JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO POST HOLDER GRADE
Head of Sectors Business Relations Director of Business Relations Vacant Payband A Upper Role Profile 5 (Professional & Development Job Family)
JOB PURPOSE To maximise the economic development benefits of all nominated priority business sectors as identified in the Regional Economic Strategy - Advanced Engineering & Materials; Biotechnology; Food & Drink; Digital & Creative Industries, Business & Professional Services; Energy & Environmental Technologies. To lead the co-ordination, management and delivery of all nominated sector business strategies through nominated Sector Heads. The objectives are to: • • • • •
Co-ordinate the development and delivery of all nominated sector development programmes. To manage the interface between sub-regional partners, cluster organisations and local authorities with regards to regional & sub-regional sector development programmes To ensure appropriate resource is secured to ensure effective delivery of all sector development programmes To lead cross-cutting sectoral activity e.g ICT as an enabling technology, photonics as an emerging technology To influence marketing expenditure with regards to promotion of nominated business sectors
ORGANISATION CHART Please see attached DIMENSIONS Will impact on the strategic direction of the cluster, with particular influence on the decision making capability of both private and public sector interested parties, including NWDA. • Strategic thinking and leadership • Relationship development • Influencing • Multiple stakeholder communication PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES •
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Ensure that for each nominated priority business sector, a strategy for the development of the sector in the North West is maintained and revised, based upon reliable and comprehensive market intelligence, updated at timely intervals. Lead the Sector Heads to develop an effective sector development programme to ensure delivery of regional sector strategy, maintaining a balanced portfolio of activity and investment to include infrastructure, skills, supply chain, regional clustering activity, marketing, business support, inward investment, indigenous business development, ICT and innovation. The focus will be on strategic level
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projects and initiatives to improve the competitiveness of businesses in the sector. It is essential to ensure that the business development action plans take a long term view, are regularly reviewed and are consistent with the Regional Strategy and related policies. Act as the key interface between sector heads and sub-regional partners, regional clustering organisations, local authorities and other partners to reflect sub-regional priorities in the sector development programmes, and ensure a full and inclusive consultative process takes place with stakeholder endorsement of that programme. Where relevant, negotiate contracts with the sub-structures to deliver specific programmes. To manage internal stakeholders with regards to the wider communication and support of the sector development programmes and Agency direct investment. Ensure that appropriate resource is provided in terms of both people, processes and finance to ensure effective delivery of sector development programmes Co-ordinate the overall investment activity of the Agency in a timely and effective manner ensuring that sector teams adhere, to Agency policies and processes, delivering all programmes in a timely manner, with appropriate management of budgets. Co-ordinate and lead overall Agency requirements for reporting on performance, budgets and outputs relating to sector development activities. Ensure that investment in sector infrastructure reflects socio- economic development and regeneration benefits and that initiatives are developed to exploit these opportunities, including for local communities Ensure growth objectives are being delivered through systematic data collection to monitor and evaluate and set new targets Collaborate with other regional agencies/partners to ensure effective coordination of all nominated sector strategies. Jointly act with Head of Investor Development and Head of Investment Services to facilitate effective development of NW sector propositions, communication and understanding to investment agencies and overseas operations.
PLANNING AND ORGANISING • Works alongside sector team, Business Relations team, directorate, crossdirectorate and with external partners and industry to plan, re-plan and reconsider where necessary, programmes and projects to develop the nominated sectors.. • Ensure that the sector development programme will deliver strategic priorities and that appropriate resource is secured for effective implementation. • Planning for time horizons of 15 years and beyond. DECISION MAKING • • •
Able to make accurate, timely and effective decisions to produce sector strategy, feedback & inform policy, regional and national, develop sector investment programmes. Day to day operational decision making with regards to management of team activities and delivery of programmes and projects. Will lead on determining Agency response to sector-specific activities
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS • Collaborate with other regional agencies to ensure effective co-ordination • Builds, develops and maintains effective working relationships with industry,
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industry representatives and wider stakeholder and partners. Maintains good communication, appropriate and productive relationships both within the sector team, directorate and across directorates.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED • Degree level qualification or equivalent and member of a professional body. • Substantial experience of senior level management and managing significant projects within identified cluster. • Experience in supporting Board Structures together with a good understanding of business and skills development support mechanisms. • Excellent interpersonal skills including planning and organisational skills. • Experience of influencing senior executives from a range of public/private backgrounds. SPECIAL FEATURES • •
Recent, regional, national and international perspective Knowledge of one or more of the following industry sectors an advantage Advanced engineering Biotechnology Food & Drink Digital & Creative Business and Professional Services Energy and environmental technologies
WHERE DOES THIS ROLE NEED TO BE BASED Renaissance House, Warrington COMPETENCY PROFILE Performance Indicators • • • • • •
Performance appraisals documented and delivered Appropriateness of new strategies Achievement of functional goals Feedback from staff Contribution to collective senior management decision making as reviewed by colleagues Development of functions staff
Competencies Building and Managing Relations D Builds effective relationships with all stakeholders
o Able to build effective relationships with all partners and stakeholders o Able to build and sustain effective working relationships with individuals who have conflicting goals
o Popular with all clients and partners o Developing Others C Acts as a performance coach o o o o o
Holds regular structured meetings with staff regarding their development Enables the identification of clear performance improvement goals Provide development challenges with associated opportunities to discus and review learning’s Discus underlying feelings and motives as well as task completion Sensitive to the different perceptions and feelings of individual staff regarding challenges
Effective Influencing C Transfers ownership and gains commitment
o Uses an excellent understanding of people to identify what will appeal to them. o o o
Leads an audience to a decision or sale without them noticing. Presents a compelling argument for a proposal or proposition. Uses experts or third parties to influence others.
o Builds relationships with key players for the purpose of gaining support. Leadership C Inspires others towards a compelling vision
o Communicates the strategic vision to the team/function in a manner which generates enthusiasm and commitment. o o o
Is a driver of cultural changes. Promotes cross-group effectiveness (includes sharing information, resources etc. with other business units, and solving mutual problems collaboratively). Brings out the best in people inspiring them to say : “I want to achieve this.”.
Concern for Qulaity C Monitors quality of work Systematically monitors own or other’s work to ensure high standards of professionalism o Provides feedback and advice to others so that thye can improve the quality of their own work o Checks to ensure adherence to policies, procedures, standards and regulations. o Promotes the importance of quality across the team/business area.. o
Thinking and Acting Ahead B Looks ahead o
Anticipates obstacles not obvious to others and thinks ahead; takes action to
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avoid a crisis. Thinks ahead to identify opportunities to achieve better outcomes. Put things in place now to avoid difficulties later. Prepares for all eventualities; draws up contingency plans. Predict the futures by reviewing past situations.
SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT Minimum process: Panel Interview R Competency Assessment R
JOBHOLDER SIGNATURE: IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR/ MANAGER SIGNATURE: DATE:
Additional relevant process: Presentation 0 Yes Written report 0 Group Exercise 0 Yes In-tray exercise 0 Case Study 0
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