Job description

Embodying the Council's Vision and Values, you will closely partner Elected Members, provide imaginative and inspiring leadership and ensure effective engagement with residents and stakeholders - making Chorley a flagship Borough as well as a great place to live and work.

Job Purpose

To lead, inspire and manage the Senior Management and staff of the Council to deliver the Council's Vision, Values and objectives, ensuring that all resources are used effectively in a co-ordinated approach to delivering excellent customer services to residents.

To be a partner to Elected Members in providing leadership, vision and strategic direction to the Council and the Community.

To provide managerial leadership of the organisation in the Corporate Plan and improvements following the publication of the CPA Assessment.

To be an ambassador for the Council and ensure it is fully engaged with its stakeholders and communities.

To be Head of the Council's Paid Service.

Main Responsibilities

Elected Members

S/he will work in partnership with the Members to determine the corporate culture of the Council and will support and advise Members on the development and implementation of Council policy.

To advise the leader, Cabinet and Council on appropriate organisational structures to meet the Council's service priorities and ensure that statutory obligations are met within existing resources.

Act as the principal adviser to Elected Members in the recruitment and selection of Chief Officers.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Leader of the Council and all Members, and managing the interface between Officers and Members of the Council and supporting Members in their civic duties.

Support Members in building and fostering effective relations regionally and nationally, for example with the ODPM and LGA; and support Members in their role as local community leaders by advising on building and fostering relationships with other community groups, Local Authorities, agencies and the voluntary sector.

Work with Elected Members in developing effective communication strategies internally and externally, including the media.

Leadership

Provide decisive leadership for the organisation, establishing a clear model of leadership, pursuing the vision, strategic goals and priorities of the Council.

Work with political understanding and sensitivity, promoting a culture of political awareness that helps translate political will into appropriate future strategies.

Promote a positive image of the Council and the Borough as an effective service provider and as a place to live and work.

Promote the Council's commitment to valuing diversity and providing equal access to service delivery, ensuring that all resident and service users are treated with fairness, equality and respect.

Performance Management

Create a culture of continuous improvement and act as a role model to inspire all employees to promote the values of the Council and present a positive image to the community.

Inspire and shape the organisation to deliver effective and efficient services through a framework of performance management.

Provide a framework within which to challenge service provision, ensuring that effective and efficient services are delivered to the community, through maximising resources, incorporating best practice and utilising new technology and innovation.

Ensure that service delivery is supported by a comprehensive performance management system that tracks the implementation of corporate priorities and objectives.

Policy Development

Promote the development of effective policies in response to the changing demands imposed by legislation, Government intervention and service demands.

Act as principal adviser on policy and ensure Members are able to formulate and determine policy in a way consistent with the effective, financially prudent and legal administration of the Council. 

People Management

To motivate and manage the staff of the Authority at a time of significant change and development, promoting learning and development and supporting a performance management culture.

To manage and develop an effective management team, acting as line manager to the members of the team and responsible for appraisal of team members.

Ensure the Council's commitment to equality of opportunity for all employees within a culture of fairness, equity and respect is achieved through the effective implementation of policies.

Relationships

Foster, develop and lead effective partnership arrangements with both internal and external stakeholders, including Local Strategic Partnership working.

Work effectively with the Audit Commission and ODPM as well as other national and local agencies and organisations.

Facilitate the development of partnership arrangements to ensure that the Council and Members are able to effectively fulfil their role in community leadership.

Represent the Council on partnership and external bodies as required by the Cabinet.

Customer Services

Ensure that all service delivery is customer focused and delivered within a framework that supports valuing diversity, inclusion and access.

Act as a pro-active ambassador for the Council, creating the mind set for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements.

Specific Duties 

Undertake all duties in accordance with Council policies and statutory obligations.

Together with the Monitoring Officer, be responsible for a system of record keeping for all the Council's decisions (executive or otherwise).

Together with the Section 151 Officer, be responsible for a proper system of accounting and budgeting. As Head of the Council's Paid Service to be accountable for maintaining the financial probity of the Council.

Act as Electoral Registration Officer and to be responsible for all electoral matters.

Have a co-ordinating and directional function in relation to emergency planning and emergencies.