Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Divisional Director for Place Strategy
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Place Strategy
Business unit	Pride in Place
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Director of Pride in Place
Accountable to (line manager)	Director of Pride in Place
Salary grade	HAY460
JE ref	HAY126

1. Key purpose of job

To contribute to the leadership of the Council as an active member of the Council’s Senior Leadership Team providing leadership and effective prioritisation to the Council working collaboratively with members, colleagues and partners to deliver the strategic ambitions of the Council.
To lead by example in modelling the Council’s core values and behaviours developing a high performing Pride in Place directorate and build our reputation as a successful Council.
To contribute to the creation of an environment of organisational curiosity, creativity and teamwork focused on delivery of the Council’s strategic ambitions, objectives and priorities.
To champion the needs of local people, businesses and communities using operational intelligence to prioritise the services and areas
To take accountability for the strategic management and delivery of the Council’s Economy & Culture and Planning services under the direction of the Director of Pride in Place.
To lead the alignment of the Directorate’s strategies and plans with the Council’s ambitions and objectives and, where appropriate, the commissioning of internal and external services in support of these priorities.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

Strong, focused and inspirational leadership of the service areas reporting to the Divisional Director.
Effective planning, coordination and implementation of the service programme within the role’s responsibilities within agreed timescales and budgets.
Delivery of the expected outputs and outcomes set out in the Corporate Plan and its supporting business plan supported by business/service planning, performance monitoring and risk management.
Effective active working relationships with internal and external partners are developed and maintained enhancing the profile of the Council and considering alternative service delivery options where appropriate.
Improved credibility and momentum of the Council to be able to effectively deliver economic growth, investment and regeneration for the area.
The realistic and achievable needs of the community will be met.
Torbay will benefit from tangible improvements through coherent and effective planning, place shaping and regeneration.
Place services will be effectively commissioned through strong leadership, effective relationships and collaborative working.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
Demonstrable leadership to staff across the Council and the setting of performance standards across the divisional directorate in line with the ambition and objectives of the Council’s business plan.
To ensure that the Economy & Culture and Planning services deliver effectively and coherently.
To actively contributing towards the corporate management and leadership of the Council as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
To actively understand the challenges of the services in the portfolio, proactively and effectively supporting colleagues in ensuring policy objectives are achieved and services planned, commissioned and delivered in an effective and efficient way.
Ensure that the Director of Pride in Place is supported in respect of all matters relating to the services overseen.
To ensure the effective use of the Council’s resources.
Contribution to a high performance culture by providing strong and motivational leadership to drive continuous improvement and efficiency savings.
To develop a culture of collaborative working relationships with partners and communities to ensure the effective delivery of services and management of resources.
To proactively engage and support the Directorate with the interface between elected Members and Officers; taking a leading role in relation to policy co-ordination and performance management; assist and advise Elected Members and work closely with service leads.
Embed appropriate governance, programme management and stewardship for delivery of effective services.
Support the creation, development and maintenance of partnerships across Torbay, regionally and nationally in order to generate resources and opportunities.
To have the senior commissioning responsibility for the Council’s services company SWISCo
Build a cohesive service management team that supports and delivers the Council’s Corporate Plan and its supporting business plan.
Ensure that line managed Heads of Service area aware of their statutory, legal, operational and developmental obligations especially those relating to Health & Safety, Finance, Risk Management and Human Resources.
Provide leadership to staff within the service area to create a strong performance culture and ensure the delivery of excellent services.
To ensure the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies for the provision of the functions managed by the role to underpin and support the achievement of the Community and Corporate Plan with appropriate governance procedures, clear objectives and performance monitoring.
Ensure that the operational delivery of regulatory work provided by teams within the directorate is compliant within relevant national codes of compliance.
To ensure the effective and customer focussed delivery of a range of high profile and front line services, ensuring a positive impact on the day to day environment, safety and health of the Bay.
Provide guidance and support to Elected Members to help them translate their political priorities into initiatives that deliver the intended outcomes for residents.
Deliver excellent client, management and contract oversight of all external service providers, ensuring delivery standards are met.
Actively engaging with all parts of the community – individuals, community groups, businesses, and public sector partners in ensuring the delivery of services in the Directorate

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

The post holder will be responsible for the budgets across the Economy & Culture and Planning areas. These services have a combined budget of £XYZ in 2024/25. The services also incorporate income generation and external grant income targets. The service budgets are the direct responsibility of the Head of Service with the post holder taking responsibility across the services.
Ensuring that a balanced budget is set and continuously monitored across service areas using FIMS financial management system and provide exception reports for any significant variances for all relevant business services.
Ensuring adequate control and management of allocated funding to facilitate the satisfactory delivery of services and completion of identified projects.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

The role will have line management responsibility for;

Strategic Lead – Economy & Culture; this service covers economic development, destination management, culture and events.
Heads of service for Development Management, Highways Operations, Strategic Planning & Transport and Planning Support

To plan, coordinate and set priorities for the above service areas linked to corporate objectives.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Occasional site visits to capital schemes, to be managed in compliance with health and safety protocols.
Main work arrangements will be hybrid combining both a presence at council offices with an element of home working.

7. Physical demands of the post

Normal physical effort with occasional manual handling.

8. Specific resources used by the post

IT equipment and a variety of IT/software systems.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

Key government funding departments including Department for Transport and MHCLG,
SWISCo (Torbay Council owned company which provides a range of frontline local services in Torbay including waste and recycling collections, commercial waste, highways, street cleansing and grounds maintenance)
Devon & Torbay combined county authority
Torbay Place Leadership Board
Torbay Culture
Devon Chamber of Commerce, Torbay Business Forum
Sports Torbay
Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
Housing associations.
Educational establishments.
External contractors.
Other key external partners in the public, voluntary and private sectors (including developers).

Internal

To liaise with a wide range of internal stakeholders including:

Director of Pride in Place,
Other members of the Senior Leadership Team.
Council departments,
Elected Members, via Council, Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Board, Audit Committee, Harbour Committee, one to one meetings
Other internal partnerships.

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council
This post is office based at [insert location] but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.

The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Divisional Director for Place Strategy
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Place Strategy
Business unit	Pride in Place

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Ability to monitor and evaluate services and practices to ensure agreed standards are maintained and intervene constructively where necessary.
Excellent analytical and performance management skills.
Excellent communication (written, oral and presentational), ambassadorial and media management skills – ensuring that the reputation of Torbay Council is promoted at every opportunity.
Proven ability to lead change and positively manage staff, developing and maintain a team; to set performance objectives and undertake effective performance appraisals.
Demonstrable ability to influence others
Champion the importance of continuing professional development – and role model good practice in this area.
Able to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to improve services and to problems that are complex in nature.
Manage conflicting priorities.
High degree of customer awareness.
Achievement and performance driven.
Ability to use judgement, tact and sensitivity.
High degree of personal integrity and political awareness and sensitivity.
Able to develop, negotiate and extend challenging outcomes and goals, make complex decisions based on facts and complete tasks to a high standard.
High level of financial acumen and ability to manage budgets and control costs.
Business planning skills
Proven effective presentation and report writing skills.
Proven commitment to anti-discriminatory practice

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Demonstrable experience of undertaking a similar role in the public sector.
Experience of working with Elected Members and of dealing with politically sensitive issues

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of the current Local Government landscape and the challenges facing Local Authorities.
Knowledge and understanding of the legislative context relating to the delivery of the councils' regulatory responsibilities in respect of Place investments

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of appropriate policy/practices/frameworks/statutory requirements in at least one of the areas the post is responsible for
Understanding of the wider social and economic environment within Torbay.
Relevant knowledge of place leadership in a local government context
Up to date knowledge of the legal framework within which Place services operate in a local government context

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Experienced professional in the areas that cover Economic Growth, Planning and wider place leadership with a breadth of understanding of all areas that the role covers
Demonstrable experience of translating strategic vision and priorities into delivery
Experience of creating long lasting relationships and being able to work across departmental and organisational boundaries to collaborate with and influence key stakeholders, building support for ideas and initiatives behind the scenes to support the implementation of solutions across other public bodies, government, the private sector and the third sector.
Adaptable and flexible to meet a variety of challenges.
Experience of leading and managing large and complex teams

Desirable experience and achievements

Commercial experience in a related field
Experience of leading a development management, planning or economic growth service.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Degree and post graduate qualifications (or willing to work towards a post graduate qualification if not already gained) in relevant disciplines, and/or leadership and management qualifications with demonstrable continuing professional development.
Commitment to continued personal and professional development

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

RTPI membership
PRINCE2, Association of Project Management (APM), or equivalent project/programme management qualification.
Membership of a relevant professional body i.e. Solace, Chartered Institute of Housing, Institute of Economic Development, Institute of Place Management

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
Ability to accommodate on-call working.
Ability to accommodate occasional home working.