Job Description
Job Title: Chief Executive
Location: Within Walsall Metropolitan Borough
Grade: Chief Executive
Car Allowance: Essential User
Purpose of Job:
- To provide high quality corporate and strategic leadership that ensures the overall implementation of the Council's vision and objectives and the modernisation of the Council.
- To lead the transformation of the Council's management and service delivery.
- To provide leadership and a strong sense of purpose throughout the Council.
- To manage the member/officer interface and ensure effective governance.
- To develop and sustain effective partnerships and external relationships and to enhance the Council's reputation and credibility.
Responsibility Links:
Reports to: Leader of the Council
Main Activities:
- To head the Council's paid service and have overall responsibility for all staff.
- To act as the principal policy adviser to the Council and to develop with members a clear strategic vision for the Council.
- To lead the corporate delivery of the Council's vision, policies and priorities. To ensure that these are understood and implemented across all Council services.
- To develop, lead and co-ordinate strategies that will transform the management and quality of the Council's services and deliver significant and sustained improvements.
- To work with elected members, Government Departments and external agencies to develop and implement strategies that will overcome the Council's fundamental weaknesses and deliver effective governance, management and service outcomes.
- To lead and develop the Executive Management Team ensuring that it provides a high standard of strategic leadership and corporate working and a determined and focussed approach to the transformation of the Council's services.
- To inspire, motivate and develop the Council's workforce so that they have a real sense of ownership of the Council's aims and objectives and to develop a strong performance culture throughout the organisation that connects strategies to action, provides clear accountability and delivers results.
- To improve the overall health of the organisation and its corporate effectiveness through setting and monitoring clear standards of performance.
- To ensure that the Council's financial and human resources are planned, deployed and controlled effectively and that the Council's systems, processes and management arrangements support its strategic and operational objectives.
- To develop and promote strong partnerships with residents, other public sector organisations and agencies, local businesses and the voluntary and community sectors that provide joint solutions to the regeneration of the Borough, the effective delivery of services and improve the quality of life of local people.
- Through personal example, open commitment and clear action, value and celebrate the diversity of the Borough's communities, ensuring equality of access and treatment in employment and service delivery.
- To enhance and build the Council's reputation and to act as an ambassador for the Borough.
Person Specification
Part One
Background and Experience
- Consistent achievement of strong and purposeful leadership at a Chief Executive or senior management level, within a local authority or a multi-functional organisation of comparable scope, size and complexity.
- A proven track record of successful corporate management and leading in the formulation and delivery of corporate objectives, policies and strategies within a challenging political environment.
- Experience and success in transforming an organisation, leading major organisational and cultural change and securing the commitment of staff and stakeholders.
- A proven track record of improving performance, delivering results and establishing a strong performance culture.
- A successful track record of building productive relationships with politicians, external partners and stakeholders at all levels.
- Extensive experience of successful strategic financial and people management within a large complex organisation.
- Evidence of personal leadership in achieving equality of opportunity in employment and service delivery.
Part Two
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- A comprehensive understanding of local government, the modernisation agenda, and the national and political context within which it operates.
- Well developed leadership skills that encourage commitment from others and promote a positive and motivated organisational culture.
- An ability to operate with authority and sensitivity within a difficult political environment in a manner that commands respect, trust and confidence. Highly developed political management skills.
- An ability to maintain a strategic overview of issues affecting the Council and manage competing priorities.
- An ability to make difficult decisions in a challenging environment and to remain firm in the face of adversity and conflict.
- Excellent communication and negotiating skills and an ability to influence outcomes through effective reasoning and persuasion.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and an ability to relate to and win the confidence and trust of staff, residents, partners and stakeholders.
- Financial and commercial awareness, with strong analytical skills and a creative approach to problem solving.
- An ability to develop and implement effective corporate strategies that deliver results.
- An ability to provide clear, appropriate, balanced and unambiguous advice.
- An ability to manage corporate and individual performance in a manner that raises standards and delivers measurable improvements.
Personal Qualities
- An inspirational and motivational leader with high levels of energy, stamina and resilience.
- Confidence and natural authority that commands respect. A determined, resolute and decisive agent of change who will not be thrown off course.
- A clear-sighted, lateral and strategic thinker with an ability to challenge constructively.
- A strong commitment to local democracy, social justice, equality and accountability to the community.
- A collaborative team worker with excellent interpersonal and communication skills who can build positive relationships and work effectively across boundaries and achieve results through others.
- Personal conduct, integrity and credibility that commands the confidence of members, managers, staff, local communities, external partners and stakeholders.