Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Head of IT Services
Strategic team/Directorate	Corporate Services
Service	IT Services
Business unit	IT Services
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Director of Corporate Services
Accountable to (line manager)	Director of Corporate Services
Salary grade	P
JE ref	HAY76

1. Key purpose of job

Responsible for the full range of IT services offered within the Councils IT Service function.
Make decisions on IT related matters which will affect the current and future operating model of the Council.
Responsible for the overall security of the Council’s electronic data in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
To be responsible for the effective strategic direction, leadership and governance of all aspects of Information Technology and Systems and to ensure the streamlined operation of the IT service in alignment with the business objectives of the Council and its Transformation Programme, and national targets/incentives set by Central Government.
To be the key link with the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors and work with other Heads of Services in ensuring that IT strategic and corporate objectives are effectively coordinated and implemented across all service areas.
To support and provide advice to the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).
To work creatively and strategically to achieve the highest possible standards of performance in Torbay Council Services.
Attend and contribute to Information Security and Information Governance meetings.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

The delivery of an efficient and effective, high-quality, cost-effective, secure IT Infrastructure and support service that meets Council operational targets and assists Council services to provide high quality outcomes for their customers.
Achieves full compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation, and Public Service Network (PSN) data security controls.
The delivery of a Digital Strategy that meets the future needs of the Council’s operating model and the Government’s digital agenda.
A highly skilled IT technical team who are fully trained to support current and emerging IT technologies.
A service which operates within annual revenue budgets and agreed capital programmes.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

Principle responsibilities:

To work closely with the senior leadership team (SLT), the Council’s service departments and Transformation Board/team to make an active and positive contribution on IT related matters which are key enablers of Council wide organisation change and service improvement.
Attending and advising the Council’s Transformation Board and other boards as required, driving the digitisation agenda across the Council and its partnerships.
To seek and implement innovative and creative (technological) solutions for the relevant services to meet the Council’s needs to bring about change and improvement in service delivery and outcomes achieved, within budget provision.
To work with and support Directors in providing necessary IT vision, leadership and strategic direction to enable services to formulate and implement relevant and effective policies and procedures.
To maintain and promote close working relationships with Elected Members, colleagues and outside stakeholders, partners and organisations.
To work in collaboration with other organisations to achieve maximum benefits for the Council and residents of Torbay, representing the Council at a local, regional and national level on any relevant IT partnership/steering/working groups.
To ensure the health and safety of all members of the IT Services Department, mitigating risk and ensuring a focus on safe operations.

Functional:

To plan, co-ordinate, direct and design all IT operational activities as well as provide leadership/direction and support for IT solutions that enhance the Council’s core business, ensuring resources invested in IT provide improvements to services and value for money.
Establishing the annual IT programme of work and any expected additional cost which results from such work.
To be responsible for ensuring compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), PSN requirements and the relevant specific IT controls for protective monitoring of data are in place.
To be responsible for developing and producing the Council’s IT/digitalisation strategy in conjunction with the Senior Leadership team, Transformation Team, Heads of Service and Elected Members to ensure it supports innovative service delivery.
To be accountable for the delivery, continuity, recovery, information security, risk management and effective support of the Council’s IT infrastructure and systems.
To ensure that appropriate disaster recovery and business continuity arrangements are in place to minimise disruption to key systems, revenues or service contracts management.
Manage the contractual relationship between the Council and the external IT service providers (EG: Software providers; hardware maintenance companies; business continuity providers, etc).
To oversee negotiation and administration of contracts and service agreements with third party suppliers, seeking continuous improvement in purchasing process, so as to deliver best value, as well as compliance.
Responsible for establishing cost effective IT contracts with software and hardware suppliers.
To ensure that the IT Services Department maintains accurate and up-to-date records and documentation in the required format, so that these can be readily used to support day-to-day operations, disaster recovery and business continuity.
To develop the IT and personal skills of all IT staff in order they can fulfil their duties effectively.
Benchmark, analyse, report on and make recommendations for the improvement of the IT infrastructure and IT systems.
Ensure that appropriate IT staff and other resources are available and used in an efficient and effective way and that a quality IT service is provided.

Quality and Performance management:

To ensure the needs of customers are fully understood and catered for in the delivery and improvement of services.
To ensure that all services are planned and delivered in a co-ordinated way in compliance with agreed policies and standards and also in accordance with the Council’s democratic governance processes.
Ensure policies and procedures are updated to reflect current legislation and best practice.
To regularly evaluate and report on performance against statutory and non-statutory service plans, business plans and performance indicators.
To work with Directors and other Heads of Service to deliver effective and efficient Council services, including development of annual business plans, PI setting, monitoring and attainment.
To undertake any other duties, commensurate with the level and expectation of the post, including emergency planning, response management and co-ordination, risk management and safeguarding.
Undertake research and development activities as commissioned by the Director to secure cost and service improvement from alternative methods of operation, through new or re-engineered services and processes.

Communications:

To foster and develop positive relationships with all local agencies and partners relevant to the IT group of services.
To review existing methods of communication with IT staff and the wider Council services to ensure that these are effective and encourage two-way feedback.

Decision-making:

Strategy/Policy decisions - Working with the Council’s Service Departments to identify IT related service requests which will assist in defining/changing IT strategy.
Decisions concerning efficiency of staff resources and staff restructures.
Operational decisions – IT disaster recovery planning and testing.
Technical decisions – Establishing innovative IT solutions to solve complex business requirements and make efficiency savings.
Resource prioritisation – Servicing requests for urgent/unbudgeted equipment/systems or servicing ad-hoc Council wide strategic IT project work.
As the IT interface between the Council’s service departments and Transformation Board, provide high level strategic IT support on all forms of IT related issues, problems, making recommendations, ensuring that the strategic IT principals are delivered effectively.
Make recommendations on all IT procurements including:
- Ensuring that new IT software and hardware is procured at the most cost effective manner.
- Ensuring that regulated procurement rules are applied to all IT procurements which exceed the defined limits.
Assuring that future IT procurements and contracts are ‘fit for purpose’ and workable and that they fit within the agreed commercial contracting polices of the Council.
Make recommendations to SLT in the development of IT related policies, standards, principles and guidelines that affect staff use of IT facilities within the Council.
Make recommendations to SLT on the selection, development, implementation and use of IT within the Council.
Make recommendations and decisions to ensure compliance with agreed IT architecture policies, standards, principles and guidelines.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

Responsible for budgeting and managing the corporate IT revenue budget and IT capital budgets:
- Revenue circa £4m
- Capital circa £1m
To ensure that the annual corporate IT budget is prepared on time to meet the needs of the priorities set by the Council and to provide an efficient and effective IT infrastructure and IT support service.
To ensure IT Services operates within the agreed revenue and capital budgets.
To ensure that the services provided by IT Services are delivered effectively within the annual IT budget provision.
Responsible for the preparation and management of long-term capital and revenue budgets for the renewal of the Council’s corporate IT infrastructure assets.
Responsible for assisting the Council’s Finance team in re-allocating the full costs of IT service delivery to the Council’s internal service departments.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

Management responsibility of circa. 40 FTEs.
To provide direct line management to the IT Management team and to ensure team members are adequately trained to provide an effective and efficient service.
To develop and review processes, methods and working standards for the IT Management Team and encourage good practices within the team.
To carry out staff appraisals for the members of the IT Management Team and plan staff development activities to meet the needs of individuals and the team as a whole.
To co-ordinate and carry out induction and training programme activities for new team members.
To establish annual objectives and ensure that these are cascaded to team members, monitoring their performance through the Council’s appraisal process.
To participate in the recruitment and selection of new staff within the IT management Team by creating job descriptions/person specs; advertising posts; interviewing; short listing; designing tests; etc.
To provide guidance, welfare support, and discipline for members of the IT Management team and any other members of IT Services as and when required.
To ensure effective communication, collaboration, co-operation and team working within IT Services and in the Service’s dealings with other Council departments.
To ensure that all IT documentation, guidelines and procedures are produced to a high standard.
To establish, enter and monitor performance indicators for the IT teams.
To establish an IT risk register for major risks and establish the relevant plans/procedures to mitigate high risk areas.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

A flexible role with minimal exposure to disagreeable working conditions. Suitable for hybrid or home worker with a requirement to attend offices as necessary to ensure the effective running of the department.

7. Physical demands of the post

Normal physical effort.

8. Specific resources used by the post

Use of agile working IT equipment to fulfil the role.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External:

To participate in the relevant national, regional and local IT groups.
- External hardware and software suppliers.
- External clients.
- Government bodies and associations.
- Other councils and public bodies.
- Council’s Auditors.

Internal:

Members.
CEO and Directors.
Assistant Directors and Heads of Service.
Chief Finance Officer– Section 151 Officer.
IT Staff.
Senior managers and relevant staff.

10. Other duties

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

Other Information

All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
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 is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
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 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 www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
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).
As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
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.
As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

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	Head of IT Services
Strategic team/Directorate	Corporate Services
Service	IT Services
Business unit	IT Services

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Commercially aware, with good analytical skills.
Well-developed influencing and negotiating skills.
Able to communicate and work effectively at all hierarchical levels both internally and externally.
Demonstrable influencing ability and stakeholder management at a senior level.
Supplier relationship management skills.
High degree of customer awareness.
High degree of self-motivation. Will see projects through to successful completion.
Structured and able to accurately translate and prioritise business requirements into a quantitative and qualitative scope.
Business planning skills both short and long term.
Strong stakeholder management, facilitation and partnership-building.
Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate in a variety of styles for example written, verbal and visual.
Understanding of IT services and solutions at an operational and business level.
Problem-solving. Analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
Effective decision-making skills.
Able to deliver on ever changing priorities.
Significant financial acumen and ability to manage budgets and control costs.
Effective record keeping using IT technology to support.
Innovative and quality leadership.
Demonstrable ability to build effective teams.
Able to demonstrate discretion and to handle confidential information sensitively.
Recruitment skills.
Staff appraisal skills.
As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Relevant professional knowledge of IT technologies and future government IT strategies affecting local government.
Considerable IT knowledge and understanding from an operational and service perspective.
An awareness of emerging IT technologies.
An awareness of current and emerging Cyber Security threats and defences.
An awareness of the full Microsoft 365 suite of applications.
A general understanding of the General Data Protection Regulation and Information Security Acts.
An understanding of the SIRO functions.
Knowledge of the differing personal and technical skill sets required within the IT Division.
An effective understanding of ITIL service management techniques and processes.
An understanding of the challenges and opportunities IT brings within a large organisation.
Working at strategic IT management level within a large organisation.
A full understanding of performance management and business planning processes with the ability to direct this knowledge to drive continuously improving customer focussed performance.

Desirable knowledge

Understand the principles of the PRINCE project management processes.
A general understanding of voice and data network infrastructure.
A general understanding of IT development facilities.
Demonstrable knowledge of Local Government IT applications.
An understanding of the challenges and opportunities IT brings within a large co-operative Unitary Authority
A general understanding of the Structure of Local Government from a local, regional and national perspective.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Experience of utilising IT as a driver for transformational change.
Proven experience of successfully managing a relevant service area within a large multifunctional organisation and able to demonstrate achievement in significantly influencing successful performance.
Working at strategic IT management level within a large organisation.
Proven experience of successfully leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams.
A full understanding of performance management and business planning processes with the ability to direct this knowledge to drive continuously improving customer focussed performance.
Proven experience in developing and implementing IT strategies that deliver demonstrable service improvements.
Extensive experience of the management at a senior level of large-scale human and financial resources, in accordance with agreed policies, priorities and within the formal framework of cost and quality standards.
A proven track record of working with and forging successful partnerships with a wide range of internal and external bodies to successfully deliver cross sector projects.
Experience of negotiating on IT services and contracts.
Commercial experience and an appreciation of the fiscal landscape within a large organisation.
Experience of presenting complex information to a variety of audiences.

Desirable experience and achievements

Has built up a personal network of IT professionals to share experiences and knowledge.
Proven track record of successful strategic IT management within a large organisation.
Has developed robust IT service costing and charging mechanisms and IT SLA’s.
Full understanding of the role of elected members and of the decision-making process in a political environment.
Experience of working at a senior management level within local government/public sector including awareness of sensitivity to the political context of the role.
Commercial experience and an appreciation of the fiscal landscape within local government.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Relevant professional qualification or equivalent relevant, successful and demonstrable experience.
Degree in a relevant topic/subject or equivalent relevant, successful and demonstrable experience.
A recognised management qualification or equivalent experience.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Has passed the ITIL Service Management Foundation course.
Post-graduate qualification or relevant professional qualification/evidence of development.
Qualification or experience in a project or programme methodology (EG: Prince 2).

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 UK in order to carry out duties.
Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
Ability to accommodate on-call working.
Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.
In accordance with Council policies and guidance on information management and security, it is your personal responsibility for data protection, client confidentiality and information governance.
Act at all times in accordance with appropriate legislation and regulations, codes of practice, the provisions of the Council’s constitution and its policies and procedures.
Work within the requirements of the Council’s Health and Safety policy, performance standards, safe systems of work and procedures.
Undertake all duties with due regard to the corporate equalities policy and relevant legislation.