JOB DESCRIPTION. Employment Period: Up to a five year fixed term as per the Local Government Act 2002.

Transcription

1 JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Employment Period: Up to a five year fixed term as per the Local Government Act Remuneration: Position Purpose: Market related package. To provide leadership, direction and management of the Stratford District Council, facilitating the provision of well rounded advice to elected members, implementing strategies as directed by the Council and leading operations and project delivery excellence. To shape strategies, communicate both formally and informally with elected members and implement initiatives that support the Council s strategic intent, and ability to support economic development in a planned and measured way whilst mitigating risk. To ensure that the Council s policies and strategies are implemented and the outcomes achieved in line with the Long Term and Annual Plans. To openly and regularly report, both formally and informally, to Council on the progress of Council strategies, operational deliverables, and project status, identifying areas of concern. To proactively lead Council management and staff in an empowering manner, with a team based collaborative approach, ensuring relationships are developed and maintained across all levels within Council, and that staff are delivering on the council s vision, values and objectives. To actively engage with community and business groups and agencies. To manage the development, operation and maintenance of infrastructure and community services to ensure the delivery of excellent customer services and value for money to the community.

2 Experience: Minimum of 5 to 7 years experience in senior management gained in the public or private sector. Qualifications: An appropriate tertiary and/or professional qualification. Responsible To: Mayor and Council a. The Chief Executive Officer of the Council with authority over all other staff as is necessary for the efficient management and execution of the Council s functions. b. Responsible to the Council for the management, control and reporting of Council s total operation. c. The senior management team (Directors) report directly to the CEO with scope for the senior management team to report and advise the Council, in an unbiased and complete manner, on matters affecting their departments. Direct Reports: Director Assets; Director Environmental Services; Director Community Services; and Director Corporate Services. Functional Relationships: Other Relationships: Deputy During Absence: Mayor; Councillors; Council Employees and Contractors; Community; Iwi; Public and private sector organisations; Community organisations and representatives; Senior Managers of Government Agencies; and SOE s. There is an expectation that the CEO will be actively involved in appropriate and relevant community organisations. A Director as selected by Chief Executive Officer and notified to Mayor and Council and within delegations as set by the Council.

3 Primary Objectives/ Key Performance Indicators: a. To actively manage Council resources to deliver the Council s strategic intent and to ensure that policies are adhered to and decisions of the Council are carried out promptly and are interpreted to Officers of the Council as intended by the Council. b. To develop and maintain the governance framework by providing well rounded unbiased and transparent advice to the Council ensuring high quality decision making for the social, environmental and economic development growth of the community. c. To shape, communicate and present to Council innovative strategies and initiatives that will drive economic and social wellbeing and to ensure strategies are well rounded and risk factors are mitigated as much as possible. d. To manage Council resources in an effective manner so that the needs of the district and Council services are met in the most efficient and economical way. e. To provide inspirational and decisive leadership to Council staff and to encourage effective management and staff practices through the implementation of a robust performance management framework. f. To foster a can do attitude empowering staff to take ownership of their roles and functions and to coach and mentor as required with an emphasis on delivering on commitments to a high standard. g. To be the Principal Administrative Officer of the Council as defined in the Local Government Act h. To ensure compliance by council with all statutory and regulatory provisions applying to all services under the control of Council. i. As manager of Council s total resources, to keep the organisation and administration of these under review so as to enhance cooperation and coordination of activities between the various sections and departments of Council. j. To support efficiency and best practice processes with the appropriate use of information management systems and ICT services with a view to delivering services efficiently while delivering a customer-focused service and value to ratepayers. k. To ensure that the Council has sound and robust financial practices and policies in place which minimise financial risk to the organisation.

4 l. To actively promote a high and positive standard of community interaction and relations between the Council and the people of the Stratford District. m. To maintain systems to enable the effective planning and accurate reporting of the financial, service and project performance of the Council. n. To support elected members to build and foster effective relationships locally, regionally and nationally with the community, and other stakeholders. o. To create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation and act as a role model to inspire all employees to promote the vision and values of the Council and present a positive image to the community. p. Such other additional or amended responsibilities as may be reasonably required by the Council from time to time.

5 Candidate profile Key competencies Thinks creatively identifying new frameworks for solutions Creates an environment where existing approaches/thinking are reviewed and enhanced Active and influential in a wide range of networks with gravitas and highly developed communication and influencing skills that are appropriate and considerate to the audience at hand Encourages and fosters team work, performance management, and collaboration to drive improved performance Effectively utilises the capabilities and experience of staff through delegation, provision of clear performance levels, and providing learning experiences and fostering development opportunities Ensures the team delivers results within agreed time and resource constraints Comfortably deals with finding solutions in light of imperfect information, complex issues or ambiguity Encourages others to search for new opportunities and to take calculated risks Anticipates and takes responsibility for meeting the needs of Councillors, the community and staff when appropriate Manages stakeholder engagement through highly developed relationship management skills and is comfortable empowering and enabling relationships between senior managers and elected members Comfortable leading a varied and complex programme of activities and projects and championing the strategy as well as working at the operation level to support implementation Demonstrates a commercial understanding and can interpret complex commercial, financial and legal information in an analytical manner Can clearly articulate and communicate complex and technical information as appropriate to the audience, can hold their own with subject matter experts as well as communicate effectively with nonexperts Has a flexible approach and is capable of managing a variety of conflicting issues and demands in a calm manner Intellectually versatile and able to apply knowledge and skills to a broad range of issues

6 Key qualifications and experience A relevant tertiary or professional qualification or equivalent experience Substantial and consistent leadership and management experience in a complex environment An ability to develop effective and productive relationships with a governing body Significant experience leading, planning and managing projects and initiatives over a broad spectrum of issues Well versed in developing methodologies, shaping strategy, and communicating complex and technical information in a straightforward manner to a wide variety of stakeholders Experience preparing, managing and controlling complex budgets and capital programmes and in the deployment of resources to achieve objectives A demonstrated track record of establishing a strong performance management culture which is customer focused, quality driven and allows for the objective measurement of outcomes and value Experience in local government processes would be an advantage but it is not necessary political awareness and sensitivity is a must An ability to develop strong productive relationships with key stakeholders, including competence in Tikanga Māori is preferred Experience working in a complex and regulated environment would be preferred.