Kirklees Council “jargon” advert for £119,000-a-year post critcised
Jun 22 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
“The terms used in the advert will mean a lot to the sort of people who are looking at this,’’ he said. “We’ve received 40 expressions of interest in this job and 10 people have applied.
“We’re hitting our target audience.”
Mr Stewart, 61, explained that he and the director of corporate services are both planning to retire soon. They will be replaced by the new director of organisation development.
Mr Stewart said: “Our roles are being combined into one post. That person will be responsible for IT, legal services, human resources and organisational development.
“They will also have to deal with the efficiency savings which the council wants to make.”
Mr Stewart justified Kirklees offering a salary of between £106,000 and £119,000 a year.
He said: “Combining the two roles into one will save the council £180,000 a year when you take in salary, pension contributions, IT, national insurance and secretaries.
“The salary we are offering is at the middle of the range for this sort of job in councils of our size.”
Applications for the post close on Friday (June 26). For more information visit https://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/employment/recruitment/jobs/jobdetails.aspx?vID=4790&l=0
Crystal clear? Some gems from the Kirklees job advert
The job is: “A key leadership role that will help make a complex organisation increasingly confident, energetic and focused as it delivers the outcomes that the Kirklees communities require.”
The successful candidate: “Will play a key role in ensuring the effective integration of national, regional and local drivers.”
The successful candidate must be: “A leader with presence, passion and panache.”
However, the new director of organisation development will face a number of challenges, including making sure: “That the diversity of Kirklees is understood by all in the organisation; is valued as a strength – but a strength that challenges us to respond to its complex implications; and is reflected in the career structures within the organisation.”
The successful applicant will also have to nurture: “The relationships and values that make Kirklees people effective.”
They will have to display a number of skills, including “cross functional experience” and “using information proportionately.”
Most of all, Kirklees is looking for a leader who “is able to be good or best, but a realist!”
