, and ensure the delivery of services which are innovative, lead the way for commercialisation and which strive for continuous improvement, employee engagement, performance enhancement and customer excellence in order to enhance the Council’s reputation as a service provider and employer of choice.
2. Work closely with the Strategic Director and relevant Cabinet Members to develop and appropriately review strategies and policies within the remit of the Service Unit.
3. Be a role model and member of the Directorate’s leadership team and support the Strategic Director in developing innovative, resilient and sustainable Directorate and service wide strategic objectives, business and project plans (including those which may have wider Council application, including Corporate plans and strategy), ensuring their effective and seamless delivery.
4. Maximise stakeholder relationships and engagement, and represent / deputise for the Strategic Director as required at relevant internal Council meetings, with external partners, and in meetings / interactions with other senior officers, customers and Elected Members.
5. Achieve annual job related performance objectives as agreed with the Strategic Director, and deliver continuous improvements in the Service Unit’s performance.

Main Activities (Corporate)

1. Maintain, promote and be committed to the Council’s Vision and strategic objectives, and carry out work within the spirit and intention of its core values, leading by example to other employees in the directorate.
2. Have a deep understanding and awareness of the concept of “Making Every Contact Count” (MECC), attending training where necessary.
3. Manage the implementation of corporate / service initiatives as appropriate, including partnership and multi-agency working, and service redesign / change management activities.
4. Champion best practice in equality, diversity and inclusion in both employment and service delivery, ensuring legal compliance to create a working environment, underpinned by the Council’s Values, where employees are able to flourish, feel respected and valued.
5. Deliver high levels of performance within the Service Unit and related projects, taking calculated risks where appropriate, developing Annual Business Plans, performance targets, service standards, project plans, Business Continuity Plans and Operational Risk Registers, monitoring against these and identifying opportunities for improving the efficiency, effectiveness, quality and resilience of service delivery and customer care.
6. Take decisions and deliver actions within defined levels of delegated authority in order to deliver Service Unit and Directorate priorities and the Council’s vision and wider strategic objectives.
7. Forge strong working relationships with Elected Members and be the Lead Officer for the Service Unit at relevant formal Council meetings, supporting scrutiny and decision-making processes, on operational and policy issues.
8. Ensure that employees within the Service Unit are managed, developed, monitored, appraised, engaged and supported to deliver to their full potential and to feel recognised and valued, while also dealing with the full range of Human Resources issues as required.
9. Foster an innovative, open and culturally sensitive environment within the Service Unit, where employees feel supported, involved, engaged and consulted.
10. Manage delegated budgets effectively and in line with Council in accordance with Council Financial Regulations and maximise the effective utilisation of Council resources, Help create an environment of awareness and respect for financial objectives, value for money and cost efficiency, monitoring these to ensure that financial targets are met; seeking external funding opportunities where available, and proactively contribute to the annual budget setting process and Medium Term Financial Strategy by identifying and helping to accurately quantify financial pressures, savings and growth items.
11. Represent the Service Unit as appropriate at meetings and in other fora, creating and maintaining productive links with relevant outside organisations and presenting a positive external image of the Council.
12. Initiate, encourage and work in partnerships and multi-agency fora and settings, ensuring the adoption of a broad, open and creative approach to solving problems, taking long term decisions and generating ideas and promoting achievement of the Council’s Vision through partnership.
13. Contribute when required to corporate projects as defined by the Strategic Director.
14. Identify, respond flexibly to, encourage, and effectively manage service improvements and change, developing policies and procedures and ensuring the ICT, plant and equipment needs of the Service Unit are met and continually reviewed and updated.
15. Manage health and safety within Service Unit, ensuring good practice, a positive health and safety culture, and compliance with the Health & Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, and related Council policies and procedures.
16. Ensure that the Service Unit is able to respond appropriately [including “out of hours”]to any emergency situations that either require a “stand alone activation” of the Council’s Emergency Plan or a Local Resilience Forum multi-agency response under the Civil Contingencies Act.
17. Undertake personal development and learning related to the duties of the job and changes affecting the job.