Job description - Deputy Chief Executive - City and Citizens' Services

Role information

Job Title: Deputy Chief Executive - City and Citizens' Services
Position Type: Permanent
Hours: 37
Grade and Salary: Deputy Chief Executive - £140,000 (pro rata for part time)
Location: Hybrid - Oxford Town Hall and Work from home
Service Area: City and Citizens' Services
Responsible to: Chief Executive
Responsible for: Headcount circa 400 employees
Assets: n/a
Budget: Total for directorates
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974: Not Exempt
Candidate Screening: Not required
Driving Licence: Not required
Political Restriction: This post is politically sensitive

Role purpose

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team to share collective responsibility for corporate leadership, working collaboratively with Members, services across the council, partners and stakeholders to deliver the councils objectives and priorities.

To be the council's lead strategic advisor and accountable for the successful development and delivery of programmes that drive continual improvement and value for money in services to citizens, communities and council tenants achieve the aims of the Council’s Corporate Strategy.

Role responsibilities and main duties

To deputise for the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service with authority to act in the Chief Executive’s absence.
To be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, working with elected Members to provide a clear Council vision, develop and deliver the council’s MTFP and Corporate Strategy and align resources and services to deliver these.
To have overall responsibility, oversight and ensure accountability for driving the performance of Council services in the allocated areas of responsibility to deliver agreed priorities and outcomes for citizens by working across the council, partners and community.
To drive and promote effective working with Members across services, ensuring engagement, transparency, advise and challenge to contribute to and deliver the Corporate Plan.
To provide strategic direction, guidance, coaching and support to Service Directors and Managers in your areas of responsibility
To have a transformative effect on ways of operating to drive high performing, value for money, sustainable and cost-effective services.
To drive and lead a collaborative organisational culture and develop high performing teams who are empowered to take ownership, learn, influence and deliver corporate objectives and exploit opportunities for joined up working.
Champion citizen focus in service delivery across the council, promoting customer insight data and a customer experience approach.
To be a champion for equalities and diversity principles, ensuring that they are integrated into all aspects of service delivery so that the needs of the whole community are met.
To be an ambassador for the city council with an outward focus to represent the council, make connections and champion effective partnership working to achieve the council’s objectives and improve service delivery.
To ensure that the council’s policy and practice in your areas of responsibility complies with all statutory and legislative obligations, and good practice across the sector.
To share collective responsibility for a sustainable and deliverable financial strategy across the organisation, ensuring senior leadership team engagement and ownership of strategic and integrated financial business and resource planning to support delivery of high quality services and priority projects
To work with the Chief Executive to promote strong governance and management of risk, whilst providing effective support, insight, clear and accurate advice, creative thinking, and appropriate challenge.
To work with the Chief Executive to ensure the effective governance and commissioning and clienting arrangements to support success of the Council’s wholly owned companies.
To serve as a Director on the Board of one or more of the Council’s wholly owned companies, joint ventures and partnerships, as required.
To provide strategic leadership in planning for emergencies ensuring that services have a sound approach to business continuity.

Specific responsibilities

The areas of responsibility and line management responsibility may change over time but at the commencement will include:

Citizens and Community services
Housing
Community Safety
Digital, Transformation and Design
Effective Governance, Clienting and Commissioning of Oxford Direct Services
Director on Board of ODST and ODSTL
Adhere to any Proper Officer responsibilities assigned to the role in the Council’s constitution

Act as the Council’s Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), to take the strategic lead for information security at the Council including ownership of the Information Risk Policy, risk assessment processes and information incident management framework, provision of advice to the Chief Executive or relevant Accounting Officer on the content of the annual governance statement in regard to information risks, lead and foster a culture that values, protects and uses information for the success of the organisation and benefit of its customers.

Who we are looking for

Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of demonstrating that they fulfil the following criteria that is listed to be ‘Assessed at: Application’ on their application form and should include clear examples of how they meet these criteria.
Each of the criteria below will be measured through, the application form, interview, test/exercise or documentation (eg a qualification document).

Essential Criteria

Significant experience of leadership at Executive or board level in a related field / sector, successfully leading diverse and multi- functional teams in a complex and agile organisation
Experience in leading one or more of the key areas of allocated responsibility and demonstrable ability to provide effective leadership in new areas of responsibility
Experience of creating, coaching, inspiring and sustaining high performing teams and collaboration to deliver successful outcomes against targets
Experience of developing and implementing complex programmes and projects, resources, budgets and stakeholders to drive efficiency, value for money, a focus on citizens and improve service outcomes
Political acumen – track record of working within a complex political environment, considering political interests and governance requirements and ability to liaise, advise, gain buy-in and support elected members
Significant experience of developing strategies and policies that drive improvement in services and outcomes
Experience of managing and leading organisational and cultural change in a complex organisation
Highly developed critical thinking, analytical and decision making skills
Exceptional communication and negotiation skills. Able to represent the organisation at high level with company chairs, CEOs and directors, and on external boards
Extensive experience of working with a wide range of partners to leverage maximum value from resources and opportunities and deliver impact
Understanding of the importance of and ability to operate within a robust governance structure, meeting specific budget, professional and legal standards, operating with integrity and upholding council and statutory responsibilities
Understanding of effective company governance, experience of being a company Director, developing and driving ambitious and successful business plans
An appreciation of innovation in technology and service delivery and how it can be used to improve outcomes, efficiency and promote inclusion
Track record of implementing and leading effective project and programme governance, reporting and decision making structures to drive quality and outcomes from programmes
Proven financial planning, budget and risk management skills - track record of delivering cost reductions/income generation targets whilst assessing risks and delivering value for money services
Evidence of commitment to continuing professional development
Evidence of commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and their application in practice

Notes to candidates

In addition to the above criteria, Oxford City Council has developed and embedded a suite of values and behaviours. Full details of these can be found on the Our values and behaviours page. Please familiarise yourself with these values and behaviours. If you are invited for interview you will be asked questions based on them.