Chief Officer - Governance

Job Description

"Before applying for this job, it is important that you read the Applicant Guidance by clicking on this link and the Job Profile attached. These explain the job role and the type of person we're looking for".

Location:  Marischal College

Duration:  Permanent, Full Time

 

About the Role

The Chief Officer – Governance will ensure that the Council fulfils its statutory duties and performs its functions and activities in accordance with the law and the principles of good governance.

Responsible for developing, leading and overseeing the management of a first-class Policy and Assurance Framework for the Council.

The post holder will discharge the following statutory roles:

• Monitoring Officer under Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989

• Act as Depute to the Returning Officer, in accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983;

The post holder will make arrangements on behalf of the Council to ensure that all duties and responsibilities associated with the following roles are discharged:

• Clerk to the Licensing Board in accordance with the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005; and

• Senior Information Risk Owner

Reporting directly to the Director - Corporate Services, the Chief Officer - Governance will play an intrinsic role in the extended Corporate Management Team and will ensure excellent working relationships with all appropriate stakeholders including other functional areas, elected members, trade union representatives, employees and the 
public.

The success of this role is interdependent on relationships with Chief Officer - Finance; Chief Officer - Commercial and Procurement Services; Chief Officer – People & Citizen Services and Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord.

Key external Stakeholders: The Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, Freedom of Information Commissioner, Moody’s (Credit Rating Agency).

Requirements

Minimum Qualification(s) / Certificates / Memberships etc. required

Admitted as a solicitor in Scotland and holding a Practising Certificate from the Law 
Society of Scotland

Relevant degree or professional qualification

Evidence of Continuous Professional Development

Responsibilities

The postholder is expected to demonstrate:

Skills & Experience in:

Proven experience or understanding of:

o Managing corporate governance activities at a senior management level in a 
complex, multi-functional organisation, including experience of legal and 
democratic services
o Strategic policy development and implementation
o Developing / managing strategic partnerships
o Service transformation and improvement
o Successful budgetary management and control
o Developing integrated services
o Performance management

Managing and understanding a demanding client base

Risk analysis, risk awareness, monitoring and management of risk

Practical knowledge of negotiating and influencing in a complex environment

Practical knowledge of setting strategy in a complex organisation

Understanding of:

Key drivers in a business area and working in partnership with stakeholders to 
measurably improve service delivery

Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015

Data Protection Act 1998

Local Government and Housing Act 1989

Licenses, Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

Commitment to:

The principles and aims of Aberdeen City Council

The Aberdeen City Council Target Operating Model

The Local Outcome Improvement Plan

 

The Individual

Please see Job Profile & Candidate Pack for further details

 

Aberdeen City Council is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Flexible Working

We are happy to talk flexible working and offer flexible working for most roles in the organisation meaning that many of our employees enjoy the freedom of choosing a working pattern that suits them as much as it suits the organisation.

Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident Employer.  If you consider yourself to have a disability and think you may require a reasonable adjustment to be made for this part of the selection process, or would like further information in relation to reasonable adjustments, please contact AskHR@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Armed Forces

We are a forces-friendly employer, have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a silver award recipient in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.  We have a specific email address for those in the forces, those who have left the forces, as well as their partners / spouses / families: armedforces@aberdeencity.gov.uk.  We are able to answer questions about jobs and our application / selection process, as well as about our employee support provisions.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We have a number of guaranteed interview schemes available to applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our roles and who:

• have a disability
• are care-experienced and aged 16-29
• are aged 16-24 and live in Aberdeen City or have been to an Aberdeen City Council school and are applying for a Modern Apprenticeship (except Trades apprenticeships)
• have done a Foundation Apprenticeship with Aberdeen City Council and are applying for any apprenticeships relevant to the area in which they did their Foundation Apprenticeship
• are New Scots aged 16-24 and are applying for any apprenticeships

Further information can be found at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/jobs