Chief Executive

Role summary The Chief Executive has lead responsibility to implement the Councils policies, ensuring that it delivers to its objectives and duties, within budget, and according to strategic priorities and statutory requirements. London Borough of Barnet has a dynamic vision Future Shape - to become an exemplar authority, through the development of radically different approaches to serving the needs of its community, which are based on the princinples of citizen-empowerment, a genuinely local focus and long-term economic sustainability. The Chief Executive will be at the forefront of driving forward an ambitious One Barnet change programme to achieve this objective. Working closely with the Leader, Cabinet and Corporate Management Team, to prioritise performance at both the corporate and the individual level, this role requires energy, grit, determination and the capacity to inspire, motivate and drive forward the One Barnet Change agenda. Commercial acumen is also essential, in order to deliver the substantial efficiency savings required by the fundamental changes in public service funding prompted by the economic downturn. The Council must work extensively in partnership with other organisations public, private and voluntary to deliver high quality, cost effective services that ensure a good quality of life for the residents of Barnet. Therefore, the ability to build, manage and maintain key stakeholder relationships is crucial. Raising Barnets profile regionally, nationally and internationally is one of the Chief Executives key functions, requiring highly developed networking skills, political savvy and knowledge of the media.

Role purpose Lead the strategic management of the Council to ensure quality and best value for money. By advising and working with the Council Members, to secure the delivery of the Councils development strategy for Barnet, and to set the vision and goals for the organisation, ensuring that its objectives and values are aligned and achieved within budget.

Corporate accountabilities Act as principal advisor to the Council in the formulation of its objectives, values and strategic policies, and to ensure that these are delivered and implemented effectively, so that the Council fulfils its statutory responsibilities and meets the needs of its citizens in line with legal and budgetary requirements. Lead and inspire the Councils Corporate Management Team and to hold them accountable, collectively and individually, for the effective delivery of the objectives, aspirations and goals of the organisation.
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Build strong relationships with all of the Councils stakeholders (local, regional and national), in order to secure their confidence in the performance of the London Borough of Barnet and foster understanding of the organisations policies, priorities, needs, constraints and achievements. Develop a creative, citizen-focussed, high-performance, financially sustainable organisation, in which all staff are clear about their individual responsibilities and roles, to ensure the Council delivers quality and value to the community it serves. Review the structure, capacity and skills of the Council to ensure that they match the needs of local citizens, fiscal constraints, strategic priorities and statutory requirements. Ensure the Council operates in an open, accountable and democratic manner to minimise any challenge to its operations based on such grounds. Monitor and review the delivery of the objectives agreed with the Council, to ensure the organisation meets all statutory inspection and audit requirements. Ensure the preparation, monitoring and review of all the Councils plans so that they provide a consistent and intelligible framework within which partnership services may be developed in an integrated way and promoted effectively to citizens. Prepare an annual revenue budget and a rolling capital programme in a way that enables clear choices to be made between competing priorities and realistic programmes to be decided.

Key competencies Strategic innovation Leads strategy development for the Council. Creates an environment which facilitates and promotes the identification of innovative solutions to challenges and opportunities. Change leadership Develops and communicates a compelling vision which inspires people to embrace positive change and continually strive for improved performance. Organisational awareness Is politically astute and demonstrates the ability to understand diverse interest groups and power bases within Council, partner organisations and the wider community, and the dynamic between them, so as to lead services more effectively. Impact and influence Uses complex influencing strategies to promote achievement of the Councils objectives. Partnership working - Champions community leadership by building effective, long-term internal and external partnerships, based on mutual trust, honest communication and shared purpose.
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Customer focus Defines a Council-wide focus on driving ongoing performance improvement for internal and external customers in order to improve service users quality of life. Continuous improvement Sets challenging goals across the Council to ensure delivery of continuous and enduring service improvements. Delivering value for money Defines and demands effective financial management across the Council and ensures services are provided in an efficient and economically sustainable manner.

Key knowledge, skills and experience Wide experience of formulating visionary policy at a senior and strategic level in a public services environment. Proven, in-depth ability at successfully identifying/creating solutions to fit policy. Senior level experience of managing competing areas of the same organisation to deliver coherent, high quality and cost effective services. Highly developed skills in operating in a heavily politicised environment at a senior level, balancing policy and capability with pragmatic compromise.

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July 2009