JOB DESCRIPTION

general manager – corporate services

Division / Corporate Services
Group / Corporate Services
Reports to / Chief Executive
Location / 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt
Key relationships / Internal:SLT, managers and senior staff within Council, other staff, councillors and other elected members.
External:Local authorities, government agencies, business and professional groups, community groups, key partners including Council-controlled organisations, Council customers and members of the communities in Lower Hutt.

At Hutt City Council we are committed to making a difference to people in Hutt City through what we do and how we do it. We want to deliver a better city every day by understanding our communities’ values, building strong partnerships, and delivering fresh solutions.

Every day, we provide services, facilities and programmes to Hutt City’s 100,000 residents and many thousands more people who visit or work here.

It’s truly rewarding to know that whatever our role, we can make a genuine difference to the community.

In everything we do, we demonstrate our values of responsibility, integrity, together and excellence. Our leaders paint the big picture, inspire and drive results.

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role purpose
Ensuring Council has the best local government services by enabling legendary service right from frontline customer interaction though to support for our governance processes.
This includes:
  1. Playing a key role in the strategic leadership of Council, as a member of SLT and other governance groups.
  2. Leading the Corporate Services Group:
  • Information Services including ICT, land information, engineering records, archives and applications
  • Human Resources including health and safety
  • Customer Services including call centre and reception
  • Communications and marketing activities
  • Democratic Services
  • Legal oversight in all matters relating to Council’s business
  1. Leading SLT’s strategic initiative to deliver the Best Local Government Services (BLGS) programme including Chairing the programme, setting the work programme for change and ensuring the programme is implemented.
  2. Leading other Council-wide programmes as required.

Responsibilities
Promote Council’s Vision and Values within the organisation /
  • Understand Council’s Vision and Values.
  • Explain the Vision and help ensure actions align with it.
  • Demonstrate the importance of Council’s Values through own actions and by emphasising to staff.

Contribute to strategic decision-making within Council /
  • Participate in all SLT meetings.
  • Chair other strategic decision-making forums.
  • Attend and provide appropriate advice to relevant Council and Committee meetings.
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of the Council’s strategies and plans.

Deliver the following core Group services:
  • Information Services
  • Human Resources
  • Customer Services
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Democratic Services
  • Legal Services
/
  • Manage relationships with and the interface between the Council, the community, key businesses and business organisations, key third party providers and staff in the Group to effectively deliver the Group’s services.
  • Ensure service level targets in the Long Term Plan are achieved.
  • Ensure projects identified in the Long Term Plan are delivered on time, to standard and within budget.
  • Ensure appropriate Business Plans are developed and implemented across the Group.
  • Develop and review policies associated with the Group’s core services.
  • Ensure all services meet statutory requirements.
  • Ensure the Council service delivery meets or exceeds the needs of the Council’s internal and external customers.

Lead selected key organisation-wide programmes /
  • Lead the BLGS programme of work within Council including governance, change management and programme implementation.
  • Work with others in Council to understand BLGS requirements and ensure resources are available to implement process mapping, technology changes etc. in the timeframe required.
  • Advocate to SLT and others for change required from BLGS programme.
  • Participate in and/or lead other organisational wide programmes as necessary.

Ensure optimum use and development of staff /
  • Provide leadership and guidance in line with Council culture, values and team philosophy.
  • Maintain positive working relationships with staff, ensuring early and effective resolution of conflict, and minimising opportunities for personal grievances to be taken against the Council.
  • Communicate performance criteria for staff and ensure regular appraisal occurs, providing praise and/or guidance as required.
  • Ensure appropriate training and development of staff occurs.
  • Develop and implement succession plans.
  • Ensure effective communication of Council policies and activities throughout the Group.
  • Ensure adherence to Council human resource policies and procedures.

Ensure the Council’s financial policies and procedures are adhered to /
  • Constructively contribute to the business planning and annual planning process with SLT, describing performance targets to be met and resources required, and including detailed analysis.
  • Review compliance with the Council’s financial and management control policies and criteria.
  • Maintain detailed budgets, managing revenue and expenditure in accordance with financial requirements.
  • Ensure systems are in place to minimise wastage.
  • Identify and report to Chief Executive any business risk factors and customer sensitive issues, including competitor and market activity.

Abide by Council’s policies and legislative obligations /
  • Carry out any other duties that may be assigned by the Chief Executive.
  • Uphold the principle of Equal Employment Opportunities as well as "the good employer" principle of the Local Government Amendment Act 2002.
  • Demonstrate a clear perception of the intent of, and commitment to, the application of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
  • Participate in corporate emergency and civil defence planning, training and operations under the direction of the Emergency Management Controller.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing / Take responsibility for health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and others
  • Exercise “due diligence” as an officer under the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015, and comply with the Act and our health & safety policies and procedures.
  • Take reasonable care of your own health and safety while at work.
  • Ensure any actions taken or omission to take action does not adversely affect the health and safety of others.
  • Actively contribute to the improvement of health and safety systems and practices in your work area to make Hutt City Council a safe place to work.
  • Manage your own wellness and take advantage of wellness opportunities provided.
  • Be accountable for developing, implementing, maintaining and monitoring superior health and safety practices within your work area.
  • Recognise and acknowledge that effective health, safety and wellbeing practices are a critical driver of organisational, team and individual performance.

These responsibilities may change from time to time to meet operational or other requirements

Skills, knowledge and behaviours
Our core competencies below, outline the skills, knowledge and behaviours that are important to us
Leadership / Our leaders paint the big picture, inspire and drive results
  • Clearly communicates and commits to a shared purpose and direction which is aligned to our vision and strategies.
  • Sets ambitious goals for self and team members to deliver successful outcomes
  • Encourages and promotes creativity and improvement.
  • Celebrates successes.
  • Uses workplace survey results to enhance the performance and engagement of the team.

Managing people / Ensures people are engaged and motivated to be their very best
  • Has regular coaching conversations with team members, encourages and shares information and experience.
  • Gives and receives feedback to enable people to be their very best.
  • Ensures all team members are clear on performance expectations, how they are progressing and provides appropriate support as needed.
  • Provides team members development opportunities to enhance their personal effectiveness and develops skills and knowledge that link to greater performance outcomes.

Commitment to
Hutt City / Committed to our vision, strategies and making a difference to the people in our community
  • Aligns all work with Council vision and strategies, team goals and business plans to obtain the best outcomes.
  • Recognises the importance of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Charter and applies these principles to work.
  • Role models our values and holds others accountable to live our values.

Customer Service Delivery / Delivers excellent customer service to internal and external customers, in line with our Customer Commitments
  • Provides a proactive, professional and knowledgeable service
  • Seeks to better understand customers’ needs and improve and enhance the services we provide
  • Makes decisions and provides options to meet customers’ expectations and enhance the customer experience
  • Takes ownership to resolve problems and follows through to ensure that the commitments made are met or exceeded
  • Aligns processes and policies to a customer centric culture
  • Works with internal and external customers in ways that positively grow our reputation

Working together / Works well with others, collaborating effectively as one to achieve objectives and deliver high performance outcomes
  • Communicates clearly and effectively
  • Builds and maintains positive relationships
  • Respects the needs and contributions of others
  • Participates and shows commitment to team activities
  • Manages and resolves conflict effectively
  • Role models effective team behaviours
  • Seeks and utilises opportunities to work across teams

Understanding Council / Understands responsibilities and accountabilities within a political, legislative and regulatory environment
  • Understands the strategic direction of Council, its mission, customers, and processes.
  • Applies industry standards and best practice, bases decisions on Councils plans and goals.
  • Understands relevant legislation, provides guidance and advice where appropriate and applies legislative concepts to actual situations.

Specialist knowledge / Recognises area of specialist knowledge and how it contributes to Council’s success
  • Works to achieve a high level of performance and specialist knowledge in a technical or professional area.
  • Provides specialist input and advice.
  • Keeps up to date with current legislation, regulations, policies, practises and trends.
  • Recognises own strengths and areas requiring development.

Continuous improvement and change / Is forward thinking, innovative and open to change
  • Looks for opportunities to make improvements and add value .
  • Challenges where there are issues, risk or inefficiencies.
  • Sees the opportunities and responds positively to change.
  • Is open to feedback and seeks out personal opportunities to learn and grow.

Our Values
Responsibility / We choose a positive attitude, lead by example, take ownership and challenge others to do the right thing.
Integrity / We do what we say we will do, we are honest, trustworthy and loyal, and we show respect.
Together / We communicate clearly, listen to understand and encourage and support each other. We seek opportunities to work with others, share information, show appreciation and have fun together.
Excellence / We are professional, focus on service, we look for success and celebrate it. We challenge processes and are innovative and creative, contributing to improvement, we take pride in our work.
Qualifications and experience
Essential /
  • Significant senior leadership experience
  • Proven relationship management expertise
  • Extensive staff management skills
  • Experience leading one or more major corporate services group function in a substantial organisation
  • Experience leading delivery of major programmes
  • Financial management ability

Desired /
  • Relevant tertiary qualification
  • Senior Management experience in a local government setting
  • Experience leading a corporate services group in a substantial organisation

Delegations
Number of people reporting to the role / 8
Total number of people within your delegation / TBC
Operating budget / $10m
Capital budget / $2m

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