Director of Place and Communities

Purpose

A pivotal role in our most senior team, reporting to the Chief Executive and providing strategic leadership and support to Elected Members.

The postholder will be a key member of the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team and will lead and shape services ensuring that resources are developed and deployed in the most effective and sustainable way.

With responsibility for ‘place shaping’ and delivering physical transformation, the postholder will lead inward investment, creating the conditions for jobs and growth in South Tyneside, as well as delivering excellent front line services to residents.

This is a key role in delivering our overarching vision of making South Tyneside a place where people live healthy, happy and fulfilled lives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a group of services and highly experienced leaders – setting direction, establishing priorities, building capacity, maintaining focus, and delivering value for money and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that all statutory duties and roles within the remit of the Directorate are fulfilled including those that relate to planning, transport, housing safety, environmental and regulatory services.
• Implement a comprehensive skills strategy ensuring local people have diverse and improved education and training opportunities to help them access local jobs.
• Ensure there are key strategic infrastructure plans to accommodate the housing needs of future generations, including delivery of the Local Plan and close working with the Director of Adult Social Services and Commissioning to ensure adequate Adult Social Care provision.
• Ensure the Council’s Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO), South Tyneside Homes, delivers high quality housing services for residents in the Borough, regardless of tenure, in line with our statutory responsibilities.
• Oversee the client function for our ALMO, South Tyneside Homes and tightly manage the risks and transformation requirements of any changes to the Councils operating model relating to social housing.
• Ensure South Tyneside has modern, well connected transport networks and residents and businesses benefit from improved and more resilient transport infrastructure, both across and flowing to and from the Borough.
• Ensure the delivery of the Council’s area management and environmental priorities, through responsive and high-performing delivery teams.
• Oversee and deliver our Sustainable South Tyneside Strategy, supporting the Council to achieve its carbon neutral ambitions by 2030.
• Identify and lead, alongside all Directors, the Council’s transformational priorities including commercial opportunities to make the Council more financially resilient.
• Ensure the Council continues to ‘punch above its weight’ nationally, regionally and locally through its economic, regeneration and strategic priorities.
• Take on a full and active, cross-cutting role in the leadership of the Council acting in the best interests of South Tyneside to maintain the corporate wellbeing of the organisation.
• Work closely with Elected Members to drive forward opportunities and developments and actively engage Elected Members in shaping excellent services.
• Lead and contribute to, regional and national leadership roles, including the North East Combined Authority and work with MHCLG on the Region’s plan surrounding the UK’s exit from the EU.
• Lead on developing a framework that accounts for the importance of ensuring quality of place forms a core element of high-quality service and delivery across the Borough.
• Have a transformational approach to area management focused on local neighbourhood issues that support the Council’s core ambitions.
• Oversee efficient and effective delivery of operational arrangements in waste management and recycling within the context of the existing waste partnership arrangements and emerging national policy.
• Support the Chief Executive and act as a substitute when required, including representing the Council and the Chief Executive at meetings, including those involving regional and national stakeholders.

Further Detail

The Director Place and Communities will be responsible for providing overall strategic direction to Directorate Leadership Team, as required, to deliver core business, and will have specific direct line management responsibility for a number of Heads of Service, Corporate Lead Officers and Senior Managers.

The Director of Place and Communities will have a number of specific corporate responsibilities including but not limited to:

• Regional Leadership via North East Combined Authority (NECA) Economic Directors Meetings
• North East Investment Board
• LGF Technical Steering Group
• ESIF Sub Committee
• Economic Development and Regeneration Advisory Board (EDRAB)
• Lead Director for Emergency Planning
• Lead Director for Sustainability
• Lead Director working with the Environment Agency

Qualities & Attribute

• Innovative strong leader
• Commitment to “excellent performance” and the highest standards of professionalism for self and whole team
• A “no boundaries approach” to resolving issues
• Self-awareness
• Energy, enthusiasm and pace
• Personal resilience and ability to work under pressure
• Probity and integrity
• Fairness and consistency

Comments

In addition to the above responsibilities and tasks, you may be required to undertake additional or other duties and responsibilities in order meet the needs of the Council, as determined by the Chief Executive.

South Tyneside Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and has a collective responsibility to provide the best start in life for children and young people and to act as a corporate parent for looked after children. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

All employees have a responsibility to undertake training and development as required. They also have a responsibility to assist, where appropriate and necessary, with the training and development of fellow employees.

All employees have a responsibility of care for their own and others’ health and safety.

The standard working week is 37 hours. The nature of the role is such that you will regularly need to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening meetings.

Experience

1. Substantial experience of operating within a global context at a strategic regional and national level with a proven track record of delivering economic regeneration and physical transformation of a significant scale.
2. Extensive experience organising, leading and managing multiple teams, developing employees and achieving results through others and a successful track record of leading and managing organisational and cultural change, engaging with and influencing a large workforce.
3. Substantial experience of strategically managing budgets or resources, evaluating competing budgetary priorities and delivering innovative solutions to traditional challenges.
4. Experience of working with and advising Elected Members.
5. Experience securing and managing commercial deals ensuring maximum value is achieved.
6. Proven experience in the strategic management and delivery of a group of services and a sound track record in the delivery and implementation of business strategies and plans.
7. Evidence of providing clear, balanced advice and guidance on strategic issues that achieve the corporate and service objectives of the organisation.
8. Evidence of negotiating at a senior level and experience of presenting at board level.
9. A proven track record of communicating effectively to a wide range of audiences both internally and externally to achieve the corporate and strategic objectives of a large organisation.
10. Experience of managing change in a large, comparable organisation.
11. Degree or equivalent professional level qualification in a relevant subject.
12. Evidence of appropriate Leadership Development.

Ability, Skills and Knowledge

1. An understanding of and commitment to the Council’s PROUD values and behaviours.
2. Ability to ensure equal access to and treatment in employment and services.
3. A strong communicator and influencer, able to apply a structured and disciplined approach to work activities. Ability to develop, communicate and gain ownership of a clear vision and direction.
4. Sound leadership skills and ability to provide coaching and employee guidance.
5. A “team player” who will actively participate in the strategic development of the Council.
6. Strong decision maker, positive and open-minded approach, innovative, and open for new solutions.
7. Ability to deliver results, work under pressure and deliver to tight deadlines.
8. Capable of leading by example, taking ownership and being accountable for deliverables.
9. Ability to lead change with both empathy and rigour.

Personal Style and Behaviour

1. At a position where you are seeking significant career challenge with the drive to succeed in this important role.
2. A commitment to the Council’s Vision and PROUD Values and behaviours.
3. Personal and professional demeanour and credibility which commands the confidence of Elected Members, senior managers, employees, the local community, external partners and other stakeholders.
4. A strategic thinker, able to manage a complex multi-discipline organisation.
5. Acts and thinks corporately with a collaborative style that empowers others.
6. Leads by example and delivers without supervision. Resilient and confident in own ability to make sound decisions incorporating information from varying sources.
7. A commitment to delivering outcomes.
8. A commitment to improve the quality of service to the community, best value and best practice.
9. Highly developed verbal, written and presentation skills.
10. Highly motivated, resilient and not easily discouraged.
11. A commitment to learning and personal development.
12. Imaginative problem solver, able to apply remedial actions to business issues and establish permanent solutions.
13. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, motivate and manage teams.
14. Commercially aware, focussed on customer service, possessing drive and determination to drive the business of the Council.