Working Hours: 35 Hours per week
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Closing Date: 10 December 2024
Interview Method: In Person (Face to Face)
This role is subject to -
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.
At the heart of Greater Manchester, the city of Manchester is one of the world’s most renowned areas for hospitality, culture, sport, arts —and the North’s leading business, retail, and education centre.
We are aiming to recruit an exceptional individual to join our team to develop our bold, ambitious strategy and pipeline of schemes for travel in Manchester from now up to 2040.
This will be an opportunity to work on flagship projects in Manchester including the Transformation of Deansgate, Key radial routes into the city centre, development of district centres across Manchester plus a wide range of exciting highways and transport projects on the Highways Pipeline.
They will recognise how important our transport choices are to ensure Manchester is a well-connected, zero-carbon city centre at the heart of the North, offering residents, workers and visitors a great place to live, work and play, and getting the right balance between the different ways of travelling.
Your role as Assistant Technical Lead will be to assist in developing the strategic pipeline of highway infrastructure schemes to support Manchester's continued economic growth through innovative solutions. This will involve assisting and commissioning feasibility studies, developing scheme concepts and translating these into innovative designs that will be passed on to the Highway's client function to oversee delivery.
You will need to be highly motivated, focused, flexible and committed to personal development. You will be continuously developing new skills and competencies in a role where no two days are the same. You will be part of a strong team with a range of specialities and experiences and will learn from each other.
We are a dynamic and forward-thinking organization committed to delivering exceptional services and making a positive impact on Manchester. At the heart of our mission are our people, and we are now seeking an experienced and dedicated individual to join us as an Assistant Technical Lead. This is a key role with accountability for assisting with major projects, corporate initiatives, and work packages, ensuring the delivery of innovative solutions in line with strategic and operational objectives.
Communication Skills:
The ideal candidate should possess exceptional communication skills, enabling them to build and sustain robust networks both internally and externally. They should be adept at forming effective partnerships with external agencies, voluntary and statutory bodies, as well as key stakeholders. This ability to forge alliances is crucial for the continuous improvement of services. Additionally, the candidate should be capable of inspiring full commitment and responsibility from key stakeholders to deliver the vision of excellence for the city.
Analytical Skills:
The candidate should be proficient in providing creative solutions to problems. While adhering to policies and procedures, they should also be confident in adopting and justifying novel or non-standard approaches. This requires a keen analytical mindset and the ability to think critically to address challenges.
Planning & Organizing:
Demonstrating strong business planning skills is essential. The candidate should be capable of managing change and making long-term plans that impact the entire service or the broader council. Effective planning and organizational skills are crucial in ensuring the successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
Problem Solving & Decision Making:
The ideal candidate should possess strong problem-solving skills, using creative abilities to find solutions. Similar to analytical skills, they should be confident in adopting and justifying novel or non-standard approaches while considering policy and procedure.
Creative Skills:
The candidate should exhibit creative thinking in planning and examining potential business processes and operating models. They should be capable of developing a range of creative and original solutions that align with the strategic needs of the business.
Strategic Thinking:
Demonstrating political awareness is crucial. The candidate should be able to connect strategies for continuous improvement with the drive to achieve national, corporate, and departmental standards and goals. This requires a forward-thinking approach and a strategic mindset.
Research & Intelligence:
The candidate should possess strong research and intelligence skills. This includes the ability to analyze and present evidence-based information from various sources, even when conflicting, using established research methodology.
Policy:
The ideal candidate should be able to understand how policy options align with and contribute to broader political objectives at national, regional, and sub-regional levels. This requires a good understanding of policy implications and their alignment with wider goals.
Commercial Skills:
Demonstrating some business intelligence is crucial. The candidate should be capable of identifying commercially viable opportunities and ensuring value for money in service delivery. This requires a strategic approach to business decisions and financial acumen.
Experience of delivering a range of projects and support packages within a structured project management environment. HNC / HND or degree in a relevant Civil Engineering or Transport Planning discipline desirable or willingness to work towards. Relevant qualification via Association of Project Management (APM) or equivalent or willingness to work towards.
Key Role Descriptors:
The role holder will undertake a lead consultant role on complex technical, procedural and legislative matters in a professional, customer focused, and specialist technical service.
The role holder will lead and have accountability for the delivery of a range of technical projects, initiatives or work packages that comply with relevant legislation and help achieve the Council’s corporate aims and objectives.
The role holder will use their technical knowledge and expertise to develop, design and implement customer-focused solutions. They will continually identify and champion opportunities to deliver improvement.
Key Role Accountabilities:
Lead an innovative, forward thinking technical consultancy function for the assigned service area, ensuring that solutions are delivered in line with customer and legislative requirements. Dependent on the service area, this may include software / information technology support, engineering, surveying, curating or other specialist functions.
Lead on the delivery of work packages (using project management methodology where appropriate), ensuring compliance with organisational objectives, consistency in approach and compliance with appropriate internal and legislative guidelines.
Actively strive to achieve efficiencies in project, programme and maintenance service delivery and improvements in the quality of service.
Develop successful internal and external relationships and secure stakeholder commitment through negotiation and communications, both oral and written, to ensure work packages are delivered effectively and to customer requirements and agreed objectives. Work closely with contractors where required to ensure effective work package delivery.
Analyse and interpret legislation, presenting information and complex technical matters relating to the service area in a clear and concise manner to a range of stakeholders, orally and in writing. This will include identifying and addressing complex issues and making informed recommendations on action needed to support key corporate objectives.
Represent the City Council as an expert witness at enquiries, tribunals and hearings or similar proceedings where appropriate.
Roles at this level may be required to manage a range of assigned resources, which may be human, financial or other, to ensure continuous improvement in service delivery. Staff management duties may be either through direct line management of a team (including appraisals, performance management and other duties) or through matrix management of a virtual team of officers.
Dependent on the service area, the roleholder may be required to work on a rota basis including out of hours as required to meet customer demand.
Demonstrate a personal commitment to continuous self development and service improvement.
Through personal example, open commitment and clear action, ensure diversity is positively valued, resulting in equal access and treatment in employment, service delivery and communications.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.
We’re the local government authority for Manchester, and have teams across the city helping to make this a great place to live for everyone. We’re proud to do local government differently, in a city with an international reputation for diversity, creativity, culture and passion.
When you join us, you’re joining a team of over 7,000 council staff helping to make our ambition for Manchester a reality. Whatever your role, you’ll be supporting our residents and communities to be the best they can be, and helping to build a Manchester that's fairer for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or plays here.
To make our ambition a reality, every person we recruit needs to play their its part. It takes a certain type of behaviour, attitude and way of working to get Manchester where it wants to be. Our people and partners have agreed five ‘behaviours’ – the grounding for how we must work together and treat one another:
- We take time to listen and understand
- We work together and trust each other
- We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
- We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
- We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
A career with us means you can be yourself, thrive, and build the career your talent and ambition deserve.
Creating an inclusive team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly encourage applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.
If you want to find out more about the role, our ways of working, flexible arrangements or any workplace adjustments, please let us know by emailing jobs@manchester.gov.uk. If you are invited to interview, we will ask you if you require any adjustments for you to best demonstrate your suitability for the role in the interview process.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
Accessibility
As a Disability Confident Employer, we provide support for employees with physical or mental-health conditions, a disability or neurodiversity. Our workplaces are accessible by design, and we make workplace adjustments including providing aids, adaptations and equipment. These, combined with our flexible working policies such as disability-related leave, enable our employees to perform their role, thrive and be their authentic selves in work.
We’ve also included some useful tips on how to submit the best application.
What we will need from you if you’re successful
If you are successfully offered a position with us, the pre-employment checks you will be asked to undertake will depend on the role you've applied for. As a guide, these may include:
- Passport/ID: You will be required to provide documentary proof of your right to work in the UK
- References (Current and Previous employer)
- Disclosure and Barring Service Clearance (DBS) (as applicable)
When you join us
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.
Other relevant information
Why work for us
Who we are - Manchester City Council
Privacy Notice
Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.
Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.
Plan your public transport journey. Navigate Greater Manchester and beyond with Transport for Greater Manchester’s journey planner and additional travel resources. Plan a journey | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM