Assistant Director of People Management and Organisation Development

Post: Assistant Director, People Management & Organisation Development

Department: Policy & Transformation

Directorate: Corporate Services

Grade: Assistant Director

Responsible to: Director, Policy & Transformation

Responsible for: People Management and Organisation Development

Purpose of the Post:

The role holder will contribute to the leadership and strategic direction of the Council, particularly but not exclusively around our strategic workforce agenda, to help shape and develop a high performing, efficient, entrepreneurial, compassionate and enabling Council.

The role holder will advise senior leaders on HR and OD related matters and translate the priorities in the Borough Plan into clear strategies and policies for people management and organisational development, leading their implementation to enable positive workforce transformation. The role holder will participate in regional and national engagement to ensure the St Helens is at the forefront of all people related issues and seen as an innovator within the sector.

Accountabilities

• Shaping and developing an innovative, ambitious and inclusive Council, delivering an excellent HR/OD service for the whole council through an ambitious, integrated and successful enabling function.

• Be the primary HR &OD expert advisor to the organisation, leading on major people-related programmes and delivering good and best practice people policies, consultation and procedures and updating in line with legal changes, meeting the Council’s need for workforce change to support the Council to transform and nurture a values based, learning organisation.

• Provide culture change expertise, advice, oversight and support to the Chief Executive, leaders, members and staff

• Ensure the delivery of robust workforce information and proactive analysis of internal and labour market trends to the Council and its managers, to enable the Council to plan for its future workforce needs within agreed budgetary limits over both the short and long term.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with trade unions, ensuring open communication and consultation, ensuring that agreements are legally compliant and meet the needs of the organisation.

• Responsible for all aspects of people management, occupational health, workforce training, organisational development, recruitment and retention, employee relations, industrial relations, talent management, and early careers, ensuring sufficient support for an effective service.

• Work with Departments to support staff to be the best they can be, removing barriers and enabling staff to be entrepreneurial and innovative, and work with stakeholders across departmental and organisational boundaries to co-design inclusive and joined-up services that are efficient, effective and meet the requirements of residents and communities.

• Lead the development and implementation of the people management and organisational development function’s strategy, plans, objectives, policies, systems and processes to deliver council priorities, ensuring they meet internal and external reporting requirements to comply with external legislative and regulatory frameworks.

• Inspire, motivate and develop functional leaders and staff, to create an empowering, enterprising, modern and learning culture that enables staff to perform at their best and therefore both deliver excellent services to residents as well as retain and attract the best talent for the council.

• Ensure the people management and organisational development function uses all available resources in the most efficient and effective way that represents excellent value for money, managing budgets and ensuring services are continuously improved to see if they can be delivered in a more cost effective and streamlined way.

• Identify trends and developments in human resources and organisational development, anticipating future issues, promoting innovative new approaches that illustrate an understanding of the ‘system wide picture’, and positively challenging current thinking to deliver better services and outcomes for St Helens communities.

• Foster and cultivate long term constructive relationships with a range of stakeholders at both a local and national level, to position St Helens at the centre of relevant networks and be at the front for new opportunities that will deliver efficient and effective enabling services for the council.

• Work with the cabinet and the relevant member portfolio holder as the council’s expert on human resources and organisational development, to provide advice, guidance, clarity and insight into functional delivery and performance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Director of Policy and Transformation in providing professional advice to the Council’s Leadership Team and Cabinet Members to clearly demonstrate outcomes which meet the Council’s objectives.

• Ensure that the Council’s overall vision and strategy has an appropriate focus on improving outcomes for the service and its stakeholders and that all senior officers understand their role in delivering improved outcomes.

• Assist with the leadership and direction of the Department and in establishing the best team with the right skills, capability, talent and drive for success.

• Contribute to ensuring the functions business targets are met, in accordance with best practice, to agreed specification, and with full compliance with health, safety, professional standards, statutory and other relevant legislation.

• Deputise for the Director of Policy and Transformation as and when required.

• Represent the Council at corporate, regional and other meetings and forums as directed by the Executive Director/ Director of Policy and Transformation.

• Lead, develop and/or participate in identified projects that contribute to the delivery of Council priorities both within the Department, cross Directorate and in collaboration with partners and other local authorities as directed by the Executive Director/ Director of Policy and Transformation.

• Work collaboratively across all service areas with other Assistant Directors/Directors.

• Ensure that services are delivered in the best interests of the Council and support delivering the best customer experience for residents.

• Responsible to create, foster and manage effective relationships with Elected Members

• Accountable for the relevant service budgets.

• By example and in accordance with the St Helens accountability framework and the Council’s Code of Conduct a fundamental aspect of which is the “Seven Principles of Public Life”.

• To ensure compliance with the Council’s Policy Framework.

This post is not subject to Enhanced Disclosure.

This post is not Politically Restricted in accordance with Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended).

The detailed contained within this job description reflect the content of the job at the date it was prepared. However it is inevitable that, over time, the nature of the job may change. Existing duties may no longer be required and other duties may be gained without changing the general nature of the post or the level of responsibility entailed. Consequently, the Council will expect to revise the job description from time to time and will consult the post holder/s at the appropriate time

Date prepared. April 2024