Senior Commercial Technical Officer

Job title: Senior Commercial Technical Officer – Asset Management (Housing)

Salary: PO2 £41,177 to £44,253

Hours: 37 / week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Main office - Print Unit, 7 Limewood Approach, Seacroft, Leeds LS14 1NG. However, you may be required to work from any office location within the city. Hybrid working will be offered.

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 the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding team who have responsibility for managing commercial sites and equipment across Leeds City Councils housing stock. Working as part of the second largest local authority landlord in the country, you will be involved in managing commercial heating systems, large scale renewable systems and green technology, sprinkler systems and other firefighting equipment, as well as other commercial installations across different geographical locations around the city, in-order to ensure that residents can live safely and comfortably in their homes.

Your role will be to ensure that contractors and internal service providers meet their responsibilities to repair, service and install equipment, whilst taking an active role in the ongoing management, and design of new systems as part of the Councils new build Housing Growth and Improvement programmes.

About you

This is an exciting opportunity to join an expanding team who have responsibility for managing commercial sites and equipment across Leeds City Councils housing stock. Working as part of the second largest local authority landlord in the country, you will be involved in managing commercial heating systems, large scale renewable systems and green technology, sprinkler systems and other firefighting equipment, as well as other commercial installations across different geographical locations around the city, in-order to ensure that residents can live safely and comfortably in their homes.

Your role will be to ensure that contractors and internal service providers meet their responsibilities to repair, service and install equipment, whilst taking an active role in the ongoing management, and design of new systems as part of the Councils new build Housing Growth and Improvement programmes.

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

Apply for this job online by completing the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact David Gold by email in the first instance david.gold@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

Purpose of the job: To provide a Technical lead in successfully delivering safe, comprehensive, customer focused service, including direct technical support on Legionella, District Heating, automatic Sprinklers and all associated M&E commercial asset related issues and day to day contract liaison.

Provide direct line management/supervision to a team of frontline technical staff.

To ensure the effective day to day management of contractors and Internal Service Providers and appropriate maintenance of council housing commercial assets and in particular within High Rise multi occupancy buildings.

To implement and manage programmes of work in-line with available resources and to agreed timescales,

Principal Responsibilities:

• Technical lead for the frontline delivery of commercial maintenance & services (including legionella, district heating systems, automatic Sprinklers) in-line with council and departmental performance standards, values, policies and priorities.
• Manage all activities in compliance with legal, regulatory, contract and internal requirements.
• Support the delivery of service 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.
• Continually drive a value for money, customer focused service.
• Take ownership for and manage relationships with all stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
• Manage activities within individual delegated budgets and the management of spend in-line with agreed budget profiles, including the prioritisation and planning of work.
• Take accountability for the outputs of all duties ensuring adequate and robust audit and risk management procedures are in place.
• Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Leadership Responsibilities

• To lead, manage, motivate and develop team members in accordance with council policies and employment laws, and ensure that relevant procedures are understood and followed.
• To ensure that the team works professionally, competently, and in a forward thinking and customer focused way whilst embracing collaborative partnership working in order to achieve excellence.
• To demonstrate and embed the council Values and Manager Habits to lead, support and drive cultural change

Qualifications:

Minimum building/construction or M&E related qualification to HNC / HND level or equivalent experience

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Ability to manage priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities

• Developing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with stakeholders
• Ability to analyse and interpret information and report to a wide range of audiences
• Considerable experience of using Microsoft packages and IT systems
• Chairing meetings effectively
• To support on driving a culture through the team that is focussed both on customers and quality
• Completion of reports in a diligent and accurate manner
• Considerable experience of project management
• Support on engagement with managers and contractors in order to effectively progress change

Knowledge Required

• Membership of a professional body i.e. RICS building surveying
• A detailed knowledge of commercial asset services, installation and maintenance, including landlord’s responsibilities, inclusive of ACOP L8.
• Up to date knowledge of social housing and issues affecting the sector
• Knowledge of Construction Health & Safety
• Knowledge of Standard forms of building contracts
• A detailed understanding of the key issues and challenges facing the social housing sector, particularly re: commercial assets and innovations within the sector.

Experience Required

• Managing construction contracts
• Supporting on partnership and multi-agency working
• Considerable experience of managing medium-large projects
• Managing programmes of work within defined budgets
• Considerable involvement in the procurement of works/services
• Working with and negotiating with trade unions
• Considerable experience of leading a team
• Considerable experience of working within social housing.
• Considerable experience of working within a complex political environment.
• Working with an Internal Service Provider.
• Undertaking service reviews.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

• 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 equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
• 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.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills Required

• Experience of negotiation on issues within a political environment
• Knowledge Required
• Membership of a professional body i.e. RICS building surveying
• Ability to develop solutions to commercial asset related problems.
• Considerable experience of problem solving involving complex issues

Experience Required

• Supporting on partnership and multi-agency working
• Considerable involvement in the procurement of works/services
• Working with and negotiating with trade unions
• Working with an Internal Service Provider.
• Undertaking service reviews.