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Overview and Scrutiny Manager

Employer
Birmingham City Council
Location
Council House Extension, Margaret Street, Birmingham
Salary
£35,745 - £43,857
Closing date
9 Jan 2022
Reference
BCC002599

Job Details

Fixed Term Contract for 12 months

**For existing employees this opportunity is being offered as a secondment, subject to eligibility criteria**

 

An opportunity for an Overview and Scrutiny Manager is available to work at Birmingham as part of the Council's Scrutiny Team, a vital support service providing advice and expertise to the whole Council.  The postholder will be active in promoting and safeguarding local democracy in Birmingham, involved with decision making at the heart of the Council.

 

We are looking for an individual committed to excellence in their work and with a passion for governance and democratic involvement. If successful, you will offer comprehensive and professional support to the Council’s scrutiny process, providing advice on both policy and governance to enable Scrutiny Committee members to influence and improve outcomes for Birmingham residents.

 

Working closely with the Chairs of Scrutiny Committees, you will develop work programmes and identify appropriate topics for in depth review work, as well as attending meetings, producing agendas and minutes, compiling briefings and writing detailed reports. You will also be responsible for the line management of some members of staff.

 

The Scrutiny team will continue to refine and improve our processes, explore best practice ideas and provide training for members and officers on the role of Scrutiny, so this is a really exciting time to join our team.

 

The successful candidate will have some experience of policy development or service delivery work, review techniques and facilitating collaborative working relationships between officers and/or members at all levels from a range of disciplines to achieve objectives.

 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate an ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a politically sensitive environment. You will also have good diplomacy and negotiation skills and an ability to communicate efficiently and confidently with Council members and officers at all levels, external agencies and the public.

 

You should have a sound knowledge of local government and knowledge of the statutory framework within which the Local Authority governance and scrutiny operates.

 

The post holder will be required to administer and attend daytime and evening meetings, as required, as well as undertaking a range of associated tasks involving Elected Members and Officers from all the Council’s Directorates.

 

The ideal candidate will have experience of managing council committees and decision-making processes, with a good working knowledge of the relevant legislation and regulations relating to democratic processes. As well as having experience in administering committee meetings, you should be adept with IT packages, ideally with experience of CMIS (Committee Management Information System).

 

The successful candidate will have a flexible approach to ensure the teams duties are covered when required. Enthusiasm and a solution focused approach is key, with excellent attention to detail, an organised approach and good political awareness.

 

You will have previous experience of working within a democratic services or scrutiny environment in local government and a proven ability to build strong working relationships with both elected members and senior officers. You will be comfortable dealing with politically sensitive information, and be able to produce professional and accurate reports and briefings.

 

You will have excellent written and oral communication skills, alongside well-developed IT skills and be happy to work using your own initiative. Naturally curious, you will enjoy being able to guide members through in-depth scrutiny reviews and investigations. You must be able to work flexibly to respond to service demand.

 

The post is based in the Council House.

Interviews for this post will take place virtually via video conferencing. Shortlisted candidates will be provided with further information.

For informal enquires please contact Christian Scade, Interim Head of Scrutiny and Committee Services; E-mail: christian.scade@birmingham.gov.uk; Tel: 07517 550 013

Ref: BCC002599

We welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.

Right to work in the UK documentation will be fully checked for all applicants.  All non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) may require a Certificate of Sponsorship from Birmingham City Council and must have an approved visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) before any employment offer can be confirmed. Unless they are an EEA or Swiss citizen or their family members, already living in the UK by 31 December 2020, then they will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) instead.

 

Supporting documents
Job Description & Person Specification

Company

Working for Birmingham City Council is more than just a job; it's about making life better for the 1 million plus people who live and work in the city.

We welcome people from diverse and underrepresented communities and encourage applications from, those with caring responsibilities, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, neurodivergent, disabled and LGBT+ people. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we are committed to promoting and supporting the physical and mental health of all our staff and removing barriers to improve inclusion.   We are making significant strides to understand and continuously improve our employees’ experience and we are committed to implementing progressive diversity talent management.

Information for applicants with a disability

We are a proud Disability Confident Employer.  We encourage applicants to disclose disabilities, so we can support them fully during our recruitment process and make any necessary reasonable adjustments. Please contact: 0121 675 7070 option 3 (lines open between 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday).

If you require an application in an alternative format, such as Braille or you are unable to complete an application form via WMJOBS, please contact bccHR@birmingham.gov.uk. When you have completed your application form this can be returned to bccHR@birmingham.gov.uk or for Braille applications these can be posted to, Recruitment Team, 2nd Floor, 10 Woodcock Street, B7 4BG.

The Council is a fantastic place to work. You will find an organisation that is both challenging and supportive; with a leadership impatiently adventurous in its pursuit of excellence. 

There is a clear vision which is ensuring that the Council is working for communities today and building for tomorrow, we focus our resources on five key priorities:

  • A Prosperous Birmingham: through a focus on inclusive economic growth, tackling unemployment, attracting inward investment, and maximising the benefits of the Commonwealth Games.
  • An Inclusive Birmingham: through a focus on tackling poverty and inequality, empowering citizens, promoting diversity and civic pride, and supporting and enabling all children and young people to thrive.
  • A Safe Birmingham: through a focus on making the city safer, safeguarding vulnerable citizens, increasing affordable housing, and tackling homelessness.
  • A Healthy Birmingham: through a focus on tackling health inequalities, encouraging physical activity and healthy living, supporting mental health, and improving outcomes for adults with disabilities and older people.
  • A Green Birmingham: through a focus on street cleanliness, improving air quality, continuing the route to net zero, and becoming a city of nature.

We see the Council’s role as providing strategic leadership – that’s being able to visualise a new future for the city and equipping others to share our vision. We want to ensure the provision of services for all, so we can support those least able to support themselves by working with partners and putting citizens and neighbourhoods at the heart of our decision-making.

We are always looking for people who put the customer at the centre of their approach, with a commitment to excellence to help us achieve our vision.  We will support you to develop and thrive in your role, building a pathway for long-term success, with lots of development opportunities, such as apprenticeships.

In return, we offer you excellent terms and conditions, generous annual leave, a great pension scheme, well-being support, annual travel passes and discounts at a number of city centre establishments.

Birmingham City Council is a Foundation Living wage employer - known as the Birmingham Living Wage. The Birmingham Living Wage, is determined by the Living Wage Foundation on an annual basis by the Centre of Research in Society Polity at Loughborough University. The current rate can be found at: www.livingwage.org.uk.

Living wage   small disability confident logo

Company info
Website
Telephone
0121 675 7070
Location
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham
West Midlands
B2 2XU
United Kingdom

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