Job title: Chief Officer - Culture and Sport
Salary: Dir 80% £105,882 - £116,260
Hours: 37 hours
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds
As our Chief Officer – Culture and Sport, you'll thrive on shaping the future of one of the UK's most vibrant and ambitious cities. This is an opportunity to lead services that enrich lives, support inclusive economic growth and strengthen Leeds' reputation as a leader and destination for culture, sport and leisure and cutting across all four of the Leeds Ambitions.
This role combines leadership of four service area with a key focus on bringing together culture, sport, markets and city centre management to create lasting benefits for residents, visitors and businesses across Leeds.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As our Chief Officer – Culture and Sport, you will bring to the role:
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Significant senior leadership experience leading large, complex services in this field and multi-disciplinary teams. Working from strategy through to operational matters.
- A strong track record of developing and delivering strategic partnerships across local, regional and national organisations.
- Commercial and Operation oversight of a large front line delivery teams.
- Extensive experience of leading organisational change, managing significant budgets and driving continuous improvement.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with experience of working in a political environment.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the strategic, legislative and policy landscape relating to culture, sport and their contribution to inclusive growth.
About the role
As our next Chief Officer - Culture and Sport, you'll provide strategic leadership across one of the council's highest-profile portfolios, helping shape the future of Leeds through culture, sport and place. You'll lead the delivery of ambitious strategies that promote participation, strengthen communities, ensuring services remain inclusive and accessible whilst enhance the city's economy and maximise commercial opportunities.
The role is integral to the City Development Directorate. You will lead a diverse portfolio that includes:
Culture, Art & Events, Leeds Museums and Galleries an NPO organisation, covering 8 sites and 4 venues, Markets and City Centre Management. Active Leeds with over 16 Leisure Centres, the Active Lifestyles Programme promoting participation and inclusion.
You will work closely with elected members, senior leaders, partners and stakeholders, you'll champion innovation, develop strategic alliances and ensure Leeds continues to be recognised nationally and internationally as a thriving cultural and sporting city.
You'll lead large operational teams, oversee significant budgets and resources, and inspire colleagues to deliver excellent services that make a tangible difference to the people, businesses and communities of Leeds.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
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a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
For further information please request a candidate information pack by emailing
[email protected]
Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement stating how you meet the requirements of the role.
Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Angela Barnicle, Director of City Development on 0113 37 83155 or email
[email protected].
Interviews will be held in mid September.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose
Provide strategic leadership within their portfolio area, providing advice and expertise to decision makers across the Council, working with key partners at national, regional and local level, the champion initiatives to support the delivery of real change across the city, through the promotion of cultural enrichment, creating a synergy of professional and commercial activity across the portfolios of Culture including Markets, City Centre Management and Active Leeds.
Responsibilities
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Support the Director by leading a major area of the Directorate to ensure delivery of Best Value services to customers, to meet the objectives of the Leeds Ambitions and Council Plan and comply with Government and Industry Standards.
- Provide strategic leadership on all aspects of the Culture and Sport portfolio from strategy through to delivery, having a resource management focus on financial management and delivery of large front-line teams.
- Lead the Cultural and Sporting strategies on behalf of the Council, working with a multi stakeholder city partnership with sectors promoting cultural and sporting enrichment for all.
- Identify, promote, and develop new initiatives and opportunities that increase commercial activity whilst also promoting participation for all within Culture, Active Leeds, and Active Lifestyles.
- Provide oversight and management of the Council’s programme for Culture, Events, Leeds Museum and Galleries Service and Active Leeds and Active Lifestyles.
- Promote and manage Leeds City Centre as a cultural and business location and retail, leisure, and tourism destination, including coordinating the Council’s relationship with the Leeds Business Improvement District.
- Maximise all opportunities to enhance the economy by ensuring effective delivery of the Markets Strategy and provision of an effective Market service at various sites throughout the City.
- Take the strategic lead in developing the service in the context of city, regional and national priorities.
- Actively support the Corporate Management Team in achieving continuous improvement across the Council and as a member of the Directorate Management team, develop and implement initiatives to support continuous improvement in the Directorate Services.
- In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework ensure that effective budget management and control take place across your service, the planned level and quality of service provided for within the revenue and capital budgets are delivered and that budget pressures are resolved.
- Responsible for the direction and control of a significant budget, the financial integrity of the service and accountable for directing and implementing comprehensive risk management programmes and resources across the service(s). Delivering within budget; value for money is maximised, and operational, regulatory, statutory, and financial risk is managed and monitored in compliance with council requirements and with Local Government and national working practices.
- Accountable for and provide appropriate strategic advice relating to the work of the Directorate to Members and council officers and other stakeholders to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
- Responsible for maintaining effective communications and engagement with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners, and other stakeholders and which supports open, inclusive, responsive, and accountable government.
- Work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, responsive, and accountable government providing appropriate advice relating to the work of the Directorate to Members and council officers so as to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
- Actively drive and deliver continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate Management Teams.
- Lead a positive Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Fire (HSWF) culture, ensuring statutory compliance and effective risk management through implementation of council policies, and proactive leadership alongside support services.
- Lead, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement, and employment areas.
- Work with key partners at national, regional, and local level and in collaboration with colleagues and partners support the delivery of real change across the city.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.
Qualifications Relevant degree qualification, professional qualification, or equivalent knowledge and experience relevant to this specific field is essential.
Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
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Able to support excellent joined-up delivery in relation to resource management and business support activity.
- Able to create and shape strategic alliances to benefit the Leeds City Region and raise the profile of the city of Leeds nationally and internationally.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across sectors to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional, and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to Culture and Sport including the economic leverage these sectors bring to economic growth and inclusion.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of culture and sport matters and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions, and Corporate Leadership Team.
- Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
- Evidence of working in a multi-agency environment and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.
- Significant successful senior leadership experience within the relevant field or other associated area and substantial experience of leading teams of scale (1000 FTE plus) in multiple locations.
- Experience of successful leadership and management of large-scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.
- Evidence of ability to make reasoned and logical decisions allied with high level organisational skills.
- Significant successful senior leadership experience.
- Significant understanding of operating within a political environment.
- Extensive experience of exercising sound judgement and providing clear advice at senior level.
- Experience of developing and implementing highly complex strategies leading to successful outcomes.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required.
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Committed to developing the ability to use digital tools and technology at, or above, the foundation skills level on the government’s Essential digital skills framework
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city
- Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values, and standards of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
