INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Planner Team Leader

Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid Working

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a forward- thinking, experienced and motivated Planner Team Leader within Asset Management (Housing).

The role is responsible for leading, motivating and supporting a dedicated team that provide the planning function for the delivery of capital investment to council HRA stock, circa £80m p.a.

About you

As Planner Team Leader, you will bring to the role:

Excellent and proven leadership skills.
Extensive knowledge and experience of the investment needs in Housing.
A strong focus on accuracy, organisation and attention to detail.
Ability to prioritise work to ensure that deadlines are met.
Excellent communication skills.

About the role

Leeds City Council manages approximately 54,000 Council Properties; we deliver services to a diverse community and work in close partnership with agencies and organisations in the City.

The Asset Management division is part of Housing Leeds, responsible for the management and delivery of all Asset Management related services, including repairs, planned works, compliancy and regeneration schemes.

The role holder will be responsible for all stages of programme and scheme planning, from inception to completion for current and future year’s schemes of investment to ensure on time and on budget delivery.

You will be educated to a post-graduate level in Project Management or Finance (or have considerable equivalent experience); have strong understanding of the investment needs and business cases of Housing Leeds.

The role is a 37 hour/5 day week although other flexible working patterns will be considered.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

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

Complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

For more information on this role please contact Francesca Ellis, Capital Programme Manager, 0113 3781959 or email Francesca.ellis@leeds.gov.uk

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. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose:

To be responsible for the planning function for the delivery of capital investment to council HRA stock, circa £80m p.a. To support with programme monitoring information of the delivery of capital investment schemes be them financial, performance or logistics. To manage the planning team providing front line support to the wider Asset Management (Housing).

Providing policy, technical advice and guidance on programme delivery related matters.

Ensuring the service delivers excellence and driving innovative, continuous improvements in line with best practice and the Councils vision and values.

Ensuring capital investment is delivered within available resources, on time and provides overall value for money.

Responsibilities

Carry out, and manage and support the planning team to carry out, the following duties:

To be responsible for all stages of programme and scheme planning, from inception to completion for current and future years schemes of investment to ensure on time and on budget delivery.
Matrix manage staff resources from the wider Strategy & Investment groups to ensure programme delivery
Operational lead for the delivery of the service in-line with all council and departmental performance standards, policies and priorities.
Manage the service area in compliance with legal, regulatory, contractual and LCC procedural requirements.
Develop and deliver service plans and operational deployment plans in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the continuous and on-going innovation and improvement of the service in-line with council objectives in-order to achieve excellence.
Develop a value for money, customer and focussed service.
Take ownership for and manage relationships with elected members to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Assist with the preparation of individual budgets and project costs, coordinate the financial management of and reporting on the Housing Capital Programme.
Take accountability for the outputs of the service area ensuring adequate and robust audit and risk management procedures are in place.
To develop delivery processes in order to achieve an optimum Planned: Reactive ratio of work.
To provide the relevant data and information as required by Housing Leeds and Council for the co-ordination of HRA Business and Investment Plans.
Compile business cases and data for the implementation of new initiatives.
Ensure that all work is carried out in-line with Contract Procedural Rules and Financial Procedural Rules.
To co-ordinate Chief Officer approval on all investment plans.
Keep up to date with relevant and changing legislation and best practice and respond proactively to all issues affecting the service.
Lead, manage, motivate and develop team members in accordance with council policies and employment laws, and ensure that relevant procedures are understood and followed.
Ensure that the team work professionally, competently, and in a forward thinking and customer focused way whilst embracing collaborative partnership working to achieve excellence.
Demonstrate and embed the council Values and Manager Habits to lead, support and drive cultural change.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Qualifications

Educated to a post-graduate level in Project Management or Finance or have equivalent relative experience.

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential qualifications, skills, experience requirements.

An in-depth knowledge of Housing Leeds and the key values and aims of the organisation
A strong understanding of the investment needs and business cases of Housing Leeds
An in-depth knowledge of ICT systems and data bases used by LCC
An excellent understanding of project management tools
An excellent understanding of financial management
An excellent understanding of financial management
High level communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with customers, staff, contractors and elected members at all levels face to face, over the telephone or in writing
Enhanced negotiation skills and the ability to negotiate Value For Money outcomes in the favour of Housing Leeds and its customers
High level ICT skills and the ability to use Microsoft based applications (Word, Excel and Project) and other corporate ICT systems and databases in order to produce complex management information on the service area.
Good reporting skills and the ability to produce detailed management information in relation to the service area.
High level management skills in terms of managing investment programmes
Ability to analyse and interpret complex, logistical and financial information
Strong Organisational skills
Strong risk management skills and the ability to effectively maintain a risk register.
Excellent time management skills and an ability to work effectively under pressure and to conflicting deadlines
Problem solving
Extensive experience of managing complex, long term high risks projects.
Extensive experience of managing complex finances and budgets
Experience of managing projects
Excellent presentation skills using a range of media and an ability to present key, often complex business information to all levels of audience including Senior Management / Director level.
Extensive experience of collating and co-ordinating asset management information or similar

Desirable requirements

A relevant project management qualification
A relevant finance qualification.
Strong ability to balance long and short-term objectives.
Extensive experience of successfully implementing ICT systems.
Experience of facilitating partnership and multi-agency working
Experience of working within a social housing environment.
Experience of working within a political environment
Experience of developing customer feedback into positive business outcomes.
Extensive experience of delivering efficiency savings based on negotiated financial savings and developing more efficient working procedures

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

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 Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

#INT

#LI-DNI