Job info	Job info details
Job title	Strategic Lead for Place
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Place Strategy
Business unit	Economy & Culture
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Divisional Director Place Strategy
Accountable to (line manager)	Divisional Director Place Strategy
Salary grade	P
JE ref	HAY127

1. Key purpose of job

• To support the Director of Pride in Place, Divisional Director Place Strategy and senior leadership team in delivering corporate plan objectives to make Torbay a better place to live, work and visit.
• Flexibly leading and delivering a broad range of key interventions and opportunities from a strategic agenda to enhance Torbay and its neighbourhoods – leading to Pride in Place.
• Lead on partnerships and stakeholder relations including the Torquay and Torbay Place Leadership Boards and act as guardian for the Torbay Story, driving internal and external use and ownership.
• Lead and manage the Council’s economic development and cultural activities working with other internal services and external partners to formulate creative solutions and long-term approaches to ensure that there is a strong local economy and cultural identity in and for Torbay.
• To work effectively with Members and other Council service areas, including Children’s and Adult Social Care, to ensure that everyone benefits from a prosperous local economy.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Economic growth and cultural vibrancy which brings about an increase in economic activity and community participation in cultural events.
• Delivery of high-impact projects that support Torbay’s Corporate Plan, economic development and cultural strategies visibly improving quality of life and civic pride across Torbay’s communities.
• The business unit effectively and efficiently delivers its service plan.
• Opportunities for external investment in support of economic development and cultural activity through grant, commercial income or sponsorship are optimised.
• Strengthened and proactive partnership working through effective coordination of the Torquay and Torbay Place Leadership Boards, enabling shared vision, policy alignment and joint action.
• Widespread adoption and use of the Torbay Story across sectors, embedding a cohesive place narrative to attract investment, build pride, and promote the area regionally and nationally.
• Effective management of tenants and contracts under the remit of the role (EPIC, Cockington Court, Torre Abbey and the tenants for Princess Theatre/Palace Theatre). 

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.
• To be responsible for and provide effective management and leadership for a diverse range of services that requires detailed knowledge on several sectors and disciplines that will require complex decision making.
• To provide strategic direction to the Council to ensure that the Council can best meet its corporate plan commitments in respect of economy and culture.
• To lead the development and implementation of the Council’s economic and cultural strategies and any linked action plans. 
• To drive performance across the service identifying opportunities to attract investment, support economic growth and promote cultural activities to improve outcomes for Torbay’s residents.
• To identify and pursue opportunities for economic growth.
• Successful coordination and strategic oversight of the Pride in Place programmes for Torquay and Paignton ensuring they deliver agreed outcomes.
• Attend Council meetings, Cabinet briefings, partner forums and regional events to support policy development and represent Torbay’s place agenda.
• Provide strategic support to the Torbay and Torquay Place Leadership Boards, including management of their work programmes and business case facilitation of joined-up leadership.
• Convene, lead or support working groups and thematic networks to inform the work of the Place Leadership Boards, including ensuring representation from underrepresented voices. 
• Lead engagement with public, private and third sector stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and promote alignment around shared priorities.
• Act as custodian of the Torbay Story, ensuring its use is embedded across council services and partners, and that it reflects evolving local aspirations.
• Build and mobilise the Torbay Champions Network to drive advocacy, civic pride and active community involvement in place development.
• To oversee the culture and events programme ensuring effective partnership working, strategic direction and project delivery of this work.
• To provide strategic linkage with other Council priorities, working across the different Council service areas to ensure that economy and culture is encompassed within appropriate corporate strategies and policy approaches. Engage with Members and other Council service areas including Children’s and Adult Social Care to ensure that. 
• To prepare and present reports to Council, Executive and Overview and Scrutiny meetings, and provide responses on behalf of the Council to policy and consultation documents.
• To provide expert advice on relevant legislation and policy and ensuring that the Council is compliant with national requirements and good practice.
• To lead and manage professional staff in the economy and culture teams, fostering a culture of excellence and providing training and development opportunities for staff.
• To ensure effective allocation and use of the resources the post is responsible for including reporting on delivery against Council’s priorities and against relevant KPIs as well as managing risk.
• Undertake any other relevant duties that may be required and are commensurate with the nature and grade of the post.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• Managing revenue budgets and capital funding to support the culture and events and economic development programmes currently circa £4M per annum.
• The postholder will have responsibility for the financial management of the English Riviera Airshow and other events with a gross spend of circa £1M.
• Responsible for oversight of the operation of assets including EPIC, Cockington Court and Torre Abbey.
• The postholder is expected to periodically have responsibility for funding allocated to the Council such as the Pride in Place Programme.
• The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that commissioning of projects and the management of contracts meets the required need but also provides value for money.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Direct line management of the following posts:
• Line Management of Economic development leads; Economy Manager, Epic Manager, Cockington court Centre Director and Cockington Cafe manager.
• Direct line management of Service Manager for Culture and Events.
• The Town Centre Manager.
• To undertake regular one to ones, appraisals and support staff in their professional development having regard to health and safety, HR policies and the overall needs of the service and the Council.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working conditions with occasional visits off site typically to Council sites i.e. EPIC, Cockington Court, Torre Abbey. 
• On occasion the postholder is likely to visit event sites and/or construction sites where appropriate PPE will be required.

7. Physical demands of the post

• The postholder must be able to attend evening meetings on occasion and travel to key sites for onsite meetings if required.
• Normal physical demands of the post. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal Resources. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Torbay Business Forum, Devon Chamber of Commerce, Torbay Hi Tech Cluster, English Riviera BID, Culture organisations, MHCLG, DWP, Arts Council England, South Devon College, other statutory or key consultees as required.

Internal

• Divisional Director of Place Strategy, Director of Pride in Place, Council senior leadership team including other heads of service, Cabinet and wider members. 

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 Torhill House 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	Strategic Lead for Place
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Place Strategy
Business unit	Economy & Culture

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• The ability to lead and inspire diverse teams.
• Ability to develop and implement long term strategies.
• Verbal and written communication skills commensurate with the role.
• Networking and relationship building.
• Ability to analyse data and make informed decisions and recommendations based on the data.
• Demonstrable project management skills with the ability manage multiple projects simultaneously including target setting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent organisational skills and workload management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior officers, Elected Members, managers, staff, colleagues and partners.
• An ability to work effectively in a political environment. 

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Knowledge of the economic development profession with a strong grasp of Economic Development and understanding of relevant policy.
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret complex economic information, policy and guidance to inform the development of local strategies, policies and procedures which are compliant with national requirements and represent good practice.
• Understanding of economic development principles and economic growth strategies.
• Knowledge of local, regional, and national economic policies and their impact on community development.
• Familiarity with business attraction, retention, and expansion strategies.
• Insight into cultural trends, heritage, and the arts.
• Awareness of cultural diversity and inclusion practices.
• Knowledge of organizing and promoting cultural events and activities.

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of local government structures, process and issues, including financing.
• An understanding of the principles and practices of event planning.
• An understanding of community needs.
• Familiarity with relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Significant experience working at a senior level within a local authority Economic Development or Culture team.
• Experienced in developing and managing relationships. Demonstrable experience of successful partnership working with businesses, and organisations and agencies that support economic development and/or culture.
• Experience of managing complex, high-profile projects involving a broad range of partners stakeholders to achieve defined outcomes. 
• Experience of commissioning and managing funded projects and services delivered through Grant and Service Level Agreements as well as contract management. 
• Experience of managing substantial budgets. 
• Performing market research and gathering data.
• Preparing and presenting presentations and reports to members, managers and partners at a senior level.

Desirable experience and achievements

N/A

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Membership of a relevant professional body. 

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 shift patterns.
• Ability to accommodate on-call working.
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.
• Self-starter, highly organised and driven individual, with a strong ability to negotiate and achieve results.
• Excellent, written, oral communication skills and IT literacy.
• Keen practitioner of excellent customer care standards in all service delivery.