Economic Policy Officer
RECRUITMENT INFORMATION
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM
All candidates should use the application form provided.
Thank you for your interest in the post of Economic Policy Officer. Please read this before completing your application.
Background
The Corporate Policy Unit is a busy policy, research and review unit at the heart of the local authority, comprising the Economic Strategy, Strategy and Research, Equality, and Performance teams. This post of Economic Policy Officer is based in the Economic Strategy Team. The functions of the unit and the main elements of its work programme are set out in the service plan attached to this information as Appendix A.
The post will contribute significantly to the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/policy--performance/what-we-want-to-achieve/corporate-plan-2008-11#bottompageanchor ), Sheffield’s City Strategy (http://www.sheffieldfirst.net/city-strategy ) and the Sheffield Economic Masterplan (http://www.creativesheffield.co.uk/MarketingSheffield/SheffieldEconomicMasterplan/).
Job Description
This role will assist the Economic Strategy Team in areas of economic policy and project development. In particular we are looking for help with making the Council and city more business friendly and to support the work of the city’s new economic partnership, the ‘Strong Economy Board’. The post requires strong written, verbal and graphical communication and presentation skills. The post holder will have the ability to work in a wide range of settings with internal and external stakeholders (including at Elected Member and Executive Management level) and strong analytical skills.
Person Specification
Ideally we are looking for candidates with a degree in a relevant subject. But what is more important to us is a track record of achievement in particular in relation to economic development, regeneration or an associated field. Most important of all is the talent and versatility to contribute to the work of a bust team and make a real difference to our work and the City. We are genuinely interested in suitably skilled candidates from a range of backgrounds and sectors.
You will need to work in a variety of settings, with partner agencies, managers, front-line employees, customers, Council Members, and so will need excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be proactive and motivated and be a good team worker.
You will also need to be well organised and flexible, have an ability to plan your work effectively, be self-motivated, and be capable of delivering to tight deadlines.
A person specification is enclosed.
Applications
All candidates should use the application form provided. Please enclose with your application a report or paper which you have written personally, which would illustrate your writing and analytical skills.
Management Accountability
The post holder will be accountable to the Economic Strategy Manager, within the Corporate Policy Unit.
Flexible Working Hours
Working hours are 37 hours per week. The post is offered on a flexible working hours basis. It may be necessary to work outside normal hours on occasions and flexibility will be expected in these circumstances.
Training
Essentially we are looking for someone who can make an early impact. Personal and professional development will be available to refine and develop particular skills.
Salary
Salary will be in the range of £28,270 - £34,107 (SUG 8/9) (pay award pending). Sheffield City Council is currently undertaking a pay and grading review - as part of the review, the grade and salary for this post may be subject to change.
Car Allowance
Driving ability and vehicle would be useful but are not essential. Successful candidates will be entitled to casual user car mileage allowance. We cannot provide car parking facilities, for commuting purposes.
Political Restrictions
The post will involve providing policy advice to Council Members and so is 'politically restricted' under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This places certain restrictions on the post holder’s party political activities; for example the post holder cannot hold party political office, or canvass support for political parties.
Applicants
We would also be particularly interested in applications from ethnic minority candidates and people with disabilities.
This is a permanent position.
Timetable
Application forms (CVs will NOT be accepted) should be returned by 5.00pm 18th May 2008 to HR First. Capita HR, Derwent House, 150 Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 2JY.
Assessment will take the form of an assessment centre and interview.
Further Information
If you would like an informal discussion about the post please contact Edward Highfield on 0114 20 39161.
Ron Barrowclough
Assistant Chief Executive – Policy and Performance
April 2009
Pay Review
Post Economic Policy Officer x 2
Post reference number 1467CCP
Closing date 18/05/2009
Sheffield City Council is in the consultation phase of a pay review, which will end on 7 June 2009. These outcomes may affect the basic pay of this job and any allowances paid for evening, night or weekend working.
The impact on this job
Under the pay review the following has been proposed for this post:
Proposed grade 9
Salary range of the proposed grade £34,207 to £38,575
Spinal column points (SCP) on this pay scale are 41 to 46
The proposed new allowances for working unsocial hours as part of a rota are as follows:
· If you are paid on the new spinal column point 27 or below, hours worked on Saturday or Sunday will be paid at time and a half.
· Hours worked between 8pm and 10pm will be paid at time and a fifth
· Hours worked between 10pm and 6am will be paid at time and a third.
Frequently Asked Questions – The Pay Review
We have provided answers to a number of questions that you may want to ask.
Why is the Council reviewing its pay and grading system?
This is something that we committed to do several years ago, along with other local authorities throughout the country. We are making sure that the way employees are paid is consistent across the Council. Also, because of equal pay legislation, the Council has to be sure that employees receive equal pay for work of equal value. That means that if we have assessed two completely different jobs as being the same (in terms of complexity and responsibility, for example), we will pay them the same.
PTO
If I am successful in my application, what will happen?
The new pay structure and terms and conditions are only proposals at the moment, which means that they may still change through consultation with our Trade Union representatives and employees. This period of consultation is due to come to a close on 7 June 2009.
If you are successful at interview, we will offer you this job at the pay rate that applies at the time. You will be consulted about the pay review and have the right to appeal alongside our existing employees.
We are trying to reach a collective agreement with the Trade Unions, which would change everyone’s contract of employment. If we don’t manage to do this, then we will ask each individual employee to agree to the changes.
Where can I find out more information?
If you are shortlisted for an interview, the interview panel will tell you more about the pay for the job and how the pay review is progressing.
If you need more information about the pay package for this job before deciding whether to apply for it, then please get in touch with the person shown for informal enquiries on the job description.
Appendix A
Chief Executive’s
Directorate
Corporate Policy Unit
Service Plan
2009 - 2010
Contents / Page1. / Mission Statement / 1
2. / Contribution to City & Council Priorities / 1
3. / Achievements in 2008/09 / 1
4. / Key Challenges & Opportunities / 2
5. / Priorities for 2009/10 / 3
6. / Summary of Objectives for 2009/10 / 4
7. / Objectives for 2009/10 / 5
8. / Summary of Service Budget / 12
Service Context
1. Mission Statement
1.1. To provide a corporate strategy and performance management function which is flexible, high quality and good value for money.
2. Contribution to Council Ambitions and Priorities
2.1. CPU contributes to all the City and Council priorities through:
· Coordinating research intelligence about the state of Sheffield
· Coordination of the Sheffield First Agreement (with Sheffield First)
· Preparation of the Council’s corporate plan
· Preparing strategies to deliver key aspects of the plan
· Performance management of the Sheffield First Agreement and the Council’s corporate plan
· Embedding equality of opportunity in all the Council’s work
· Coordinating the business through Executive Management Team and Directors Group and the City Executive Board
2.2. In addition the unit has specific responsibilities in relation to the Leading Sheffield’s Transformation ambition, including
· Providing executive and strategic support for the new Strong Economy Board
· Leading on the Delivering for Business programme
· Managing the LEGI-funded enterprise programme
· Discharging the client role for Creative Sheffield and Yorkshire South Tourism
3. Achievements
3.1. Key achievements during 2008/09 include:
· Formulated and agreed with Government the Sheffield First Agreement 2008-11.
· Established the city performance management framework
· Coordinated policy review process, developed the Corporate Plan 2008-11, promoted its use as the key corporate framework for all the Council’s activity.
· Reshaped the Council’s performance reporting arrangements, including establishing a new Council wide reporting system based on the new Corporate Plan priorities
· Achieved a 4 star ‘improving well’ Comprehensive Performance assessment rating, and a clean data quality audit
· Served on and supported the Executive Management Team through a period of transition
· Established consultation tracker for EMT
· Organised a range of equal opportunity events, including the European Diversity Day video competition, which Sheffield won.
· Yorkshire Forward funding for Creative Sheffield secured and contracted
· ‘Delivering for Business’ programme commissioned, programme managed and largely delivered
· Initiated regular reports on issues relating to the economic downturn – well received by Members, Sheffield First Partnership and wider stakeholders
· Completion of Electric Works capital works, including securing additional external funding and early tenants
· Secured an additional £4.8m of European funding to enhance the enterprise programme and help extend it city-wide.
· Achieved an estimated 287 business start ups during the year. Made 68 loans to new entrepreneurs. Enterprise Champions have an active caseload of 1100 clients
· Dealt with a shortfall of £0.5m in European funding in relation to Yorkshire South Tourism
· Won ‘Best UK Destination’ award in 2008 and 2009 for business tourism, awarded by the industry
· Supported the new Deputy Chief Executive on a number of initiatives, including work on Area-based Grant, Sustainable Communities Act, Community Involvement Strategy, Regional Improvement and Efficiency Programme, and the voluntary sector review.
· Achieved Chartermark accreditation for Corporate Policy Unit with no partial compliances
4. Key Challenges and Opportunities
· Economic recession
· Rapidly changing population profile of the city
· New regional level arrangements for tourism
· New inspection regimes for the Council and the city
· New equality legislation
· New Council managerial leadership
· A range of organisational change issues within the Council
· Strengthening partnership agenda within the city and city region
5. Priorities for 2009/10 (up to 200 words)
· To establish a plan to co-ordinate research across the Council and other partners, including putting in place a sound, shared cross-agency understanding of the way the city is changing.
· To make sure the Council’s approach to the economic recession is well informed, positive and coordinated effectively.
· To get to grips with and deliver a good result on the new Comprehensive Area Assessment and Organisation Assessment/Use of Resources inspection regimes
· To simplify the strategy and delivery arrangements for economic development and to provide high quality support for the new Strong Economy Board
· To ensure the Council responds positively to the requirements of the new Equality Act and is compliant on all legislation
· To build community involvement more centrally into the Council’s work
· To deal with rapidly expanding calls on the unit and to secure a more disciplined approach to commissioning of work from CPU
· To resolve a range of organisational issues, clarifying (and where necessary redefining) the unit’s role and responsibilities in relation to the rest of the organisation.
· To redefine the role of Yorkshire South Tourism in the light of the new arrangements at regional level
· To strengthen the performance management of Creative Sheffield
· To embed programme-led delivery
· To strengthen public health work in the Council and deliver the action plan agreed
· To review findings to the voluntary community sector and with partners review the sector as a whole
· To submit Sustainable Community Act proposals to government by July
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6. Summary of Service Objectives
Objective / Council Ambition / Direct Contribution to Priority / Direct Reporting Line / Staff Resource / Non-Staff Revenue Budget / Capital Budgete.g EMT / £ / £ / £
Ensure delivery of Corporate Plan / C/VfM / MEO / EMT / 100 / 5 / 0
Coordinate research intelligence across Council City / C/VfM / MEO / EMT / 80 / 20 / 0
Provide high quality support for EMT / C/VfM / MEO / EMT / 20 / 0
Promote equality of opportunity / C/VfM / MEO/CF / EMT / 130 / 10 / 0
Manage performance effectively / C/VfM / MEO / EMT / 260 / 20 / 0
Provide strategic support for economic development work / LST / DBEE / Strong Economy Board / 150 / 60 / 0
Increase enterprise / LST / DBEE / Creative Sheffield Board / 290* / 4960 / 1639*
Promote tourism / LST / PM / YST Board / 260** / 0
Make CPU more customer focused, productive and a better place to work. / C/VfM / MEO / SMT / 10 / 0 / 0
Review role and funding of Volcom Sector / VSSC / SC / EMT / tbc / tbc / Tbc
Strengthen Council’s work on public health and health in equality / SPHI / IPH / EMT / tbc / tbc / Tbc
Strengthen community involvement in the work of the Council / VSSC/C/VfM / SC/RC / EMT / Tbc / tbc / tbc
To debate areas to put forward to government for SCA / C/VfM / MEO / EMT / tbc / tbc / Tbc