Director of Education, Learning & Leisure

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the Director of Education, Learning & Leisure position here at Aberdeenshire Council. I hope this recruitment microsite gives you a good idea of who we are and of the role we are seeking to fill.

Aberdeenshire Council is one of Scotland’s leading unitary authorities. We cover some 2,500 square miles with a population of approximately 236,000. The Council has a strong reputation for delivering excellent public services and value for money. We excel at partnership working with agencies and authorities throughout the region and are not afraid of showing leadership on complex and challenging issues. As well as our external audiences, we have almost 14,000 employees, each of whom is a potential ambassador for us and for the North-East. For the second year running Aberdeenshire Council has came out top amongst the country’s 32 local authority areas in the annual Bank of Scotland Quality of Life Survey, which highlighted the area as having some of the healthiest and most well-off residents.

We are looking for a Director of Education, Learning & Leisure to lead our Education, Learning & Leisure service based at our headquarters in Woodhill House, Aberdeen.

We are looking for dynamic personalities, leaders in their field, committed to excellence and ready to work in an expanding part of Scotland.

If you wish to discuss the post, on an informal basis, please contact Colin Mackenzie on 01224 665400.

Closing date: 10am, 21 February 2011

 

Colin Mackenzie
Chief Executive

Job Title

Director Education, Learning & Leisure

Salary

£109,827 - Chief Officer SCP 53

Position Location

Woodhill House, Aberdeen

Job Purpose

As a member of the Strategic Management Team you will provide entrepreneurial leadership vision and strategic direction to the Council and its Education, Learning & Leisure Service.

Core Responsibilities / Duties

Providing Direction

• Support the Chief Executive in the corporate and strategic management of the Council.
• Participate in defining and developing corporate objectives, in partnership with the Chief Executive and Elected Members, translating these into appropriate and effective action programmes.
• Ensure that the Council’s policies, strategies, values, culture and purpose are communicated effectively to all affected parties.
• Provide leadership, vision and strategic direction to the Council and Education, Learning and Leisure (E,L&L) Service in partnership with the Chief Executive and Elected Members.
• Lead the establishment and maintenance of the E,L&L Service plans which support the achievement of the Council’s objectives.
• Lead, manage, support and provide direction for key programmes and projects within the E,L&L Service.
• Lead the effective management and development of employees across the E,L&L Service in accordance with best practice, ensuring they are consulted, empowered, valued and motivated.
• Foster a positive organisational culture across the E,L&L Service, ensuring that the Council’s Values are promoted and developed.

Collaborative Working

• Work in partnership with the Chief Executive, Elected Members and other Directors in order to promote and achieve the Council's objectives, through developing appropriate strategies, policies and plans.
• Play a key role in the interface between Elected Members and employees, supporting the democratic processes, and providing advice on appropriate policy options and professional matters.
• Develop the “customer first” ethos within the E,L&L Service, ensuring the approach to customers and employees is underpinned by a strong equality and diversity ethos.
• Ensure the development and implementation of effective methods of corporate procurement and delivering of services, working in partnership with statutory agencies, local communities and other public, private and voluntary sector organisations in order to achieve the Council’s objectives.

Change Management

• Take lead responsibility for assigned corporate objectives, cross-cutting themes, transformation and change management programmes, other projects and initiatives.

Achieving Success

• Ensure effective and efficient delivery across the E,L&L Service against agreed standards with a cost conscious approach to the utilisation of resources, including finance and budgetary control, staffing levels, supplies, equipment and premises.
• Ensure that the E,L&L Service’s resources are optimised and controlled effectively by the development, implementation and monitoring of robust service and financial planning processes.
• Embed the Performance Management Culture throughout the E,L&L Service, driving the continuous improvement of services and playing a key role in Best Value processes, ensuring that this is under-pinned by appropriate corporate and service specific performance management systems.
• Ensure that all appropriate activities comply with Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Codes of Practice.
• Support effective scrutiny arrangements and ensure the engagement and involvement of all Members as appropriate.

Functional Responsibilites / Duties

• Maintain strong working relationships with all of the Service’s stakeholders, including Elected Members, employees, parents, pupils, community and interested groups, further and higher education establishments, external partner bodies and the voluntary sector, engaging and involving them as appropriate in joint planning for the service.
• Support reporting Senior Officers in carrying out their functional responsibilities within the community, schools, Inclusion, Curriculum for Excellence, Lifelong Learning, Leisure, performance and resource management and the support services within the Service.

Qualifications and Training

Essential:

• Recognised professional or management qualification within the field of Education, Learning or Leisure
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Senior Management Development and Training
• A recognised degree

Experience

• Demonstrable achievements in providing leadership and change management at a senior level within a local authority environment.
• Experience in a senior management position in either or all of the following areas: Education, Leisure or Learning.
• Experience of establishing and sustaining relevant and effective stakeholder relationships locally, regionally and nationally.
• Successful track record of establishing a strong service performance culture to continually improve standards and performance
• Significant financial management, strategic, risk and budget planning experience.
• Experience of providing advice and guidance in a political context.
• Success in leading, managing and inspiring employees and of building and motivating effective senior teams, holding them to account through rigorous performance management.

Knowledge and Skills

• Leadership skills in delivering change and driving forward continuous improvement and best value agendas.
• A comprehensive understanding of local government and the context within which it operates.
• The political acumen and skills to develop effective corporate working relationships within a large complex organisation.
• The ability to provide visible supportive leadership which will effectively empower employees and foster a positive and supportive organisational culture.
• The ability to effectively manage and monitor performance at individual, service and corporate level.
• High degree of political sensitivity
• Financial acumen
• Commercial awareness
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to travel
  

This job profile is not exhaustive; it is intended to indicate the general level of duties and responsibilities for the post.

How To Apply

To apply for this post please click on this link. You will be required to upload your CV, supporting statement and any other additional information into one document.

If you wish to discuss the post on an informal basis, please feel free to contact:

• Colin Mackenzie, Chief Executive on 01224 665400 or email Colin.Mackenzie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Recruitment & Selection Timetable

Closing Date	10am, 21 February 2011
Assessment Day	8 March 2011
Longlist Interview Day	9 March 2011
Evening Event	31 March 2011
Shortlist Interview	1April 2011

Security Checks

Criminal Conviction

Due to the nature of this post it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and convictions whether spent or unspent must be declared. Candidates called for a short-list interview will therefore be required to complete a declaration form. Guidance will be provided with the invitation to the short-list interview. Any information given will be treated in strictest confidence and information provided about convictions that are deemed to be irrelevant will be disregarded.

Disclosure

An Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Check will be required for the successful candidate.

Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act (2006)

You must be eligible to work in the UK. The successful candidate will be required to provide original evidence of his/her eligibility to work in the UK, for example your National Insurance number and passport or birth certificate.

Canvassing Candidates

Candidates should note that canvassing members of the Council, directly or indirectly, in connection with this post shall disqualify you.

Evidence of Qualifications

Candidates will be required to bring evidence of their qualification in the format of original copies of certificates etc to the short-list interview.

Provision of False Information

Candidates should also note that the provision of false information or the omission of material information in your application, or at interview, may lead to the offer of employment being withdrawn.

Politically Restricted

This post is politically restricted and disqualifies you from holding political office should you be successful.

• For more information please view the attached guidance. [28kb PDF]

Guaranteed Job Interview Scheme

This scheme guarantees an interview for people with disabilities who meet the essential criteria for the job. Please state if you wish your application to be considered under this scheme.

 

Aberdeenshire Council - An Employer of Choice

Aberdeenshire Council is a premium employer, offering employees the opportunity to work more flexibly – enabling them to balance work and personal commitments, achieving greater variety in what they do. We promote work life balance, respecting and allowing employees their individual right to a fulfilled life inside and outside work, while ensuring quality of service to the community.

 

 

Welcome to Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire offers the best rural quality of life in Scotland. In a survey conducted by Bank of Scotland in 2010. For the second year running the area came out top amongst the country’s 32 local authority areas in the annual Quality of Life Survey, which highlighted the area as having some of the healthiest and most well-off residents.

The authority has regularly been polled at the top of previous surveys carried out by the Bank of Scotland.

As well as coming top of the survey in 2009, Aberdeenshire came top overall for the best quality of life in 2007; in May 2008 the area had the best quality of life amongst rural areas in Scotland; and in November 2008 came second in the list of areas enjoying the best overall quality of life. In March 2009 it also came out top amongst ten other rural local authorities in the Bank of Scotland’s Rural Quality of Life Survey.

The latest survey found that residents of Aberdeenshire tend to be in good health and have a relatively higher than average life expectancy of 78 years.

According to the Bank of Scotland’s survey, the employment rate in Aberdeenshire is 80 per cent with many residents enjoying high incomes with weekly average earnings of £647.

On several indicators, Aberdeenshire ranks above the Scottish average, including school qualifications where 83% achieve five or more SCQF level 4 awards compared to the Scotland average of 78%.

Aberdeenshire Council is an award-winning council and has had a number of high profile successes. Our work on sustainability has been widely recognised throughout the UK, as has the council's innovative Kaizen improvement programme which won a top European award. In addition the council has won a raft of awards through Cosla, the National Transport Awards, the Northern Star Business and Tourism Awards and the Young Local Authority of the Year. Also, the Council was voted the Best Large Council to Work for 2008 in The Times Best Councils to Work For and the only Scottish authority named in the top 25 list.

Aberdeenshire was found to have high employment, one of the highest life expectancies and low crime rates. People living in the area earned above the Scottish average of £549 a week, lived until the age of 77 on average and had a good general level of health. Aberdeen also has the most hours of sunshine in Scotland.

Tim Crawford, group economist at Bank of Scotland said: "A strong economy, along with good schools and a low crime rate have helped Aberdeenshire to become the area with the best quality of life in Scotland in 2007."

Aberdeenshire from mountain to sea - the very best of Scotland

Aberdeenshire has a huge variety of activities for visitors and residents alike. It covers an area of just under 2,500 square miles and has a population of around 236,000.

The area boasts stunning scenery, plenty of open space and is steeped in history and tradition.

Among its outdoor attractions are large country parks, nature reserves, hill walks and mountain bike tracks - with the Cairngorms National Park sitting partly within the Marr area. In addition, there are many sporting pursuits to suit all ages and abilities from fishing, skiing, horse-riding and golf.

Thousands of visitors are attracted each year to the area's Castles and Whisky Trail, Royal Deeside and Royal country estate Balmoral Castle as well as ancient standing stones, museums, historic houses and gardens and a thriving traditional arts and music scene.

Those looking to settle in Aberdeenshire may choose to live in one of the bustling towns, or in the rural heart of the area. Our communities are well served by community centres, libraries, 17 secondary schools and 153 primary schools. The city of Aberdeen also has a lot to offer with a vibrant nightlife, universities and colleges, theatres, entertainment and shopping. All these factors make for a lively, thriving area of Scotland which offers all the attractions of modern times in the scenic beauty of its unspoilt landscapes.

Getting here

Aberdeen is well connected to the rest of the UK and Europe by land, sea and air.

The road and rail networks connect Aberdeen to all the major Scottish cities. Travel time by car to Edinburgh is approximately two hours, to Glasgow a little over two and a half hours and to Dundee about one hour.

There are direct and overnight sleeper trains to London each day, as well as direct services to Birmingham and Plymouth. There is also an hourly service to Edinburgh and Glasgow, with regular connections to the south.

As well as being the principal British port serving the oil industry and a key centre of the fishing industry, Aberdeen also offers ferry and cargo services to Orkney and Shetland, Scandinavia, the Faroe Islands and Northern Europe.

Aberdeen International Airport is only 15 minutes drive from the heart of the city centre. It is convenient and well-connected to the strategic centres throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. With around 12 airlines operating flights across 30 destinations, there is a good deal of choice on fares and routes.

Flight Times to Aberdeen

Flight Times to Aberdeen

United Kingdom		Europe
Belfast	1 hr	Amsterdam	1 hr 50 mins
Birmingham	1 hr 40 mins	Barcelona	3 hrs
Edinburgh	35 mins	Bergen	1 hr 35 mins
Glasgow	50 mins	Copenhagen	1 hr 40 mins
Humberside	1hr 10 mins	Dublin	1 hr
Kirkwall	50 mins	Esbjerg	1 hr 15 mins
Leeds / Bradford	1 hr 20 mins	Faroe Islands	1 hr 15 mins
London Gatwick	1 hr 45 mins	Haugesund	1 hr 20 mins
London Heathrow	1 hr 40 mins	Palma	3 hrs 25 mins
London Luton	1 hr 20 mins	Paris	2 hrs 5 mins
Manchester	1 hr 15 mins	Stavanger	1 hr
Newcastle	1 hr
Nottingham	1 hr 30 mins
Shetland	1 hr
Teeside	1 hr 10 mins
Wick	40 mins

 

About Aberdeenshire

Making a move in your career is more than getting a new job. It's about making sure that your family life is enhanced and that you all benefit from what’s on offer in Aberdeenshire.

There are a number of factors, which we think you'll want to take into consideration before applying for this post. More information is available on request, but we've provided a few details on areas, which we think will help you to choose Aberdeenshire for your next career move.

 

Career and work opportunities

There's no better place than Aberdeenshire to expand your career horizons. Unemployment is currently less than 1% making it the ideal place for job hunters. As a result of the discovery of oil and gas, Aberdeen City and Shire have become a centre for engineering and technical services. Of course, whisky is a major industry in Scotland but there are also opportunities in IT and mobile technology.

Your home

No matter where you choose to live in Aberdeenshire, you're never far from open country or the north east coastline. Even if you choose to live in the heart of Aberdeen City itself, less than half a mile from the city centre you’ll find Aberdeen beach – a two-mile stretch of golden sand lined by an esplanade.

House hunting is made easier for you by the existence of the Aberdeen Solicitors Property Centre (ASPC). Over 90% of properties for sale in the area are advertised through ASPC and they have a handy website at www.aspc.co.uk

Finding a solicitor

Once you find a property that meets your requirements you should contact a solicitor who will understand the Scottish system of property purchasing. They will deal with the marketing of property and act for sellers and buyers and will also help to arrange mortgages and insurance.

It is normal practice in Scotland to arrange for a survey of the property to be carried out before you submit a formal offer through your solicitor. The survey should list any significant defects and repair work. If you need to arrange a mortgage, your lender will usually require proof that a survey has been carried out.

If more than one party is interested, a closing date for offers is usually fixed and generally the highest bid for the property will be accepted. Properties are generally offered for offers over, although occasionally you will find fixed price homes. Your solicitor will provide you with advice throughout the process.

Your Family

Education facilities in Aberdeenshire have an excellent reputation for quality and innovation. We have the smallest average primary school class size at just 22.4 pupils and 85% of S4 students gained 5 awards at level 4 or better.

Four Nobel prizes have been awarded to Aberdeen’s research and academic institutes and five secondary schools were rated in the top 20 of the best secondary schools in Scotland.

Pre-school education – all three and four year olds are entitled to a free, part-time or pre-school place. They are usually delivered over five sessions a week (each of around 2 ½ hours) over the school years.

• Further information on Aberdeenshire Schools is available from the Council website.

Further education - Aberdeen College and Banff & Buchan College provide education for people who are older than 16 years.

Higher education - across Scotland there are 21 institutions, providing a full selection of courses at sub-degree, degree and postgraduate levels.

Aberdeen's higher education and research facilities are internationally respected, particularly with regard to medicine, agriculture, life sciences, management and related disciplines. It is home to two universities, the University of Aberdeen and The Robert Gordon University.

Social Work Services are well developed providing high quality care. The Social Work inspectorate (SWIA) have confirmed that we play an important role in many communities. Resources are well managed and vulnerable people are appropriately safeguarded.

Educational, Learning & Leisure

 

The Education, Learning and Leisure Service is the largest of the Council’s Services, providing a range of opportunities for people of all ages right across Aberdeenshire. We are responsible for Pre-School Education, Primary and Secondary Schools, Additional Support Needs, Community Learning and Development, as well as services such as Libraries, Sports and Leisure, Museums, Heritage and Culture.

With our 8000 employees and an annual Revenue Budget of over £230M, we are committed to delivering the Vision for Aberdeenshire Council of being ‘The Very Best – from Mountain to Sea’.

Currently we are working on some very important projects which will have long term implications for Aberdeenshire. We have ambitious plans to invest in our E,L&L estate; are introducing a new curriculum framework 3-18; are in the vanguard of the national schools intranet programme, GLOW; are reviewing our Sport, Culture and CLD strategies, working on new approaches to Quality Improvement; and our Child Protection policies.

• ELL Service Report 2010
• Single Outcome Agreement, Strategic Priorities, Plans & Reports
• Aberdeenshire HMIE Report 2008 [148KB]
• ELL Standards & Quality Report 2008 / 2009 [3,499KB]
• ELL Draft CP Action Plan