Chief Of Staff– Environment, Transport and Infrastructure

We have an excellent opportunity for an experienced Business Manager or Chief of Staff looking for the next step in their career.

Our Executive Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure (ETI), Katie Stewart, is looking for a trusted partner to support her and her services to provide dynamic leadership, vision and top–class management to the business of the Directorate across a wide range of tasks within a fast–paced environment.

The ETI Directorate delivers a range of infrastructure and services across highways, transport, countryside, climate change, planning and place–making. As a key member of the Directorate Leadership Team, this role will deliver a range of tasks that include but are not limited to:

• Leading on Directorate–wide business improvements, driving a culture of continuous improvement.
• Managing a corporate support office function for the Executive Director covering delivery, resourcing, risk and finance management across the whole Directorate.
• Leading the establishment, monitoring and development of standards of service delivery and assurance to achieve key performance measures and delivery of services with high levels of customer satisfaction and positive outcomes for individuals.
• Delivering effective project management to ensure competing priorities are managed and coordinating work programmes.

You will understand the importance of a strong corporate support function and will be aware of business planning processes and policy. You'll feel comfortable working collaboratively with not only senior leaders but also other corporate business managers and key stakeholders. Acting as a direct link for the Directorate Leadership Team for ETI, you will ensure there is effective coordination across the collective programmes of work and will help to coordinate large scale change and transformative work to drive forward a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

You will also lead a team of business and performance support officers, directorate support staff and PAs, inspiring and motivating them and using your expert advice and guidance to support their professional development. You will lead by example and demonstrate that by being proactive, with a positive attitude and a determined future focused outlook you are able to really thrive in this fast paced and complex environment.

We are looking for a candidate who is able to:

• Unblock barriers to delivery and change.
• Provide first rate organisational skills.
• Offer methodical thinking to solve problems.
• Evidence exceptional communication skills to unite people to achieve common goals.
• Role–model the behaviours and values required to deliver transformational change and a positive organisational culture.
• Build and maintain purposeful and constructive relationships.
• Use their own initiative and judgement to prioritise tasks and resolve issues.
• Employ tact and diplomacy when working with the public, Councillors and Council staff.
• Deploy strong relationship management skills to influence and negotiate across a broad range of internal and external colleagues, leaders, partners and professionals.

Personal resilience and a commitment to working flexibly and collaboratively are also a must.

If this sounds like you, we'd welcome your CV and personal statement and would love to understand how you meet the above criteria and the requirements of this role as set out on the role profile attached at the bottom of this advert.

Job Advert

Additional Information

Contact Details

To arrange an informal discussion with Katie Stewart about this role please email in the first instance.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Additional Information

The job advert closes at 23:59 on Sunday 14th March 2021.

Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams and are planned for W/C 22nd March 2021.

While this role is based at Woodhatch Place in Reigate we do support agile working.

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 24 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.

Company Information

Our Values

Our values are what support our vision, shape the culture and are crucial in delivering our corporate strategy.