Business Development Officer - REQ002552

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

Job title: Business Development Officer

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House as team base, along with other locations across the city and some flexibility around homeworking.

As a Business Development Officer, you will play a key role in the development agenda for the Communities, Housing & Environment directorate through leading performance management and directorate communications improvement and support work.

This is fantastic opportunity for you to join a forward thinking and motivated team, working collaboratively across the whole directorate on a variety of work.

You will be at the forefront of our work on utilising Microsoft products to improve how we manage our performance and communicate with staff.

The successful candidate will be dedicated, enthusiastic and be able to quickly pick up and learn about new areas. To effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels you will also need excellent communication and organisational skills and a commitment to ensuring the highest standard of work.

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 our next Business Development Officer, you will bring the following to the role:

A strong working knowledge of the principles of effective performance management.
Experience of developing and implementing performance management solutions to support organisational outcomes.
Able to use Microsoft packages proficiently.
Ability to develop and manage productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
Ability to deal positively and objectively with all levels of stakeholders in various scenarios.
Understanding of different communication tools and the benefits and limitations of each.

About the role

This is a wide-ranging role working in a team which leads the development agenda for Communities, Housing & Environment.

The role is responsible for planning and working directly with other services to deliver the directorate and council’s priorities through helping to improve service quality and supporting a culture which drives up standards, performance, and continuous improvement.

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

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:

Ian Strickland by email to Ian.Strickland@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.

Job Description

Job Purpose

This is a wide-ranging role working in a team which leads the development agenda for Communities, Housing & Environment.

The post holder will lead performance management and directorate communications improvement and support work and must develop strong working relationships with other Lead Officers from each of the Service areas across the Directorate.

They will have a broad knowledge of a variety of areas and be able to quickly pickup and learn about new areas. They will use their initiative to make frequent and creative decisions within the frameworks and guidelines that govern their area.

A key element of this role is to plan and work directly with other services to deliver the directorate and council’s priorities through helping to improve service quality and supporting a culture which drives up standards, performance, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Performance Management

To deliver and further develop the performance management of the Communities, Housing & Environment directorate plan through:

Reviewing and evaluating existing performance management arrangements within all services
Facilitating the effective rollout of digital service planning, ensuring thes robustness of this approach through enabling continuity and effective reporting.
Ensuring that all data is correctly aligned to the council’s priorities.
Utilising Microsoft 365 products to establish accurate and timely reporting, analysis, and automated data capture.
Contributing towards the submission and development of corporate reports.
Facilitating benchmarking and targeting/sharing learning, instigating follow-up action, capturing outcomes.

Communications

Provide a framework for directorate communications.
Provide central support for directorate wide communications.
Lead the coordination of work in relation to awards and recognition.
Lead the development and implementation of year-round recognition.

Whilst this role will be primarily focused on Performance Management and Communication work, the following provides an overview of the wider areas of work that the Business Development Officer will potentially be involved in but is not exhaustive:

Operational Management (including Asset Management, Equalities, Finance, Health and Safety, HR)

Build productive relationships throughout the directorate, encouraging service leads to lean on the team for support in their respective areas.
Support the Directorate approach for consistent and cohesive operational management policies and lead on implementing these best practices.
Provide a point of first contact regarding operational support and performance for the directorate.
Lead on provision of regular returns in relation to performance and risk management.

Business Process Improvement

Lead on discrete improvement pieces, working with Subject Matter Experts within the service to review existing business processes and make recommendations for improvements and efficiencies.
Develop strong working relationships which will allow the team to provide challenge to service areas.
Support relevant service leads in communicating change to their teams.

Additional

Leading on or supporting a variety of projects and work areas within the remit of the Business Development Officer.
Represent the Directorate at meetings as required and undertake or co-ordinate any work required as a result.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements

It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Skills Required

Work with services and staff at all levels to assess performance against key performance indicators.
Able to use Microsoft packages proficiently
Use of analytical software and tools appropriate to the focus of the role
Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Analyse requirements, recommend and implement creative and innovative solutions
Manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstance and priorities
Research and manage data in several formats and from a variety of sources to provide coherent management information for decision making.
Present information (e.g. via reports, dashboards, web content) in a clear and concise manner using a variety of presentational formats, that informs, influences and directs decision making
Work on own initiative and make effective decisions and judgements
Develop and maintain strong and effective working relationships
Persuasive, facilitative style and able to negotiate
Contribute to strong wider team working
Contribute to delivering a ‘can do’ culture
Lead and manage others (both within and outside formal reporting structure) to achieve the outcomes required

Knowledge Required

Knowledge of practise and procedures across a range of local government services
The principles of effective performance management.
Experience of developing and implementing performance management solutions to support organisational outcomes.
Ability to develop and manage productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
Ability to deal positively and objectively with all levels of stakeholders in various scenarios.
Understanding of different communication tools and the benefits and limitations of each.

Experience Required

Experience and ability to work at graduate level
Experience of analysis work dependent on multiple sources of intelligence and on the ability to link different source information together
Experience of problem solving and developing workable solutions
Significant experience and understanding of local government context
Experience of maintaining constructive relationships and influencing people at strategic and operational levels
Experience of implementing change, and taking forward initiatives and/or polices from inception to application

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Committed to excellent customer care and putting the customer at the heart of everything, and continually improving customer satisfaction – both in relation to internal and external customers.
Continually look for ways to improve processes and service delivery remembering the need to ensure value for money and limited funds.
Prepared and able to pick up and lead new areas of work, as required

#INT #LI-DNI

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