Head of Skills Strategy London and South England Home based 53,000 + benefits The role: Working at the leading edge of our regional operations, this role acts as the interface between national policy and strategic engagement in the South and London region across a broad range of industry stakeholders. Stakeholders will range from SMEs to large, global engineering and design companies, regional policymakers to engineering institutions. It is key to developing and implementing our operational skills strategy, taking account of the policy context, and applying advocacy and stakeholder engagement to drive regional success. The person: Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or possessing an occupationally related professional qualification. Minimum 5 years experience of working effectively in relationship/business management and/or policy and advocacy capacity Detailed knowledge of engineering or the engineering construction industry. Knowledge and understanding of Government and policy formulation, including at a regional and local level. Experience of assimilating the political and policy context into decision-making and applying this understanding within the context of the required area of responsibility Experience of advocacy and stakeholder engagement within a defined area of responsibility Some experience of risk management processes Experience of applying reason to situations and forming sound judgements and decisions Project management of non-technical projects with demonstrable ability to manage stakeholders. Experience of procuring services and setting and managing contracts up to 50,000 Understanding of basic qualitative and quantitative research methods. The package: 53,000pa Company car or car allowance ( 7.5k+) 25 days holiday per year Contributory Defined Contribution pension scheme via salary sacrifice 1
The ECITB: The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) provides professional advice, information, skills development and qualifications to support the employers and skilled people working in the engineering construction industry. This industry is multifaceted and comprises: oil and gas, power generation, nuclear energy, renewable energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, food and drink, steel, glass and paper manufacture and other commodities. We work with and on behalf of the industry and government to attract, develop and qualify personnel in a wide variety of skills and disciplines. We also set training standards, monitor training providers, and award competence and safety qualifications. We provide the means to deliver high quality training via an extensive regionally-based network of over 200 specialist ECITB-accredited course providers. Our training programmes range from practical craft occupations right through to management and project management skills, and centre around the skills to design, project-manage, construct, install, test, commission, operate and maintain critical plant and infrastructure. To apply for this position, candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK indefinitely. Account Management B2B Business to Business Advocacy Policy Government Relationship Building Relationship Management Engineering Construction Training Needs Training Products and Services Strategic Strategy Role: Reporting to: Head of Skills Strategy Engineering Design & Procurement and South England Operations Director Role Purpose: To implement the ECITB strategy and act as the interface between national policy and strategic engagement in the South and London region. To lead and develop the ECITB s skills strategy for the engineering construction industry in the South and London, with a particular focus on companies in the engineering design and procurement (EDP) sector. Business Outcomes: To be successful in this role the Head of Sector Strategy must: Ensure the ECITB and the engineering construction industry is integrated into appropriate policy development at a regional level. 2
Ensure that the ECITB is embedded in skills activity to support employers across the South and Southern region. Ensure that the in-scope employers perceive value for the levy paid. Ensure that ECITB understands the skills and labour market requirements of industry in the region. Key Responsibilities: Lead the design and delivery of ECITB skills strategy in the South and London region o Setting the operational objectives to deliver the strategy Employer engagement objectives Provider engagement objectives Commercial income generation objectives Science Technology Engineering & Maths (STEM) objectives o Maintaining an overview of the sector and keeping a long-term view on areas of development within the sector Emerging project and site activity Technological changes Identification of potential levy growth opportunities within the sector Support policy development and advocacy, feeding regional specific issues into national policy formation through the ECITB Head of Policy and ensuring national policy priorities are supported and enhanced through the regional strategy. Lead engagement with policy stakeholders at a regional level, including local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and professional institutions. Ensure regional labour market information is being gathered and reflects the region. o Providing regional labour market information to the Policy Department, including by conducting qualitative research with employers and contributing to the ECITB s annual labour market intelligence report. Engagement with senior employer representatives to inform the skills strategy and direct operational objectives. Ensuring, through face to face engagement, that senior employer representatives in the region perceive value for the levy investment. Through effective engagement with industry stakeholders at a regional level, monitor the medium to long-term growth forecasts and changes within the ECI in the region and ensure these are reflected in the strategy and fed into the overall policy view. Engage with regional skills organisations to maximise collaborative opportunities Ensure the uptake of the ECITB products and services is maximised to generate value across the sector. Identification and progression of regional and EDP establishment reviews 3
Managing specific projects as identified in the Operating Plan Managing the strategic risks for the region Develop and manage the regional training plan and budget. Role Parameters: The role has no line management responsibility but close working with and support to the regionally based account management team is required. The role requires close working with the other regional strategy leads, Head of Policy and Director Regional Operations to ensure coherence of overall regional operations. This role will require significant travel to engage with the key regional stakeholders as identified in a stakeholder engagement plan. The Head of Skills Strategy, South and EDP will also liaise extensively with the Head of R&D and the Communications team. The role will have operational KPI and strategic and operational risk reporting requirements The geographical region of responsibility will cover: From North Thames Estuary across to Gloucestershire and the Severn Estuary including all of the Engineering, Design and Procurement employers The geographical area does not include core nuclear sites. This role will be home-based and is required to be full-time Experience & Qualifications Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or possessing an occupationally related professional qualification. Minimum 5 years experience of working effectively in relationship/business management and/or policy and advocacy capacity Detailed knowledge of engineering or the engineering construction industry. Knowledge and understanding of Government and policy formulation, including at a regional and local level. Experience of assimilating the political and policy context into decision-making and applying this understanding within the context of the required area of responsibility Experience of advocacy and stakeholder engagement within a defined area of responsibility Some experience of risk management processes Experience of applying reason to situations and forming sound judgements and decisions Project management of non-technical projects with demonstrable ability to manage stakeholders. 4
Experience of procuring services and setting and managing contracts up to 50,000 Understanding of basic qualitative and quantitative research methods. Competences: These are required to be successful in this role. A measurement system to determine the extent to which these exist for any individual is available as part of the overall personal development process. Strategic Focus Recognises and articulates strategic needs through effective analysis of the long-term skills requirement in the region. Assimilates analysis with the ECITB s strategic objectives to develop and deliver an effective regional strategy and associated plan. Builds and maintains relationships at a senior level.. Actively promotes the fulfilment of individual customer needs within his/her region, while retaining a strategic focus on longer-term industry-wide solutions.. Political and Policy Insight Understands the political and policy-making context, nationally and in the region. Can place it in context with the industry and the ECITB s strategic objectives through effective analysis and makes sound judgements based on that analysis. Able to assimilate central policy and apply it within the region. Understands the requirements of working for a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDBP) and exercises appropriate professional judgement at all times. Influencing and Persuading Convinces others to adopt a course of action, particularly if it is to the longer term benefit of the industry over the short term benefit to an individual customer. Able to understand the audience and modify the method of persuasion accordingly; backed up with a sound business case. Communication Skills Communicates effectively to wide ranging audiences in formal and informal settings, from senior employer executives to decision makers in local government and allied skills bodies. Able to tailor communication to different audiences and settings. Excellent written and presentation skills, alongside an ability to converse confidently with senior personnel. Messages are clear and unambiguous Planning and Organising Effectively organises and plans work according to organisational needs by defining objectives and anticipating needs and priorities. Delegates tasks efficiently within and outside the immediate team using available resource effectively to be able to handle several projects simultaneously. Sets and achieves realistic goals and effectively anticipates deadlines and delivers required results Business Acumen Understands general business and financial concepts; particularly as they apply within the engineering construction industry. Understands an individual company s business and their labour requirements, and uses both general and specific knowledge to make effective judgements 5
Leadership Leads all relevant stakeholders to achieve regional objectives. Inspires colleagues and others to buy into and support the delivery of strategic goals. Fosters and promotes an environment of collaboration including coaching and mentoring. 2017 Operational Objectives Head of Skills Strategy, South and EDP Business as Usual Maintain relevant Stakeholder Maps and Engagement Plans o Include Professional Engineering Institutes (PEIs), Engineering Council Ensure effective communications with senior employers in the region Ensure a newsletter is developed and issued by end of Q2 Strategic Themes Identify emerging technological developments that will improve the ECI engineering capability o Engage with those employers who are developing engineering solutions as part of Front End Engineering Design (FEED) activities o Liaison with PEIs to establish emergent relevant technologies and the skills issues relating to these technologies Deliver South/EDP element of Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) to support wider ECI LMI programme Establish and engage with relevant policy interfaces which will support the employers in the ECI as identified in the Operational Plan o Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) o Combined Authorities (CAs) Identify effective ways for ECI employers in the region to maximise their use of apprenticeship levy through relevant programmes o Graduate schemes o Higher Engineering Institute (HEI) engagement o Bursary opportunities Maintain presence on the London H&S Directors forum o Provide advice and guidance on transferability of skills o Seek support and input into skills policy issues through this forum 6
Embed leadership at an industry level into the career development of selected ECI personnel o Scope the ECITB Future Leaders Programme and present findings to Exec in Oct 2017 ensuring: Embed appropriate leadership interventions for new apprentices and graduates Identify leadership potential at an appropriate early career stage Identify and develop the ECITB leadership development continuum Deliver the work strands identified through the ECITB/ECI Project leadership workshop 7