Head of Education (Learning Estate and School Support)
Service: Education: (Learning Estate and School Support)
Grade Scale: CO38 - 40
Reports to: Executive Director, Education Resources
Purpose of the job
To support the Executive Director (Education Resources) and undertake the operational management and strategic development of the Service.
Key tasks and responsibilities
To provide strategic leadership and management of the planning, allocation and governance of resources across the Education Service.
To contribute to the wider management of the service through close working with the Executive Director, Heads of Service and a wide range of partner organisations to ensure a coordinated approach to the delivery of a range of policies, initiatives and resource requirements.
To lead the work of the Support Services and Learning Estate services including working in partnership with other Council Resources, our secondary school private providers and a range of other internal and external stakeholders.
To lead and ensure effective delivery of processes that support a wide range of education functions including workforce planning, school enrolment, placing requests, digital strategy, data strategy, sustainability and school transport.
To lead, develop and maintain appropriate processes and procedures in respect of risk management, health and safety, complaints, FOIs and data capture.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
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Education, qualification and training |
Educated to degree standard or equivalent relevant experience |
Hold relevant professional qualification Member of a recognised, relevant professional body |
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Skills, knowledge, experience |
Significant experience at Senior Management level within local government, education or another complex public sector environment Ability to deliver organisational goals, demonstrate leadership, inspire and influence and build successful partnerships Detailed knowledge of relevant statutory procedures, regulations, policies and influences in relation to education Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders A high degree of political awareness and knowledge of the pressures and opportunities within the Local Government setting Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplined environment to drive forward a culture of teamwork, accountability and success |
Direct experience of leading an education focussed service Experience of learning estate planning and asset management principles Management experience of key processes including risk management, resilience and health and safety Involvement in National groups or workstreams Experience of policy development and corporate reporting |
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Personal qualities |
Strong personal commitment to improving education and the life chances of children and young people A genuine commitment to behaving with honesty and openness, treating people consistently, fairly and with respect To be persistent, tenacious, highly motivated and not easily discouraged Inclusive and supportive team player To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact |
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Other |
This post has been politically restricted in terms of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 This post is subject to the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 |
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Behaviour framework
The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:
Efficient
- Drives service improvement and innovation by communicating vision and a sense of purpose across area of responsibility.
- Achieves efficiency savings taking account of council objectives and workforce planning requirements whilst improving outcomes for the communities of South Lanarkshire Council.
- Develop services which have a positive impact on the physical environment of South Lanarkshire Council ensuring sustainability of resources.
- Adopt a non bureaucratic approach to service delivery and encourage others to seek simple solutions to achieve objectives.
- Adopt a project management approach when reviewing services and delivering change.
Flexible
- Plans for the variability of service demand and resource availability ensuring the system has the resilience and capacity to cope with uncertainty.
- Leads creative approaches in designing services and developing new ways of working which achieve efficiency and improvement.
- Views and presents change as an opportunity to modernise and ‘future proof’ services.
- Drives change by persuading and influencing others.
- Understands the impact on change on others and becomes a focal point of support and guidance in times of uncertainty.
- Takes responsibility for change and coaches other to do the same.
- Communicates facts to dispel rumours.
Performing
- Focus on strategic long term outcomes, anticipate changes in working practices and effectively manage transitions.
- Works to achieve and vision of customer focus, improvement and excellence within the council, as well as with partners and other stakeholders.
- Gives teams defined structures and clear direction, enabling a strong sense of ownership and personal responsibility for the delivery of outcomes and objectives.
- Health, safety and wellbeing are at the heart of approach and ensure that these principles are understood in the application of your strategic responsibilities.
Working with others
- Spends time building relationships with partners.
- Facilitates elected member involvement and consults with representative groups when formulating strategies.
- Inspires a ‘one team’ culture.
- Builds networks, locally regionally and nationally to help provide support and expertise by shaping and driving forward agendas and addressing concerns.
- Role models inclusive leadership; respecting colleagues, partners and customers and treating people according to their needs.
- Engages with communities, internal and external partners ensuring the full range of views are taken into account.
- Understands the importance of communication, evaluates its effectiveness and takes steps to improve; leading and encouraging open communication at all levels in the organisation.
- Understand respectful challenge and makes own case whilst recognising the concerns of others.
Leading
- Visible and accessible to employees within your service/area of responsibility.
- Role model for inspirational leadership.
- Builds commitment and engagement to improve team cohesion and outputs.
- Demonstrates sensitivity and good judgement in decision making and relationships.
- Is able to take difficult decisions in complex and challenging situations for the best interests of the service and the council.
- Evaluates resources, options and consequences in decision making.
- Communicates positive messages about the organisation, acting in its best interests and being an ambassador for South Lanarkshire Council.
- Understands the power and authority that comes with the senior manager role and adapts behaviour to ensure interactions with others are positive and empowering.
- Coaches and mentors others and has continuous learning and development as a key priority for the service.