The Role
Katy Bourne OBE was re-elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) by the public in May 2021 to hold the Chief Constable of Sussex Police to account for the performance of the police force, effectively making the police answerable to the communities they serve.
She is responsible for setting the strategic direction and priorities for Sussex Police through the Police & Crime plan This includes setting the overall police budget of £347m (2022/23) and local police precept – the amount residents pay for policing in their council tax. She also has a statutory duty to commission support services for victims of crime and to deliver community safety initiatives including restorative justice and crime reduction grants.
The PCC is seeking a highly-engaged and motivated individual to join the team as an Executive Support Manager. The role is primarily to ensure that the PCC busy diary is managed as effectively as possible but also it manages the public correspondence team and day to day office duties. The work is varied, interesting and engages with a wide range of people including senior officers of Sussex Police, local leaders, residents, Members of Parliament, Government ministers, victims services and many more. The successful applicant will need great organisational skills, the confidence to speak with a wide range of stakeholders, identify and understand reputational issues, have the skills to manage the correspondence team and support their work and have personal resilience and flexibility.
It is an exciting role at the heart of public service and one where you will help make a difference and help keep Sussex safe. The current salary range is £33,618 to £37,281 with a pay award expected this year.
Key Responsibilities
To be responsible for providing a first class professional, efficient and effective executive management support service to the Police & Crime Commissioner and Executive Management Team by carrying out tasks that are primary and secondary research, policy or administrative related to enable them to function efficiently and effectively, these will include; preparing confidential correspondence to key internal and external stakeholders including MPs, councillors, ministers and other PCCs, producing briefing reports, speeches and presentations, providing attendance and support at meetings, diary management, executive support, arranging travel and accommodation needs, processing and publishing expenses.
To line manage and support the Public Confidence Strategic Support Manager and Correspondence Officer, Interns and other temporary project staff as required allocating incoming requests and queries, prioritising actions and monitoring team resource to ensure deadlines are met, all services provide a consistent, reliable level of support and all staff remains effective and productive.
To oversee and lead on training, support and coaching of the Public Confidence Strategic Support Manager and Correspondence Officer, Interns and other temporary project staff as required, including facilitating appropriate development, conducting performance appraisals and managing poor performance and attendance issues.
Provide a confidential and professional liaison service between the PCC and internal and external stakeholders including MPs, senior officials, councillors, ministers and other PCCs by preparing sensitive correspondence and contacting on behalf of the PCC.
Provide Executive Support to the local, regional and national meetings or committees chaired and/or attended by the PCC and Executive Management Team drafting presentations, reports and speeches for national conferences, public meetings and ministerial events including verbal and written briefings for the PCC and Executive Management Team on key issues. Providing minute taking where appropriate. Undertaking and delegating research to produce the above.
To lead on recruitment processes of all temporary staff, project staff and the annual Internship Programme, arranging and conducting interview processes and ensuring all requirements are met before recruiting, including vetting and reference checks.
To lead on the provisions for maintaining the PCC office including lead for ICT provisions for all staff; managing upgrades and procurement of new systems, ensuring Health & Safety arrangements are in place and compliant, lead on all finance administration including maintaining and reviewing all contracts and subscriptions, lead for business continuity planning and user liaison with landlord and suppliers to research the procurement of goods and services, including office improvement plans.
To act as main liaison with Landlord to ensure lease is compliant with tenancy rights and challenging and problem solving any issues.
Coordinate PCC meeting engagement, coordinating with Chief Officer Staff Officer to identify and resolve potential problems and issues.
Liaise and coordinate with Sussex Police Chief Staff Officers to identify opportunities and issues and overcome problems that could result in reputational harming situations.
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and character of work as may be reasonably required, including specific duties of a similar or lesser graded post.
Skills & Experience
Essential Qualifications
· Degree level qualification or equivalent experience.
· Excellent level of computer literacy; including advanced Microsoft Office word, Excel PowerPoint, Outlook and other packages.
· Advanced qualification in shorthand, typing and administration, eg. RSA Stage 3 or equivalent.
· Minute taking training and experience at an executive level.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
· Extensive experience supporting managers at an executive level in an organisation.
· Experience preparing documentation, including briefing reports, presentations and speeches for staff at an executive level.
· Proven experience of working in a governance or complaints handling environment within the public sector or equivalent organisation.
· Ability to influence, negotiate and make decisions.
· Experience of office management including maintaining supplies, liaising with maintenance and landlords · Supervisory experience, managing workloads and performance of a team of people
· Advanced organisational skills, including diary management, time management, prioritisation and delegation.
· Experienced in research.
· Able to communicate clearly and with confidence at all levels, including persuading and influencing to achieve timely outcomes.
· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds.
· High level skills in diplomacy, tact and negotiation.
· Excellent attention to detail.
· Capable of working with a minimum of supervision and taking own initiative.
· Ability to work as part of a team, including liaising with other partner organisations.
· Capable of working well under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Contact Details
If you would like to find out more and ask some questions to see if this is the right role for you please contact Iain McCulloch on 07765 699453 or iain.mcculloch@sussex-pcc.gov.uk.
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious beliefs, we would love to hear from you.