Surrey County Council - Assistant Director, Capital Projects

Assistant Director Capital Projects Candidate Information Pack

Contents

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Welcome About Surrey County Council Community Vision for Surrey by 2030 Our Values About the Land and Property Team Land and Property Purpose and Strategic Priorities Land and Property Operating Structure The Role Person Specification Working at Surrey County Council Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Application Process

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Thank you for your interest in joining Surrey County Council and in the role of Assistant Director - Capital Projects. As well as the position of Assistant Director - Capital Projects we are continuing to invest in our people and recruiting another key role within Land and Property, an Assistant Director – Facilities Management. Our story over the past three years is one of impressive progress across the Council and unprecedented investment to transform and optimise our diverse portfolio, and we are now looking for further talent to join us in these important appointments to help us move to the next level. Land and Property (L&P) will play a key part in making the Vision for Surrey a reality and developing an estate that delivers against its strategic priorities including growing a sustainable economy and enabling a greener future to ensure we meet our net zero targets. Welcome from Simon Crowther – Director of Land and Property, Surrey County Council

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Surrey County Council (SCC) is unashamedly ambitious about what we can achieve, and the difference we can make to Surrey and our residents. Our guiding principle of No One Left Behind , runs through the way we seek to achieve our priority objectives and the way we deliver services. There are many fantastic things about working for Surrey County Council. There is an energy and drive in the organisation that has been vitally important to the successes we have experienced over the past few years. Incredibly able and committed colleagues make it a stimulating and enjoyable place to work, with unstinting support and investment for transformation and improvement. There is a strong sense of being part of a team, and it is a fast-moving environment where there are real opportunities to deliver lasting and meaningful change. By joining SCC and the Land and Property team you will be at the heart of this. Our ambitious capital programme, our service transformation planning and the way we are modernising our operations will ensure our key services can operate effectively and innovatively. We are looking for strong leaders who can maximise the great opportunities to deliver effective change across the Council. The Assistant Directors will join the L&P Senior Leadership Team and work closely with the Director. As a team we are working towards creating a very different culture: focusing on customer satisfaction and collaboration by working closely with business partners, District and Boroughs, the NHS and across the One Public Estate. As a large and high-profile County Council, with a growing reputation for an innovative and ambitious approach, we want you to join us and to deliver in a way that will further enhance our reputation, as well as your own. If Surrey County Council sounds like the sort of place that you would like to join, and you feel that you could make a positive contribution to our ambitious agenda then we would love to hear from you. To be a success, being able to collaborate and influence with a proven track record of delivery in the specialist fields will be a definite advantage. Thank you again for your interest in this role, and I look forward to meeting you should you choose to take forward an application.

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About Surrey County Council Surrey has a central role to play in the regional and national economy, and Surrey County Council and its partners have a deeply held ambition for the county’s economy to be strong, vibrant and successful. We want Surrey to be a great place to live, work and learn; a place that capitalises on its location and natural assets, where communities feel supported, and people are able to support each other. Evidence tells us that while many residents and businesses thrive in Surrey, not everyone has the same opportunities to flourish. Surrey is an affluent county, and this image often disguises problems of inequality that some residents face. Our four priority objectives to address a different aspect of inequality are: • Growing a sustainable economy so everyone can benefit Surrey County Council is committed to tackling inequality, whether that is supporting businesses in Surrey to thrive, improving health outcomes for our most vulnerable residents, tackling the challenges climate change presents, or helping to create the conditions for residents and communities to better support themselves. The driving principle behind our strategy is to ensure no one is left behind. • Tackling health inequality • Enabling a greener future • Empowering communities

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Community Vision for Surrey by 2030 By 2030 we want Surrey to be a uniquely special place where everyone has a great start to life, people live healthy and fulfilling lives, are enabled to achieve their full potential and contribute to their community, and no one is left behind. Our ambitions for people are: • Children and young people are safe and feel safe and confident. • Everyone benefits from education, skills and employment opportunities that help them succeed in life. • Everyone lives healthy, active and fulfilling lives, and makes good choices about their wellbeing. • Everyone gets the health and social care support and information they need at the right time and place. • Communities are welcoming and supportive, especially of those most in need, and people feel able to contribute to community life.

Our ambitions for our place are:

• Residents live in clean, safe and green communities, where people and organisations embrace their environmental responsibilities. • Journeys across the county are easier, more predictable and safer. • Everyone has a place they can call home, with appropriate housing for all. • Businesses in Surrey thrive. • Well connected communities, with effective infrastructure, that grow sustainably.

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Our Values

Our values show what we care about and will be crucial in delivering our Community Vision for Surrey in 2030.

We care about our residents We put our residents front and centre of everything we do.

We care about being excellent We set consistently high standards of performance and are prudent with our resources to achieve them.

We care about being open We are straightforward and transparent about our decisions and actions and set realistic expectations.

We care about working together We work with our partners, residents and colleagues to ensure the best possible outcomes for Surrey and its people.

We care about respecting others We listen to our residents, partners and colleagues and treat them fairly, with consideration and respect.

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About the Land and Property Team

The Land and Property Team is continuing to transform Surrey County Council’s property portfolio in line with its Asset and Place Strategy (2019-2030), which sets out the Council’s approach to the strategic management of its assets, how it will support service delivery, provide the Council income, promote growth and place shaping within Surrey, and deliver Surrey’s Community Vision. The portfolio is significant and diverse, incorporating over 700 operational assets and over 1100 non-operational assets. The team is key to supporting the delivery of services to the people of Surrey by way of increased efficiency, customer service and income generation across the estate. The portfolio is valued in excess of £1.2bn with a revenue budget in excess of £34m. The team is delivering a significant £0.5bn capital investment programme over the next five years.

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In order to meet the aims of the Asset and Place Strategy, Surrey County Council is investing in two key senior appointments to its Land and Property Team: Assistant Director - Capital Projects Charged with transforming the way the organisation operates, so that it can deliver great services to residents, as set out in the Community Vision for Surrey by 2030. Responsible for providing expert advice to the Council’s Service Directors and Members and ensure that the processes and programmes for delivering projects are fit for purpose, achieve the Council’s objectives and contribute to the delivery of excellent service. Assistant Director - Facilities Management Responsible for the management and performance delivery of the FM service, ensuring a high-quality and customer-focused service is delivered at all times. This role is integral to the Council achieving the desired step change in both culture and approach to modernising services and responding to efficiency challenges.

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Land and Property Purpose and Strategic Priorities Purpose: To provide and sustain operational and investment property portfolios that are safe, flexible and value for money, enabling SCC to deliver its policies and services to our clients, partners and stakeholders to benefit the residents of Surrey.

Our strategic priorities are:

We achieve our purpose and deliver our priorities by:

• Portfolio consolidation to deliver economies of scale and capital receipts across the operational and non-operational estates. • Embed revenue savings and income generation targets, and improve our net financial position and enhance our VFM offer to SCC. • Deliver L&P’s contribution to net zero by enhancing the environmental performance of the operational estate by 2030. • Enhance the user experience by implementing a major capital and service improvement programmes to benefit our clients, stakeholders and residents.

• Establishing our operating model: ensuring clear lines of accountability and transparency for service delivery, underpinned by effective governance and risk management. • Being client driven: improving our understanding of SCC services and stakeholder needs, and consequently to better forecast and deliver to our clients’ requirements. • Leveraging the supplier market: to harness the capabilities of the supply chain that enables L&P to become responsive to change and transfers those risks better managed by external expertise. • Engaging effectively with our stakeholders and partners: working collaboratively within and across SCC and with other public authorities and voluntary, community and faith based organisations to identify and deliver asset-based opportunities. • Managing performance: developing and reporting on our key performance metrics that demonstrate delivery against the key principles in the Asset and Place Strategy and any other strategic priorities for SCC and our stakeholders.

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Land and Property Operating Structure

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The Role Purpose

The Assistant Director - Capital Projects is charged with transforming the way the organisation operates, so that it can deliver great services to residents, as set out in the Community Vision for Surrey by 2030. Reporting to the Director of Land and Property, this role is responsible for the delivery of the Council’s capital programme and major projects, in accordance with the Council’s Asset and Place Strategy, affecting the Council’s £1.2bn asset portfolio. The post-holder will be responsible for driving the delivery of these projects and ensuring successful completion to meet stakeholder and end-user expectations, budgetary and financial control and with an unwavering focus on health and safety and compliance. The post-holder will provide expert advice to the Council’s Service Directors and Members and ensure that the processes and programmes for managing and delivering projects are fit for purpose, achieve the Council’s objectives and contribute to the delivery of excellent service or to providing the Council income. This role is integral to the Council achieving the desired step change in both culture and approach to modernising services and responding to efficiency challenges. The post-holder will be expected to provide strong leadership, direction and guidance regarding the allocation of resources, programme, project and risk management, change management and management behaviours when leading on these services.

Key service and functional accountabilities

• Lead in the development and shaping of an efficient and effective capital programme, including the integration of the Council’s energy and sustainability strategy. • Lead in the development and initiating of major works projects that support excellent service delivery for residents. • Work with lead Members and the L&P Senior Leadership Team to deliver the Asset and Place Strategy Action Plan, which optimises the use of all Council property assets. • Lead in preparing and presenting business cases that establish success criteria and benefits for each project and set out the time, cost and risk parameters within which each project will be delivered. • Lead an internal and external team of Development Managers who will take responsibility for the planning and allocation of projects and resources. • Direct a multi-disciplinary team supported by external consultants and contractors on major build and refurbishment programmes. • Ensure that all capital projects are appropriately procured, managed and reported and are subject to the necessary approvals, and that the highest standards of contract management and documentation are in place. • Lead in the development and maintaining of strong and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure cross-functional project delivery teams work well together.

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• Drive effective risk management and audit control, ensuring risk mitigation profiling. • Accountability for the successful delivery of all projects within the capital programme and other approved major works to pre-agreed quality, cost and time parameters, from inception to completion, providing regular reports to the L&P Senior Leadership Team, Service Directors and lead Cabinet Members on progress and outcomes. • Ensure all business impacts arising from the capital programme and major works are identified and tracked through an effective benefits realisation process and that maximum benefit is gained. • Lead on the development of budgeting, forecasting, cost control and monthly financial reporting, ensuring all project expenditure commitments, and all valuations, certificates and payments are properly authorised, controlled and monitored. • Lead in the integration of space management policies which fall out of the Working Closer to Residents programme, while developing an innovative approach to space use. • Lead in the development of processes, methodologies and templates for the capital programme process, including options appraisals and the collection of performance data and reporting. • Lead in the development of a performance management framework that appropriately assesses collaboration, performance and lessons learned for external contractors, consultants and other service providers engaged to deliver capital projects. • Work within the authority’s complex environment to drive effective collaboration and deliver the highest standards of customer service across the organisation and prepare services for future challenges. • Support the consolidation and rationalisation of assets, in line with the Asset and Place Strategy, to reduce revenue expenditure, create revenue and capital income streams and promote the development of housing and commercial spaces. • Work with the Director of Land and Property to modernise and transform the culture and practices of the service, to achieve the service’s objectives and outcomes, and to build a modern operating model, with the right mix of in-house staff and retained advisors. • Be responsible, where applicable, for the ongoing development of Centres of Excellence, by working with our shared services partner (Orbis), to deliver greater value for the Council, residents and customers. • Liaise with District and Borough partners and work with them to deliver property projects and solutions. • Any other reasonable tasks as specified by the Director of Land and Property.

Scope Direct financial impact: Management of projects that will range from circa £1m up to £30m in value. Indirect financial impact: The post-holder will be responsible for a significant range of projects affecting the Council’s £1.2bn asset portfolio

Direct reports The post-holder will be responsible for managing internal staff (approx. six direct reports), as well as a range of consultants and advisers.

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Person Specification Education, training and work qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or with a relevant professional or management qualification at post graduate level, or equivalent experience. • Evidence of continued professional, managerial and personal development in relevant professional area.

Knowledge

• Exceptional understanding of the concepts, principles and practices which underpin delivering a capital programme within a local authority. • Demonstrable experience of leading and managing a multi-disciplined team to deliver programmes of work on time and on budget. • Excellent insight into how the capital projects interact with other services within local authorities. • Knowledge of how to develop and implement a capital programme within clearly defined budget and time envelopes. • Demonstrates understanding of the changing role of local government, the issues facing the public sector, the wider economy and how they impact relevant service areas. • Up-to-date professional knowledge base of the key areas relevant to the role, particularly regulatory compliance. • Knowledge and demonstrable understanding of transformation, culture change, resident empowerment, engagement and participation and the development of staff systems and service. Skills and abilities • Excellent analytical thinker, with the ability to apply a significant degree of evaluative judgement and innovative thinking to arrive at conclusions, sometimes with 'no right answers'. • Enthusiastic and energetic, and prepared to see things through and take accountability. • Ability to balance policy development with effective operational management. • Ability to lead a corporate landlord function, to meet corporate, resident and partner needs by delivering agreed strategic and operational priorities. • Ability to lead and manage teams effectively, motivating staff to give their best, promoting confidence and trust amongst staff and effective engagement across services. • Ability to translate ideas into action, with resilience, tenacity and focus to secure tangible and measurable execution at pace. • Ability to ensure that the Council is complying with statutory requirements in connection with all land and property disposals and developments. • Authoritative and influential with highly developed relationship management and networking skills, and the ability to foster joint working across boundaries for the benefit of residents and communities in Surrey.

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• Political sensitivity with an ability to make progress in complex policy areas and a strong belief in the value of local democracy and accountability. • Builds best-in-class, lean, internal governance, systems and processes. • Takes, and develops others to take, a highly commercial approach; someone who can take managed risks. • Ability to think strategically with appropriate level of detail analysis to plan and execute. • Ability to persuade, negotiate and influence at all levels. • Ability to apply discretion and initiative in dealing with complex issues. • Commitment to Surrey County Council’s values, behaviours and equal opportunity policies, with an ability to demonstrate personal leadership on the importance of diversity. Relevant experience • Substantial experience, evidenced by a solid track record of success, of leading the delivery of a capital programme in complex, devolved and dynamic organisations, ideally within both the public and private sectors. • Experience of managing and resolving difficult situations dynamically, promoting confidence in the service and in the Council. • Experience of leading transformation, implementation of new ways of working and delivery of culture change in a large complex organisation. • Experience of transforming an operational

estate service to improve workforce productivity and customer service.

Other requirements

• Politically restricted officer post.

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Working at Surrey County Council Our employees have access to a wide range of benefits. This ensures that we are giving our hardworking employees the rewards they deserve for the tremendous services they provide for our county and the people in it. Our core benefits consist of a competitive pension scheme, 26 days annual leave entitlement rising to 28 days after two years service, maternity and adoption pay, sick pay entitlement, parental leave, early retirement and severance schemes, special leave for reserve forces training as well as awarding our longest service employees who reach 25 and 40 years with us. Family and lifestyle discounts via Surrey Extra

• Discounts on food shopping • Local offers/discounts

• Cinema tickets • Weekends away • Holidays • Gifts • Childcare vouchers (scheme now closed to new entrants) • Microsoft Home User Programme

Travel and transport staff benefits • Lease car scheme: drive away a cost-effective vehicle for a two or three-year period. • Cycle to work schemes: you can save up to 42% (via salary sacrifice) on the cost of a brand new bike, up to the value of £3,000. • Bus and train discounts: season ticket loans and a plethora of discounts on a wide range of transport options. • Car clubs and car sharing schemes.

Health and wellbeing staff benefits • Healthcare plans • Dental insurance • Health and wellbeing assessments • Gym/health club memberships and eye tests

• Work and education staff benefits • Employee volunteering scheme • Discounted adult learning courses • Flexible working opportunities • Fantastic CPD support

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Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Tackling inequality so no one is left behind is our guiding principle. We commit to being a fair, compassionate and inclusive Council that genuinely values difference and makes everyone feel safe and they belong. We will be open and transparent with residents and staff on our intentions and will take responsibility to achieve them.

All residents should have the same chances for a high quality of life and feel they belong in their communities. We will champion our most vulnerable residents, including those who may suffer from prejudice or discrimination because of who they are or their circumstances.

We are committed to supporting all Members and staff to feel they belong at the Council and have opportunities to succeed. We will work with staff to identify and remove barriers that get in the way of inclusivity and diversity.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, discrimination and harassment. Members and employees are expected to behave in ways that help us support residents, partners and Council colleagues. We will hold Members and staff to the high standards required, dealing decisively with instances of discrimination.

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Focusing on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is vitally important to improve the experiences of residents and staff and ensure no one in the county is left behind. We also have a legal responsibility under the Equality Act 2010. We aim to eliminate discrimination, increase equality of opportunity and foster good relations across people from all groups protected by law. To do this, we will: • Proactively look for potential discrimination and work with residents and partners to co- design services so they are inclusive, accessible and fair. • Minimise bias in our employment practices, including recruitment, and support staff to carry out their responsibilities under this commitment. • Facilitate and embed Employee Reference Groups for staff from protected groups to have a

safe space to engage the Council’s leadership on equality issues. • Develop a workforce that reflects Surrey’s diverse communities.

• Ensure all contractors providing goods and services on our behalf share our commitment. • Influence other employers and partners to work with us on this agenda through joint initiatives to tackle inequality. • Use complaints feedback to identify unfair treatment and take steps to correct this.

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Application Process Surrey County Council is being supported on this recruitment campaign by search consultancy The Management Recruitment Group (MRG). To arrange an initial confidential conversation please contact our retained advisor Nicholas Coppard on 07896 079 495 / Nicholas.coppard@mrgpeople.co.uk

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