ABOUT THE ROLE
As our Chief Officer Economy and Skills, you have an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Leeds. With your compelling record and innovative approach, you can make a real difference for residents and their communities, businesses and everyone who visits or works in the city. The service covers Economic Development and Policy, Business Support, Innovation, International Relations, Inward Investment, Visitor Economy and Employment and Skills.
This is a high-profile role at the heart of collaborative efforts to develop our city for the better. You will lead teams in City Development dedicated to delivering our Inclusive Growth Strategy alongside key partners, whether through creating new jobs, supporting businesses, growing economic sectors, promoting enterprise or developing economic policy.
Alongside driving economic growth, a key strand to this work is skills development and supporting people into jobs. Our Ofsted outstanding Employment and Skills service supports local people into work, training or education opportunities. The service also works with businesses to help them recruit, retain and develop a skilled and inclusive workforce and contribute to the city’s economic growth.
THIS ROLE IS BASED IN THE UK. HOME OFFICE GUIDANCE STATES THAT CANDIDATES MUST EVIDENCE THEIR RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK PRIOR TO COMMENCING EMPLOYMENT, EITHER AS A UK OR IRISH CITIZEN, UNDER THE EU SETTLEMENT SCHEME OR HAVING SECURED ANY OTHER RELEVANT WORK VISA.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Play a key role in interpreting, shaping and implementing policy at international, national, regional and local level, through a range of formal and informal networks including but not limited to Core Cities, Innovation Networks and the Inclusive Growth Network.
- Provide strategic leadership, advice and expertise to decision makers across the Council on Economic Development matters.
- Work with key partners at national, regional and local level (including the MCA, HE&FE, Government and Business) and in collaboration with colleagues and partners, support the delivery of real economic change across the city.
- Work across the Council to implement and deliver economic and skills programmes including ecosystem and sector development into place propositions.
- Delivery of key employment and skills, innovation, business support, economic strategy and policy, and visitor destination partnerships, for the success of the city.
- Promote and maximise opportunities to enhance the economy and support local employment (for example through facilitating the delivery of major investments in the city).
- Support the Director by leading a major area of the Directorate to ensure delivery of Best Value services to customers, to meet the objectives of the Council Corporate Plan and comply with Government Standards.
- Monitor and review the achievement of targets and activity and take action to ensure targets are met and improvements achieved.
- Lead on the relationship with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on Economic Development and Policy, Business Support, Employment and Skills and Destination Marketing including inward investment.
- Ensure that the Council has strong strategic relationships with businesses, providing advocacy and support particularly in key sectors including digital, financial and professional services, health and manufacturing and with business representative organisations (e.g. Chamber of Commerce and CBI).
- Develop and nurture key partnerships in support of the delivery of inclusive growth. Specifically, ensure the success of the Leeds Anchors Network, the Business Anchors Network, the Leeds Innovation Partnership and the Future Talent Board.
- Play a key role in the Best Council Leadership Team and actively support the Council Corporate Leadership Team in ensuring our organisational developments and improvements remain focused on delivering improved outcomes for local people.
- Meet agreed objectives as laid out in Council and Directorate plans ensuring compliance with legislation and, where appropriate, national standards, in pursuit of excellence in service delivery.
- Lead managers within the service to develop a high performing workforce and manage resources to achieve service and overarching objectives in line with the city agreed prioritisation.
- Undertake effective consultation and engagement activities and communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders in accordance with Council policy.
- Support open, responsive and accountable government, ensuring governance compliance with financial and procurement procedures.
- Lead, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
- Manage all aspects of risk and be accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and relevant health and safety policies.
- As a member of Strategic Leadership Team, to support the Director and other Chief Officers in the achievement of city wide outcomes.
- Actively drive and deliver continuous improvement initiatives taking the strategic lead in developing the service in the context of city, regional and national priorities.
- Lead and contribute to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate Management Teams.
- Actively support Corporate Management Team in achieving continuous improvement across the Council and; as a member of Directorate Management team, develop and implement initiatives to support continuous improvement in the Directorate Services.
- Work with elected members, service users, community representatives and other stakeholders in ways which support open, responsive and accountable government providing appropriate advice relating to the work of the Directorate to Members and council officers so as to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
- In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the Directorate.
- Set and deliver transformational goals with broad perspectives and long term timelines, which maximises effective resource management, ensures financial compliance and is responsive to sector and city priorities. Plans are in place to meet priorities; budgets are maximised and there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.
Qualifications Relevant Degree and post graduate qualification together with in depth experience at a senior level within the service area or relevant environment is essential.
Working Context - Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Able to raise the profile of Leeds nationally and internationally to attract inward investment, support trade, enhance the city reputation and grow the visitor economy.
- Able to make reasoned and logical decisions allied with high level organisational skills.
- Able to take responsibility, through concurrent delegation authority arrangements, for relevant statutory economic development and employment and skills related matters.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the legislative, strategic and policy context of inclusive economic growth.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to the specified portfolio areas.
- Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility for the Council and the service.
- Evidence of working in a multi-agency environment and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.
- Experience of successful leadership and management of large scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.
- Significant successful senior leadership experience.
- Substantial experience of operating in a political environment.
- Extensive experience of exercising sound judgement and providing clear advice at senior level.
- Experience of developing and implementing highly complex strategies leading to successful outcomes
As our Chief Officer Economy and Skills, you will be qualified to postgraduate level in a relevant subject area, or have equivalent experience. In addition you will bring to the role:
- substantial experience at senior level in the service area or a related setting of Economic Development
- in-depth understanding of the legislative, strategic and policy context of inclusive economic growth and innovation
- evidence of success in driving partnership programmes to deliver cross-sector priorities
- strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and raise the profile of the council and the city regionally, nationally and internationally
- sound judgment and reasoned decision-making with experience of operating in a political environmen
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