ASHFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE:
Head of Culture and the Environment
GRADE:
MG3
POST NUMBER:
3070
SERVICE:
Culture and the Environment
RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive Management of the Council’s cultural and project responsibilities including sports development and facilities for children and young people, working with trusts in managing leisure and community facilities such as the Stour Centre, Julie Rose Stadium and Tenterden Leisure Centre, promotion of tourism including tourist information centres, project management services across the council, arts, conservation and heritage.
JOB SUMMARY:
GENERAL DUTIES: 1. To prepare reports for and attend Cabinet meetings, Policy Advisory Committees or Sub-Committees, Scrutiny meetings or any task group, working group and all other meetings as directed. 2. To maintain external contacts that will assist with the efficient and effective management and development of the Council. 3. To investigate stage 2 complaints and report on all complaints received relating to the Unit and to liaise regularly with the Chief Executive and other staff on complaints. 4. To secure additional stakeholder involvement in and support for the service’s work. 5. To respond quickly and effectively to Members’ and media enquiries. 6. To prepare and review the Service Development Plan, ensuring that it is consistent with the Council’s business plan and corporate objectives, audit reports and any other service reviews. 7. To control the service’s budget and keep under review its performance ensuring that agreed standards and targets are achieved.
KEY COMPETENCY Ashford Borough Council uses a Competency Framework which describes the behaviours all staff are expected to display when AREAS: performing their role. Management and Leadership
Customer Focus
Management focuses on the handling of events and effective managers listen attentively, issuing concise communications whilst prioritising and assigning tasks. Leadership focuses on leading and directing, effective leaders listen attentively and issue concise communications whilst generating a unity of purpose. Listening to customers impartially and attentively. Ascertaining the needs and wants of customers and partners, and then applying the relevant procedures.
Motivation
Motivated by change and pioneers initiatives. Gladly works in the forefront of operations. Able to work with uncertainty, investigating and researching issues and situations to discover new opportunities and maximise benefits.
Relationships
Interacting with others courteously, seeking to understand their perspective and to promote positive outcomes. Encouraging colleagues to behave enthusiastically and innovatively.
Performance
Working effectively with colleagues and with external partners to achieve shared objectives and produce the required results.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS: 1. To prepare and implement projects within the service and to carry out such research and statistical analysis as may be necessary to ensure that the cultural and community needs of the residents of the Borough are identified and met. 2. To liaise with statutory and voluntary bodies, the community and other cultural and community associations, the commercial sector and providers so as to co-ordinate the activities of these organisations and that of the Council. 3. To promote all aspects of culture, tourism and related community services with a view to improving facilities and services and optimising their use in all areas of the Borough. 4. To secure the proper management of leisure facilities at all sites or locations and any similar facilities to be provided in the future. 5. To liaise with local cultural, tourism and leisure service providers and to ensure that their operations are carried out in accordance with the policies of the Council and to act as commissioner/provider for all cultural, sports and leisure activities with which the Council is concerned. To advise the Council on the Best Value options for service delivery.
6. To prepare cultural strategies, plans, annual capital/revenue budgets and regularly and carefully review these and monitor performance and expenditure in accordance with agreed procedures. 7. To supervise all the Council’s cultural and project functions including sports development and facilities for children and young people, working with trusts in managing leisure and community facilities such as the Stour Centre, Julie Rose Stadium and Tenterden Leisure Centre, promotion of tourism including tourist information centres, project management services across the council, arts, conservation and heritage. 8. To provide and keep up to date a website of community-related information for use by the Council and the community in improving its links and work with the Council. 9. To implement the Cultural Strategy and administrative arrangements for supporting Localism, working closely with the Strategic Planning. 10. To promote tourism and Ashford as a Borough to visit, including management of the tourist information centres. 11. To be responsible for community development and regeneration and co-ordinate the activities of the Single Regeneration Budget process and related voluntary sector issues. 12. To prepare, implement, monitor and review the Youth Plan, liaising with statutory and voluntary bodies, community associations, the commercial sector and other community safety providers so as to co-ordinate the activities of these organisations to ensure that the needs of the residents of the Borough are identified and met. 11. Equal Opportunities a) To promote equality of opportunity in employment and service provision, and eliminate unlawful discrimination. b) To recognise that people have different abilities to contribute to the Council’s goals and performance and to take necessary action to give everyone a chance to contribute and compete on equal terms. 12. Emergency Planning a)
To participate as required in the Council’s Emergency Planning operations including undertaking training and exercising as directed
b)
To participate in the response to an emergency which may involve duties outside your normal job description and at times outside your contracted hours.
c) 13.
To participate in the recovery stage following the emergency.
Business Continuity In the event that an incident has occurred which disrupts the Council's ability to deliver its critical functions, to undertake duties within your competencies in other departments and/or at other locations.
14. Data Protection To ensure that data quality and integrity is maintained and that data is processed in accordance with Council policy, the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and other legislation. 15. Health and Safety All employees have responsibilities under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. These responsibilities are laid out in the Council’s Health and Safety Policy, available on the Intranet or from Personnel. 16. Additional Duties To undertake any additional duties of a similar level of responsibility as may be required from time to time. OTHER CONDITIONS: 1. Essential User April 2012