APPLICANT PACK SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE TRADED SERVICES INFORMATION ON THE POST OF MANAGING DIRECTOR

Transcription

1 APPLICANT PACK SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE TRADED SERVICES INFORMATION ON THE POST OF MANAGING DIRECTOR December 2014

2 HAYS Executive 23 Lower Belgrave Street LONDON SW1W 0NT Dear Applicant Recruitment of a Managing Director for South Gloucestershire Traded Services Thank you for your interest in South Gloucestershire Traded Services and the position of Managing Director. We are delighted to provide further information about the opportunity in this pack. In this pack you will find: A Welcome Letter An introduction to SGTS, its history, priorities and principles A job description and person specification Information about the application and selection process You can also find out more about South Gloucestershire at Should you have any questions, or wish to have an informal and confidential discussion about the post and the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours sincerely Mark Bearn Business Director HAYS Executive T E mark.bearn@hays.com 2

3 Welcome Dear Candidate South Gloucestershire Traded Services Thank you for your interest in South Gloucestershire Traded Services and the position of Managing Director, a unique opportunity to play a leading role in establishing and growing an exciting new business in the South West. South Gloucestershire Council s ambition is to be recognised as a council determined to create an environment where local people, and the communities they live in, are able to determine their own futures and thrive in difficult economic times. We will be seen as leaders in our communities, with our partners and within the West of England. To support the delivery of this ambition, we have established the Council s first Local Authority Trading Company (LATC), South Gloucestershire Traded Services, which takes forward the success of the council s current trading activity and its strong local market position and service reputation. South Gloucestershire Traded Services will operate completely independently, with its own Board, but with the Council as its sole shareholder. This means that any surplus achieved by the Company may be reinvested in service provision. As our first Managing Director, you will lead the development of previously Council run services into this new, commercially run enterprise, delivering outstanding customer service, sustainable growth and profitability. To do this you will need significant experience of community service provision as well as significant commercial acumen and a passion for customer excellence. Building a successful trading company is a key council priority and vital to the delivery of our ambitions. Your expertise and commitment will make all the difference. If we have fired your enthusiasm for this exciting opportunity then we would be delighted to hear from you. Regards Dave Perry Director of Corporate Resources South Gloucestershire Council 3

4 Introduction In the current economic climate with the period of significant financial pressure set to continue, many authorities are looking to adopt different approaches to the way in which services are provided to communities and overall resources are managed. This is an approach supported by the Government and backed by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace) and the Local Government Association (LGA) as part of the Delivering Differently agenda, which seeks to promote the use of innovative forms of commercial models such as joint venture partnerships, mutualisation and arms-length companies. The council s existing traded services division is a successful and significant asset. It is already a major local employer and supporter of local businesses and, as Managing Director, you will be expected to ensure that the new company (South Gloucestershire Traded Services) continues with this approach and gives full regard to the impact on the local community / economy in any key decisions that it takes. With this in mind the council has taken the opportunity to review current trading and charging activities to identify whether some of the financial pressures can be met by a different approach to trading and service delivery. The council commissioned external consultants to support a high level review of trading and charging. In particular, this work focused on: Identifying whether there are any significant opportunities for trading and charging that are not currently being explored; Investigating options for alternative delivery vehicle(s) for future trading activities. Drivers for change The review of trading and charging highlighted that the existing Traded Services division is a successful organisation and a significant asset to the council. In particular, the review noted that the financial performance of Traded Services is very strong and the business is clearly one which is capable of sustained profitability, especially given the additional revenue generating opportunities. However, it also acknowledged the importance of maintaining this advantage into the future, especially given the changing external commercial environments, developments with neighbouring councils and the national change in education with respect to academies. The review identified many strengths, some of which are summarised below: The council has an extremely strong buy-back rate from schools within South Gloucestershire. This indicates that current trading services are well regarded and competitive in the current market. The recent Government announcement regarding free school meals for all primary school pupils in their first three years will provide the most significant opportunity to increase revenue. Strong existing knowledge and some areas of real commercial strength provide South Gloucestershire with unique selling points. The current approach of Traded Services provides a clear marketing approach for the council s services in a way that is accessible and appealing to customers. Investment has already been made in some services that will enable them to be marketed cheaply and easily beyond the borders. The current approach of Traded Services which focuses on multi-skilling traded services staff to maximise efficiency and controlled expansion using excess capacity is a strong approach which helps to limit the risk to the council of additional expansion. 4

5 As a division within the council, the current service is constrained by the legislative framework as well as some of the existing policies and procedures which reduce flexibility and the ability to respond to market opportunities. As a result of the commissioned review the Council approved the development of a business case for the establishment of an arm s length delivery vehicle to deliver the range of services currently provided by the Traded Services Division of the council. At the same time the creation of a commercial board was approved, with a mandate to protect and promote the commercial and trading interests of the council, ensuring that trading and charging activities are joined up where possible. As part of the development of the business case, the council commissioned independent legal advice on the current arrangements and commissioned an options appraisal of potential delivery vehicles, including the key legal and commercial issues to be considered. This led to the establishment of South Gloucestershire Traded Services in Autumn South Gloucestershire Traded Services is wholly owned by South Gloucestershire Council, as shareholder, but is independent and works with complete autonomy, subject to the oversight and scrutiny of the newly established board of directors. The company is expected to deliver a surplus or dividend through the delivery of efficiencies and commercial activity. This will either be returned to South Gloucestershire Council or reinvested within the company. 5

6 Organisational Structure The proposed governance structure of the new company is shown below. Governance structure Council (100% Shareholder) Board of Directors Managing Director Director of Corporate Resources Elected Members Customer / Supplier Reference Group Staff Reference Group As a new company, the LATC will largely be free to establish the most appropriate structure for its operations. This is something that would normally be agreed by the board of directors. However, to provide continuity and ensure as seamless transition to the new arrangements as possible, it is proposed that the current operating structure for Traded Services will remain largely unchanged in the short term. This shown in the table below. Operating structure Managing Director (new post) Senior operations manager (Catering) Senior operations manager (Cleaning) Business manager Schools workforce strategy manager Schools improvement adviser ICT strategy manager 6

7 Role Description Job title: Salary: Appointment: Responsible to: Budgetary responsibility: Staff numbers: Managing Director c 110,000 per annum The Managing Director will be employed by South Gloucestershire Traded Services company on a standard contract of employment. The Board of South Gloucestershire Traded Services c 20m c372 full time equivalent staff Role purpose: The Managing Director position is a key appointment in transitioning highly successful, previously run local authority services in to a growing, sustainable, profit making local authority trading company. It is already a major local employer and supporter of local businesses and the Managing Director will be expected to ensure that the new company continues with this approach and gives full regard to the impact on the local community / economy in any key decisions that it takes. The Managing Director will lead this exciting new business to achieve essential growth objectives, while improving current levels of efficiency. With full profit and loss responsibility, reporting to the Board, the Managing Director will be accountable for all activities of the LATC. They will develop and execute a business plan, including detailed budgets, monitoring and reporting on the delivery of the business plan against objectives and market developments, whilst ensuring that the organisation meets all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The Managing Director will need to demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities to: establish a clear vision of the organisation s future, creating and sustaining shared values, fairness and ethical role models at all levels of the organisation, whilst setting challenging goals and targets; inspire, encourage and recognize people s contribution, employing a consistent approach to continual improvement of the organisation s performance; deliver focused and prioritised improvement opportunities through lower costs and shorter cycle times, ensuring optimum use of resources; establish clear responsibility and accountability for managing key activities, maintaining a high reputation for consistency, cost-effectiveness and efficiency within the organisation. Market-aware, the Managing Director will be required to deliver organic growth and develop new business through diversification and expansion of the services offered in order to achieve the strategic goals set by the setting up of the LATC. With an appetite for accountability, the Managing Director will develop their team, coaching and developing capability at all levels of the organisation. Inspiring, ambitious and highly credible, the successful candidate will have upper quartile levels of analytical reasoning skills and

8 appropriate professional qualification, together with highly developed interpersonal and communication skills. Key accountability areas: Report to the Board, develop the business plan and deliver growth in revenue, margin and profit performance in line with agreed long term objectives. Provide effective leadership and create the right organisational management structure, determining appropriate reporting lines for operations, advisory services and business support teams. Lead the company s commercial development activity and stakeholder/client relationship development. In addition, the roles and responsibilities of this post will be challenging, varied and will include: Delivering the business plan that will grow the business. Identifying opportunities to create and launch new services into the market. Ensuring the company continues to deliver a 'best in class' service across a growing customer base. Delivering a 1st class customer journey in this predominantly people based business. Developing a market strategy. Review and develop services, products and commercialisation for the product offering, working closely with the operational to ensure the development roadmap is optimised.

9 Person Specification Experience The Managing Director will have significant experience of successfully running commercial traded services, ideally with experience of delivering a range of services from front line catering/cleaning services to professional advisory services to the education and/or social care sector. Experience of early stage companies: effective in a small team environment, managing resources to meet both short and longer term growth and profitability objectives. The candidate will most likely be an existing head of, operational or managing director of a profitable commercial organisation. Skills and Abilities Candidates will demonstrate the following key attributes: Highly motivated and not easily discouraged, with resilience and tenacity. Proven leadership and motivational skills especially in the context of service transformation A personal and professional demeanour and credibility that commands confidence and respect and provides for effective engagement with a range of key people and stakeholders at all levels including delivering effective PR and media messages. Financially astute, having managed budgets in the context of growth. Excellent strategic marketing ability. An effective and balanced decision maker who leads by example, maximising return and minimising risk. Be highly organised, excellent at time management, able to delegate, and have sharp commercial and strategic acumen. Be able to demonstrate the commerciality and entrepreneurial mindset to be successful in delivering local authority charged for services in to a focussed commercial traded services company Being open to challenge and committed to continuous learning and development for self and others.

10 How to Apply The closing date for applications is 19 th January To apply please submit a Curriculum Vitae and a covering letter stating both why you are interested in this opportunity and why you would make a good candidate for South Gloucestershire Traded Services. Cover letters should be no more than 4 pages of A4 (Arial 10 or equivalent). Please include the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will not be contacted without your consent. Completed applications should be returned to: mark.bearn@hays.com If you are unable to apply by please post to Mark Bearn, Hays Executive, Ebury Gate, 23 Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1W 0NT. Recruitment Process Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged. Candidates will be informed of the outcome of their application by 23 rd January. First interviews with Mark Bearn of Hays Executive will be held week commencing 26 th January. Interviews will take place at South Gloucestershire Council s offices in Yate. Online Assessment will take place week commencing 9 th February and final interviews week commencing 23 rd February. Queries In the first instance please direct all queries to Mark Bearn of Hays Executive. T: M: E: mark.bearn@hays.com