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Job Description – Assistant Chief Executive

• Job Description
• Person Specification

Accountable to

Chief Executive

Accountable for

Staff and resources allocated to the Policy and Communications Team.

Main purpose of the role

To be responsible to the Chief Executive for developing and managing the Council’s policy initiatives which support the Council’s overall strategic vision and corporate priorities.

To be responsible for encouraging and establishing ‘joined up working, providing joined up solutions’ which add value to the Council and deliver a “one team” approach across the Council.

To lead on and ensure compliance with the Council’s policies including the Corporate Plan, co-ordinating service plans and monitoring performance plans.

To develop, implement, maintain and review an overarching corporate communications and marketing strategy.

Develop internal communications

Principal Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

1. Providing confident corporate leadership and clear sense of direction and purpose that enables the Council to deliver on its vision, values, priorities and policies.
2. Promoting the Council’s vision, values, priorities and policies, through personal example and positive corporate direction to ensure that they translate into practical and effective action.
3. Providing clear and timely strategic advice, guidance and support to leading Members and the Chief Executive through actively contributing to all corporate policies and strategic decision-making.
4. Ensuring the effective development and delivery of the Authority’s overall policy direction.
5. Through personal example, open commitment and clear action, ensuring a positive approach to valuing diversity; resulting in equality of access and treatment in employment, service delivery and external communications.

Corporate Management

1. Undertaking a personal workload of corporate and strategic projects to achieve the policy and service objectives of the Council.
2. Undertaking such corporate responsibilities as may be allocated to the post from time to time by the Chief Executive.

Service Management

1. Accountable to the Chief Executive for the leadership, strategic direction and operational effectiveness of Policy and communications Team.
2. Leads and coodinates the Council’s and partners approach to policy and strategy formulation, issues and developments which require involvement and commitment from across the organisation – e.g. CAA, LAA, SCS.
3. Challenges the whole council to focus on the top priorities.
4. Leads the development of corporate business planning and performance management ensuring a one-organisation/partnership approach.
5. Translates government policies and guidance into workable solutions for the organisation and partners.
6. To ensure that any outside partnerships, bodies or the community are appropriately consulted on policy matters relevant to their areas of interest and advise the Council, Executive, relevant Council Committees and working groups on changes to policy, as required.
7. Lead on all public relations, marketing and communications activity with a specific focus on safeguarding, promoting and enhancing the Council’s public image, reputation and brand.
8. Advise on communications and marketing issues, keep the Chief executive informed of key issues and provide advice as appropriate to the Chief Executive, Executive Leader, and senior members of the Council.
9. Motivating and inspiring staff and creating a positive, customer focused performance improvement culture within the services and projects allocated to the post, ensuring that employees have a clear sense of purpose, know what they are accountable for, receive regular feedback, and are developed to provide excellent services.
10. Through effective leadership of direct reports, ensuring the delivery of services at the highest quality and meeting agreed objectives, time-scales and budgets.
11. Monitoring the achievement of objectives, providing regular reports on budget, human resources and performance in line with agreed timescales, and ensuring that opportunities for continuous improvement are identified and resourced.
12. Ensuring that all service policies, plans and budgets are developed and implemented within the framework of agreed priorities for the Council.
13. Ensuring the provision of full and accurate information, research analysis, and timely policy advice to Member decision-making bodies on matters relating to services and projects allocated to this post.