INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.
Job title: Technical Support Manager
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Salary: SO2 £37,280 - £39,152
Location: Merrion Centre, Leeds with hybrid working options available.
Introduction
As part of the Technical and Customer Support management team you’ll thrive on providing an effective, efficient and customer focused service to a range to stakeholders including Planning and Building Control Officers, Elected Members, applicants and their agents, members of public, and developers.
An opportunity has arisen for a Technical Support Manager to lead and manage the Validation Team within Technical and Customer Support.
About you
We are looking for people who:
- Able to manage, motivate and support a team
- Experience and knowledge of the current validation criteria and planning legislation is essential
- Have excellent organisational and communication skills
- Able to manage competing priorities
- Have great customer service skills
About the role
Technical Support Manager x 1 – Validation Team
As the Technical Support Manager you will play a key role in transforming how the team works with an emphasis on customer service and performance management.
You will be responsible for conducting staff interviews under the Staff Appraisal and Development scheme, managing attendance, identifying training needs and setting individual and team targets, reviewing progress at 1-2-1’s and team meetings.
The successful candidate will be a confident communicator and will liaise with elected members, planning officers, members of public and their agents providing advice and guidance on planning and development related issues and take the lead in resolving difficult situations in line with planning policy and agreed processes and procedures.
You should have a flexible approach to your working hours as you will be required to provide cover for other managers within the wider service area, as well as working on and managing small projects.
How to apply
Apply for this job online by completing the online application form and uploading your CV
Read our guidance notesfor 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 Spears Senior Technical Project Manager by email paul.spears@leeds.gov.uk
Candidates should be available for interviews in October.
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
Responsible for the management of a team of Senior Technical Officers, Technical Officers and Apprentice Technical Officers. To maximise the efficient and effective processing of planningand building control applications and the delivery of a customer focused service to Elected Members, Applicants and their Agents, to members of the public, internal customers, The Planning Inspectorate and Solicitors.
Responsibilites
- To assist in the management of a team to maximise the efficient and effective delivery of the technical functions relating to the processing of planning and building control applications.
- To motivate, coach and develop a team to achieve agreed targets and service levels and promote flexibility and skills transfer across teams.
- To play a key role in transforming how the team works with an emphasis on customer service, performance management, quality of outputs, electronic delivery and service improvement.
- To be responsible for conducting staff interviews under the Department’s Staff Appraisal and Development Scheme and to take responsibility for agreeing and pursuing development and training needs or targets for members of staff for which the post holder is directly responsible.
- To hold regular 1-2-1’s and team meetings, together return to work meetings in line with the council’s managing attendance policy.
- To be responsible for regularly measuring and monitoring performance of the team.
- To interpret and implement planning and building control legislation and permitted development rights.
- To provide advice and guidance on planning and development related issues to members of the public and staff
- To take the lead in resolving difficult situations with internal and external customers, ward members and consultees in line with planning policy, building regulations and agreed processes and procedures
- Collaborate with elected members, service users and community representatives to support open, responsive and accountable government.
- Cultivate and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external customers
- Ensure consistent adherence to procedures and systems, keeping them up to date, and effectively communicating any changes
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.
Qualifications
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.
- Able to manage and motivate a team and support and develop staff to achieve results
- Able to manage conflicting and competing priorities to meet exacting deadlines
- Able to take forward initiatives and policies from development through to implementation
- Able to collate, interpret and analyse data
- Able to interpret and implement planning legislation and building control regulations
- Able to make an effective contribution to internal and external meetings
- Good understanding of IT and its role in delivering E-government and service improvements
- Good understanding of the Town and Country Planning system and knowledge of planning legislation
- A detailed understanding of the Data Protection Act and its application in the planning and building control process
- Good understanding of the role, function and organisation of local government and current issues facing the public sector
- Experience of specialist systems including Uniform, Enterprise, IDOX and bespoke IT scanning equipment
- Experience of complex regulatory processes including the interpretation of planning and building control fees
- Experience of dealing with internal and external customers and taking the lead in resolving complex queries and customer complaints
- Experience of working with others to deliver cross department projects
- Experience of managing a team and monitoring performance against departmental and team service levels
- Experience of monitoring individual performance effectively and set clear objectives for review in accordance with the Councils appraisal policy
- Be customer focused and understand the principles and importance of good customer care
Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics
- 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 policies and procedures.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
- Able to develop productive working relationships with internal and external customers that command respect, trust and confidence
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
- 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.
