Job Description – Assistant Chief Executive

PART ONE

Essential Experience

  1. Focused on continuos improvement and will challenge complacent and under performance.
  2. Strong track record of success in the delivery of strategy, policy and programme management at a corporate level.
  3. Excellent project management skills to implement a challenging scrutiny function.
  4. Supporting and encouraging innovation, the creative use of resources, the generation of ideas to improve quality of services, processes and image of the Authority.
  5. Championing the Council’s core values embodying the desired culture of the Authority, modelling the way the Council wishes to behave in relation to its employees, service users, and outside organisations.
  6. Is aware of local government best practise.
  7. Ensuring proper corporate governance and compliance with the Council’s agreed standards, policies, procedures, all relevant regulations and legislation (e.g. Health and Safety, Data Protection, Sustainability and Equal Opportunities).
  8. Agreeing personal performance objectives and targets with the Chief Executive, and participating in regular performance appraisal.
  9. Agreeing performance objectives and targets for direct staff reports that deliver the Council’s vision, values, priorities, policies and objectives, including providing regular monitoring, feedback, coaching, mentoring, performance appraisal and development.
  10. Facilitating and encouraging effective interaction between Members, other stakeholders and those services and projects allocated to this post.
  11. Ensuring a strong culture of collaborative and cross boundary team working that fosters strategic alliances and partnerships and promotes positive relationships and outcomes.
  12. A proven track record of successful direct management and development of senior professional staff, including the establishment of a positive performance culture, that has delivered effective performance and continuous service improvement.
  13. A proven record of successful participation in corporate management and the development of corporate objectives, policies and strategies,
  14. Evidence of success in providing professional advice to Executive Members and the handling of sensitive policy issues and relationships.
  15. Evidence of successful participation in the development and implementation of best practice and best value initiatives to support the modernisation of local government.
  16. Evidence of successful development and implementation of strategies, policies and performance management systems that deliver high quality, customer focused services and translate organisational ambitions into real achievements.
  17. A record of success in communicating and engaging with a wide range of internal and external bodies, building partnerships and productive working relationships and positively promoting organisational reputation and interests.

PART TWO

Ability, Skills & Knowledge

  1. Ability to develop, communicate, persuade and gain ownership for a new clear vision and direction.
  2. A clear understanding and knowledge of the workings of local government and including its legal, financial, social and political context, political processes.
  3. A clear understanding of the agenda for modernising local government and the wider public sector.
  4. Effective presentation, communication and interpersonal skills and ability to apply these effectively to a variety of audiences.
  5. Demonstrable ability to lead, motivate and challenge others to high performance, especially in periods of turbulent and transformational change.
  6. Well-developed project management skills and the ability to lead and/or work in multi-functional teams to create improvement in service delivery or corporate working.
  7. A broad understanding of the value and use of new technologies in improving services, and modernising working processes.
  8. Highly developed networking and advocacy skills that are persuasive and influential with others, build positive relationships with elected members, partners and colleagues.

Personal style and behaviour:

  1. Willingness to act corporately and collaboratively.
  2. An enthusiastic and effective ambassador for the Authority, its stakeholders and partners.
  3. Personal and professional demeanour, probity, integrity and credibility which command the respect and confidence of Members, senior managers, staff, external partners and other stakeholders.
  4. An inclusive team worker who can foster partnerships, work collaboratively across boundaries and achieve performance and results through others.
  5. A corporate player and strategic thinker.
  6. A strong and effective leader, who leads by example and is an effective communicator, determined, positive and approachable.
  7. A robust individual, resilient enough to cope with the demands of the role.
Blackpool Council