Economy Lead (Skills)

The starting salary for this role is £53,918 per annum based on working 36 hours per week.

This role is open to remote working meaning you aren't required in the office 5 days a week. We're less about you driving to work and more about us collectively driving down our carbon footprint. We care about how you work rather than where you work; the people rather than the postcode. In support of our people and our greener futures strategies, we'd welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what remote working may look like for you.

Our Story

Surrey County Council continues to make its most significant ever investment in supporting Surrey’s economy. As the largest economy outside of London, Surrey’s Economy and Growth Team supports the Council in its ambitions to focus on the whole Surrey economy and to provide a resilient and ambitious economic environment through unprecedented economic challenges. This work has already started with the development of Surrey’s 2030 Economic Strategy which established a positive strategic context for growth, sets out the opportunity to both retain and secure additional investment in the county and focuses on how we will maximise opportunities for all residents to fulfil their potential.

To help us achieve our ambitions, the One Surrey Growth Board brings together business leaders, local authority partners and education providers to provide county-wide focus on economic growth and future prosperity. Alongside the Growth Board, the Surrey Skills Leadership Forum provides a strategic vision for the skills system in Surrey and members have agreed on the development of a Surrey Skills Plan to set the future direction of how the skills system responds to the needs of local employers.

Now that the strategic context for growth has been set, our focus for the future is on delivering on our wide-ranging ambitions, including on the skills agenda. We are seeking a high calibre candidate to join us on this exciting and rewarding journey. If you have a track record in working in complex partnership structures, delivering on ambitious economic strategies and have experience in delivering meaningful changes in the skills and employability space then we want to hear from you.

About the Role

This role will help take forward the programme of work which has been developed to meet the challenges and economic opportunities set out within the SCC’s Economic Strategy Statement and the One Surrey Growth Board’s Plan for Growth. Whilst you will be expected to work horizontally to help take forward new transformative projects across all areas of the team, this role will have a particular focus on the skills agenda.

We are looking for someone who can support our Heads of Service in bringing to life the county’s economic strategy objectives; turning what is on paper into tangible outcomes that improve the lives of Surrey residents. Your work will include the delivery of a Surrey Skills Action Plan, working alongside employers and training providers to improve outcomes, supporting the creation of new and better jobs, coordinating skills provision and bringing more people into work. As well as delivery, you will also be required to think strategically about how to best harness the power SCC has to convene a wide range of partners and to influence the work they do to align with our ambitions. 

As the programme of work is still at an early stage of delivery, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the proposed interventions and putting the right foundations in place for successful outcomes. This will include leading funding applications and seeking opportunities to attract public and private sector investment to drive forward the initiatives. All our activity is underpinned by stakeholder and partner engagement in a co-design and co-delivery culture.

About You

The role will support the delivery of a high-profile portfolio of work for Surrey, therefore we are looking for candidates who are able to present themselves positively with confidence and conviction and with the ability to inspire both respect and trust amongst colleagues, partners and peers. Other key experience/skills we are looking for include the following:

• Experience of being creative, innovative with the ability to challenge appropriately in a cross-cutting economic environment
• An ability to deliver programmes at scale (across boundaries) and sub regionally
• Personal resilience with the ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-moving and changeable environment
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to work collaboratively with internal/external partners and professionals to achieve positive outcomes
• Ability to work on own initiative with solution focussed problem solving skills
• Demonstrate the ability of working at scale comparable with county level
• Great verbal and written communication skills and the ability to utilise these with a wide range of audiences
•  An understanding of the skills system at a national, regional and local level would be desirable

For more information please refer to the role profile attached at the bottom of this advert, as well as the Surrey County Council’s Economic Strategy Statement and the One Surrey Growth Board’s Plan for Growth.

At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 16th August 2022. 

Interview dates to be confirmed.

A two stage selection process is currently planned for this role. The first stage interviews will take place virtually later in August and if successful from there a final interview is planned to be held in person following that. Details of the process for final interview will be shared should you be successful in passing through from the first interview.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion please contact Jack Kennedy by e-mail at jack.kennedy@surreycc.gov.uk.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.