Job Description
Job title: Chief executive
Responsible to: The council, through the leader of the council
Responsible for: • Strategic management
• Leadership including responsibilities as head of paid services
• Partnership and community development
• Resource management
• Working with members
• Equality and diversity
Main purpose of job: • To provide leadership in the strategic management of the council and to
support members with the objective of achieving its vision, priorities, aims and ambition for Slough.
• To be the head of paid service and ensure that the council is organised efficiently and effectively to deliver excellent customer focused services.
• To enhance the reputation of the council with residents, businesses and other stakeholders.
Main responsibilities: Strategic management
1. To ensure that the council’s vision, priorities and aims are made a reality by providing a clear sense of direction, optimism and purpose and by marshalling the resources of the whole organisation to achieve these ends.
2. To be the council’s principal adviser on corporate strategy by setting a clear framework for the development and achievement of corporate policies and objectives and through working effectively with members through the council’s democratic structure.
Leadership
3. To be the head of paid service and to lead the corporate management team so that positive contributions are made by directors in the development and implementation of policies that will optimise service delivery to the people of Slough.
4. To inspire, empower and develop the council’s workforce to secure a real sense of ownership of its vision and priorities, seek continuous improvement, encourage cross-council working and move decision making and responsibilities as close as possible to the point of service delivery.
5. To develop and maintain a flexible and focused organisation which is able to embrace, absorb and respond positively to changing requirements and priorities.
Partnership and community development
6. To lead the council’s commitment to working with a range of stakeholders with the aim of maximising positive and sustainable investment through the Slough Urban Renewal Project and other initiatives.
7. To develop and maintain effective systems of consultation, community involvement and partnership working to achieve the council’s community strategy.
8. To promote the interests and image of the council and enhance its influence in constructive relationships with key stakeholders in the community, in government and other public bodies, the voluntary sector and in the business community.
Resource management
9. To ensure that effective organisational structures and performance management systems are in place to plan, deliver and monitor strategic and service objectives.
10. To plan and keep under review the council’s budget strategy and other significant financial funding arrangements in line with the priorities agreed by the council; to ensure that budgets are monitored and controlled and that there is clear accountability.
Working with members
11. To have overall responsibility for the management of relationships between elected members, political groups and officers by establishing a clear understanding of roles and by developing and maintaining clearly understood procedures for converting policies into action within the constraints of propriety and legality.
12. To provide the leadership, communication and action that will exemplify the council’s values and commitment to value diversity, ensure equality of opportunity and strengthen cohesion in the community.
Person Specification Chief Executive
Competency / Attributes - Customer Focus, Development, Relationships, Personal Effectiveness, Expertise, Communication Skills, Health and Safety and Equalities / Essential/ Desirable / / Method: Application (A) Interview (I) Test (T)Experience / Significant experience as a senior director or as a chief / Essential / √√ / A/I
executive in local government or similar public sector
organisation with a track record of success as a senior
manager.
Successful corporate leadership with significant track / Essential / √√ / A/I
record in strategic planning and performance
management leading improved outcomes for local
people.
Successful working with elected members or / Essential / √√ / A/I
stakeholders and in building relationships of trust.
A track record of achievement in partnership working / Essential / √√ / A/I
with a wide range of stakeholders.
Establishing effective relationships with multicultural / Essential / √√ / A/I
communities and in dealing confidently with diversity
issues.
Successfully leading organisational change to achieve / Essential / √√ / A/I
major improvements.
Success in financial, people and resource management / Essential / √√ / A/I
of a significant scale and complexity.
A clear understanding of the major challenges in local / Essential / √√ / I/T
government and of the current social policy issues to be
faced in a multicultural urban environment.
Strategic planning and performance management / Essential / √√ / I/T
systems including external inspections.
Legislative and financial frameworks within which local / Essential / √√ / I
authorities operate.
High level of understanding and commitment to / Essential / √√ / I/T
diversity issues.
Knowledge / Has highly developed leadership skills to inspire / Essential / √√ / I/T
commitment from team’s individuals throughout the
council.
Has high personal credibility and political sensitivity to / Essential / √√ / I/T
work with elected members and a wide range of key
stakeholders.
Demonstrates a well developed strategic perspective / Essential / √√ / I/T
that can be applied to achieve results in a broad range
of corporate, community and services issues.
Has the ability to plan, organise and review corporate / Essential / √√ / I/T
systems and structures to deliver results and achieve
continuous improvement.
Can lead major changes in an inspirational way. / Essential / √√ / I/T
Communicates clearly and effectively to a range of / Essential / √√ / I/T
audiences and is confident in dealing with the media.
High interpersonal, influencing and persuasive skills / Essential / √√ / I/T
and is a good negotiator.
Can build effective partnerships with a wide range of / Essential / √√ / I/T
stakeholders.
Shows sound judgement, balanced decision making / Essential / √√ / I/T
and has good analytical skills.
Committed, robust, resilient and has the drive and / Essential / √√ / I/T
energy to achieve results within a challenging and
complex environment.
Key / Degree or equivalent qualification. / Essential / √√ / A
competencies / An appropriate professional qualification. / Desirable
Management qualification. / Essential / √√ / A
Evidence of continuing professional development. / Essential / √√ / A
Main conditions of service and benefits Chief executive
This post is subject to the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Chief Officers of Local Authorities terms and conditions as supplemented by Slough Borough Council local agreements.
Salary
Salary range is £132,544 - £159,054 per annum
Salaries are paid on or about the last working day of the month.
Annual increments are paid on 1 April each year subject to 6 months service and satisfactory performance.
Working hours
Hours of work are 37 hours per week at Slough. Slough encourages part time working/job share.
Flexible working
We support a range of flexible working arrangements to promote a work-life balance for our staff.
These are dependent on the operational needs of each service.
Pensions
As a local government employee you will have access to a high-quality pension scheme known as the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
The LGPS is a national scheme which is administered by geographical region.
Slough is a part of the Berkshire pension fund - administered by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on behalf of all the employers.
Unless you wish to opt out, you will become a member of the LGPS on starting a job at Slough Borough Council.
More details are available in the Guide to new Employees to the pension fund website: www.rbwm.gov.uk/berks-pension/index.htm
Annual leave
Our annual leave is generous and the longer you work for us and local government, the more you get. You are entitled to 30 days per annum per complete holiday year. The annual leave provision is increased to 32 days inclusive after 5 years’ service.
The annual leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
The yearly entitlement is based on full time staff; for part-time employees the entitlement is pro-rata.
You are also entitled to eight public and bank holidays - which is pro-rata for part time staff.
Mileage and subscriptions
Mileage
We reimburse all business mileage. Currently we pay 45p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles in a tax year and 25p per mile for each business mile over 10,000 in the tax year.
Business mileage taken on a motorcycle or bicycle is also reimbursed at 24p per mile for motorcycles and 20p per mile for a bicycle.
All mileage claims for cars and motorcycles are only valid when supported by VAT receipts.
Once a member of staff has hit 1,000 business miles or more in any one tax year they are paid a lump sum of £1,000.
Vehicles used for business need to be suitably insured.
Subscriptions
We will pay you for the cost of one professional subscription per annum which is relevant and necessary for the role.
Travelling
Car parking
Unlike many places, we have free car parking for staff just across the road from our main site called St Martins Place where 800 of our staff are based. We offer travel warrants to staff that need to travel on business via public transport.
Bike loans and pool bikes
But if you’d rather use two wheels - we offer a bike loan scheme for our staff, free secure bike parking and have shower facilities on site.
There are also pool bikes available to get you from A to B in the town during the day.
Season ticket loans
We offer all our staff an interest-free loan to buy an annual railway, London Underground or bus season ticket to cover travelling from home to work.
The scheme is available to all staff on a permanent contract and those on a fixed term contract where there is at least 12 months left to go.
Our location
Slough is one of the easiest places to get to in the country.
Two motorways, a mainline railway station and bus links across the area and we are also one of the least hilly places, making cycling a breeze.
And if you would rather take to the skies - Heathrow is a mere five miles away.
Slough is also only nine miles end-to-end and five miles top-to-bottom so many areas are also in easy walking distance.
Nearby
Thirty minutes to the West End and 10 minutes to Burnham Beeches; Slough and its surrounds have everything you could ever want. In the borough are 254 hectares of parks and open spaces - three of which have green flag status - including 76 playgrounds; with everything from historic Victorian pleasure grounds to football pitches and wildflower meadows. Not bad for one of the most urban areas in the country. There are shops galore in the High Street and retail parks, a cinema and the largest variety of food outlets outside London.
Events taking place this year include the bonfire and fireworks spectacular, annual canal festival and markets in the town centre.
And just down the road is the spectacular and historic Windsor Castle, host to many royal activities and the Windsor Great Park where you can truly get lost in the country.
With London a short train journey away the world of the capital is on our doorstep.
Money off deals
To help with that work-life balance, several local and national businesses offer great money off deals for our staff.
O2
Our corporate network provider, O2 offers staff and their friends and families special discount on pay monthly phone plans, home broadband and other products.
Kaarp benefits
From days out and holidays to gifts and flowers, Kaarp benefits offers our staff special deals on a whole range of activities.
Getting physical
With one of the town’s leisure centres just across the road from our main site and 20 percent off membership there is no excuse not to go to the gym or have a swim.
And you don’t have to pay a joining fee meaning peak time membership is just £31.20 per month and family membership (two adults and up to three children) is just £61 per month.
But if you would rather take to the ice, our Ice arena (also just across the road from our main site) offers
£3 off a general skate session during the week.
Discounted driving lessons
I-drive offer Slough staff discounted driving lessons.
Hotels
Want to stay in style on your holiday? Hilton hotels offer up to 40 percent off to our employees.
Food and drink
There are restaurants galore in Slough with some offering up to 20 percent off the price of food for our employees. Treat yourself to a pizza at Pizza Express with 20 percent off, a curry at Haveli or the Prince of India with 15 percent off or a range of Asian food at As Asia with 15 percent off.
Costco
Our employees can take out membership at Costco - the wholesale shop that gives access to top quality products and low prices.
Individual cost of a membership is just £25 a year, plus VAT, and includes a free spouse card.
Theatre tickets
If the theatre is your thing, then the West End Theatre Club offers our staff discounted tickets at top West End shows.
Childcare vouchers
As any working parent knows, arranging childcare can be a real headache and very expensive, but there are lots of options available to staff.
One option is the childcare voucher scheme.
Many people have asked whether they can still apply for childcare vouchers if they get child tax credit and working tax credit. The only people that aren’t eligible for the childcare voucher scheme are those that receive the childcare element of the working tax credit.
Further information about childcare vouchers is available through an organisation called Computershare. You have to register with them online. To find out more, visit the ComputerShare website. http://www.computersharevoucherservices.com/ Pages/default.aspx
If you are looking for childcare, Slough’s children’s centres provide a range of childcare services and staff may use the childcare vouchers at the centres. There are 10 children’s centres, each offering various options for childcare for children aged 6 months to 8 years, including full day care, crèches, before and after school clubs and holiday care.