INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Head of Community Relations and Cohesion (within Safer Stronger & Communities) 

Salary: Dir 52.5% (£70,210 - £77,020)

Hours: 37  

Contract: Permanent 

Location: Based within Leeds City Centre working across the Leeds Area  

This role is an exciting opportunity to bring fresh thinking and innovation to contribute to the Leeds Ambitions by driving forward the new Stronger Leeds Strategy ensuring neighbourhoods feel safe, with communities coming together to promote good relations and build a stronger sense of shared belonging.

 As the Head of Community Relations and Cohesion, you’ll thrive on interpreting policy, turning ideas into reality to lead our strategic vision for stronger communities; working collaboratively with partners to ensure best outcomes for the people of Leeds in the following areas: 

• Community Relations and Cohesion
• Equality
•  Strategic Migration - Resettlement and Asylum
• Third Sector strategic coordination/support
• Contest Coordination (Prevent/Protect/Prepare) and Counter Extremism
• Hate Crime

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions. 

About you 

As the Head of Community Relations and Cohesion, you will bring to the role: 

• demonstrable leadership or management experience in a strategic setting 
• commitment to continuous improvement 
• creative thinking and a strong focus on outcomes 
• an ability to build productive relationships across the council and with partners. 

About the role  

As our next Head of Community Relations and Cohesion, you’ll play a key role in the Safer Stronger Communities Leadership Team, leading our partnership approach to interpreting national policies and leading the implementation at a local level, whilst implementing the Stronger Leeds strategy.

What we offer you 

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including: 

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays 
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions 
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements 
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities 
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further 

How to apply 

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form 

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.  

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Paul Money, Chief Officer – Safer Stronger Communities, paul.money@leeds.gov.uk 

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. 

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Leeds City Council - Role Specification             

Job Purpose  

To assist the Chief Officer Safer and Stronger Communities in planning, organising, managing and developing the provision of high quality effective and consistent community relations and cohesion services. These will support the aims and ambitions of the Safer and Stronger Communities Service and provide strategic leadership and management that add value and support the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives as set out in the Best Council Plan.  This includes responsibility for:

• Work to address community relations and cohesion in the city;
• Providing leadership on the council’s approach to Equality, Strategic Migration and the Third Sector;
• The delivery of a Resettlement Programme that meets the requirements of the Home Office;
• Lead on the council’s strategic approach to help safeguard the city and its residents in relation to Contest and Counter Extremism; and
• Lead on the management and implementation of the city’s approach to Hate Crime

The post holder will create and lead partnerships in order to develop and manage programmes of targeted activity. Supporting the development of national policy and legislation in relation to this area of the council’s work, the post holder will be expected to lead on its interpretation for Leeds.

Key Requirements

• Lead on the council’s strategic approach to Equality ensuring the council that the council meets its legal duties under the Equality Act 2010.
• Ensure that the city is compliant with statutory equality duties providing leadership for the effective personal and team support to the governance arrangements led by the Director of Communities and Environment on behalf of the council.
• Lead on the council’s strategic approach to working with the Third Sector
• Lead on the delivery of the Vulnerable Persons and Vulnerable Children’s (VPRS and VCRS) Resettlement Programme  in Leeds ensuring the council meet the requirements of the Home Office funding and contract
• Lead on the delivery of strategic migration work and implementation of the migration strategy ensuring its contribution to the Leeds ambition to be the best city for communities
• Lead citywide and local partnership programmes that support the delivery of the council’s migration programme and lead partnership activity on migration issues.
• Lead on the Council’s strategic approach to help safeguard the city and its residents in relation to Contest and Counter Extremism, working with the Chief Officer Safer and Stronger Communities and Director of Communities and Environment to effect a comprehensive response to incidents.
• Ensure that the city is compliant with the statutory Prevent Duty providing leadership for the effective personal and team support to the governance arrangements led by the Director of Communities and Environment on behalf of the council.
• Support the development of national policy in relation to this area of the council’s work and lead on its interpretation for Leeds, as part of a national network of professionals, sharing best practice and developing resources that can be used across the country and internationally.
• Lead on the management and implementation of the city’s approach to Hate Crime and all associated programmes of work
• Lead on the management and development of a programme of targeted activity which reduces risk and provides support to individuals, developing strategic partnerships with the Third Sector building their capacity and confidence to tackle these issues including developing innovative approaches to community engagement.
• Provide leadership and operational management for project teams and programme manage the Community Relations and Cohesion work programme

Qualification, or any other relevant post graduate qualification

• Substantial senior leadership and management experience in a service or operational area relevant to the area of service delivery.
• Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront
• Substantial experience in  building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective workforce solutions.
• Ability to contribute, as a member of the service Leadership Team.
• Evidence of developing and driving a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count’
• Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for Leeds City Council.
• Demonstrate knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information applicable to the relevant strategic functions e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection. Promoting compliance with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations
• To manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and members of the Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence.

Working Context

The role is primarily office based but post holders are expected to work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. Hours are worked mainly Monday-Friday, in accordance with the needs of the service; however the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events as required.

Role profile                                                                          

Roles at this level support the Chief Officer in setting the purpose and strategic direction and in leading, developing and ensuring the effective delivery of service, directorate and corporate priorities, which contribute to the achievement of the Council’s vision and strategic outcomes. This involves leading the planning, organising and commissioning the delivery of services to and on behalf of the organisation and all partners and stakeholders in the medium to long term. 

People in these roles have a proficiency in a specialised area or a broad understanding of relationships between different functions and disciplines. They have the ability to select, develop and assess the suitability of ways of working; and will have highly developed skills in persuading, influencing, developing and motivating people and establishing effective partnerships to achieve service objectives.

As part of a directorate/service leadership team; roles at this level live and model values and behaviours to help the council to achieve the ambition to become the best city council in the country.

For roles at this level, you must be able to show

Knowledge

• Have an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial or practical experience across the service area.  You use your knowledge and expertise to plan and deliver the highest levels and standards across either a specialist area(s) or an entire service
• Have a comprehensive knowledge of local, regional and national issues, which influence the city and council policy and practice, and strategy within your service area.  Maintaining up to date knowledge of current thinking and developments and use this to evaluate and assess business practice to influence efficient and effective ways of working.
• Lead changing programmes and priorities based on in depth knowledge of the economic, business, cultural and political environment within the city and region using your skills to persuade, influence, develop and motivate people and establish effective partnerships to achieve service objectives.

Leadership & strategic planning

• Demonstrate strong leadership and management skills to develop a high performance culture across the service(s) where everyone can achieve their potential and ‘feel they count’ and where there is a drive to deliver the most efficient and effective solutions with evidence of a high performing, engaged and productive workforce along with effective leadership and management that leads to focussed solutions and quality outcomes
• Contribute to and influence the strategic direction of the service area working with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders and Business plans are in place for the service, and contingencies are identified so that plan objectives can be met
• Lead the development, implementation, promotion and evaluation of strategies and policies. Contribute to overarching strategies and the management of key plans, projects and programs at an organisational, directorate wide and local level using strong leadership and management skills to develop innovative strategies to support a high performing culture where the service’s plan and policies are translated into excellent service outcomes

Collaboration & innovation

• Create a vision and direction that challenges and looks beyond the obvious and inspires and motivates others to achieve by driving change, leading by example and promoting the ambition to become the best city There are examples of innovation in managing and implementing solutions on complex issues and in transformational change programmes
• Establish, develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners to improve and enhance service delivery and innovation ensuring the Council promotes, secures resources and is effective in delivering its agenda through work with peers, Members and other partner organisations across the city and regions
• Ensure the capacity to respond positively to change is enhanced, 'traditional thinking' is challenged and innovative solutions are pursued throughout the area of responsibility.  Creating a culture that promotes an innovative and forward thinking organisation, and a ‘can do’ attitude from employees and colleagues

Problem solving & decision making

• Take responsibility and accountability for developing and implementing appropriate, proportionate and effective solutions to complex service delivery problems
• Demonstrating the ability to collate and analyse complex information to inform decisions and promote best practice within a strategic framework
• Understand the need to balance corporate requirements with operational responsibilities and make timely well-judged decisions in order to achieve successful outcomes across a diverse range of, related and unrelated issues using a degree of evaluative judgment in relation to risks and issues and have the ability to identify potential impact within a range of changing and conflicting internal and external factors

Deliver

• Lead and manage a number of complex and potentially conflicting strategic and operational issues/priorities and are able to develop and implement innovative solutions to deliver required service outcomes with evidence of continuous service improvements, support for cross council initiatives where best practice, value for money and high performance is demonstrated
• Develop, manage and contribute to complex partnerships involving various stakeholders to gain ownership of a shared vision and direction to achieve positive outcomes.  Demonstrating effective leadership and management to achieve sustainable service improvements and outstanding results in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, partners, public and private sector and voluntary organisations across the city and region to ensure the delivery of excellent services and outcomes
• You influence the strategic direction of the service; through working with internal and external partners and stakeholders ensuring services support and deliver outcomes that reflect the needs of the diverse, multi-cultural nature of our city

Resource & people management

• Engage, develop and performance manage resources that support adaptable ways of working and creating strong more flexible teams with the right people in the right place with the right skills using a coaching approach to motivate, enthuse and drive individuals within the directorate to create a high performing workforce and an organisational culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement 
• Manage resources and a substantial budget in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic national, local and political context.  You have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the Council within its economic, business, cultural and political environment. Plans are in place to ensure that there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed and budgets are maximised
• The role profile and specification are an outline only and may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility

LCC Values

Leeds City Council values are at the heart of everything we do. They inform the way we design and deliver our services and the way we all work and behave.  Leeds City Council expects all its employees and councillors to observe our core values and to understand our codes of conduct for ethical behaviour, correct use of the Digital Information Service (DIS) facilities and protection of sensitive information.

They reflect the current needs of the city. In a period of immense change and real challenge we must be both confident and decisive about what we do and how we do it. Observing our values can help us:

Working as a Team for Leeds Work in ways which are open, inclusive, responsive and accountable to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds

Being Open, Honest & Trusted Ensure citizens and council members are provided with all relevant information to make decisions, learn from mistakes and seek to promote continuous improvement and best practice

Working with Communities Work effectively with the variety of partners to deliver services, communicate and involve stakeholders and the wider community in new developments to encourage ownership and commitment

Treating People Fairly Recognise that everyone has an equally important part to play within the Council and value the diverse and vibrant nature of the city and all its citizens

Spending Money Wisely Set high expectations of achievement across a range of strategic outcomes, actively seek out opportunities to improve delivery of services though partnership and feedback from service users

#INT #LI-DNI

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