JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Building Control Partnership Manager
Service Area:
Planning and Coastal Management Services
Team:
Ipswich and East Suffolk Building Control
Grade:
Band 10
Main Purpose of Job:
Responsible for the establishment, development and on-going performance, of the Ipswich
and East Suffolk (IES) Building Control Partnership, including:
 its strategic, commercial and business growth, and promotion;
 delivery of the statutory requirements of the two councils, as a single team, with
respect to Local Authority Building Control;
 overall management responsibility for the team through the respective team leaders.
In particular, the post holder will be responsible for strategic planning, and leading on the
commercial marketing and reputation of the IESBC service, both to increase market share
within the area and explore commercial opportunities for further income generation. This will
involve working closely with existing clients as well as proactively seeking new clients and
markets.
Scope of Role:
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To lead on and deliver a high quality, customer focussed Building Control Service
across the Ipswich and East Suffolk councils area.
To undertake business development for the new service with the purpose of
identifying, securing and maintaining new sources of income generation within and
beyond the IESBC area. This may include opportunities for the IESBC service to
provide services for/within neighbouring authorities.
To develop and manage the business of the combined Building Control Service to
deliver efficient and effective building control and to ensure full cost recovery in
accordance with statutory guidelines.
To provide a comprehensive service including applications, site inspections,
dangerous structures and demolitions.
To act as both councils’ principal technical adviser and expert on building control
matters and to be responsible for statutory technical and legal compliance with the
Building Act and Building Regulations.
To make decisions on building regulation matters in accordance with both Council’s
schemes of delegation.
Key Responsibilities:
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To manage the day to day operations of the IESBC.
To ensure the delivery of an efficient, high quality and customer focussed combined
Building Control Service in an integrated way.
To prioritise and programme the work of the IESBC, and regularly monitor progress
to ensure that performance is evaluated and improvements are taken forward.
To establish and measure key performance indicators for the IESBC and report to
the Board or cabinets as required.
To co-ordinate the full range of service duties, ensuring delivery to budget whilst
promoting each Council’s vision as set out in their respective Corporate Plan
To have responsibility for the management of budgets, including monitoring of
income and expenditure, authorising payments, forward planning and review and
regularly report to the IESBC Board as appropriate.
Line management of direct reports, including recruitment, training and development,
one to one supervision, mentoring, appraisal and performance management.
To act as both councils’ principal advisor and technical expert on building control and
represent each council at appeals, court cases and other public hearings arising from
the works of the service.
To attend committee meetings as required to ensure appropriate decisions are taken
on building control matters.
To promote the IESBC internally in the host councils.
To promote and market the IESBC service externally, including the provision of preapplication consultancy through partnering arrangements for major clients,
developing new partnerships and expanding into new markets.
To liaise with other local authority building control offices within Suffolk and further
afield to ensure the active promotion of local authority building control services.
To lead on the development and expansion of partnership schemes.
To undertake business development with the aim of identifying new markets and
creating additional sources of income generation.
To work with each Head of Service to develop and implement a cost recovery model
for Building Control
To work with internal departments across both Councils to ensure compliance with
building regulations on Council projects.
To manage, where necessary, a caseload of the more complex building regulations
applications particularly in relation to large scale industrial and commercial
development.
To lead on and oversee the validity of complaints of danger arising from defective
structures, and instruct each council’s dangerous structures contractor (including
outside normal working hours and at short notice).
To deliver a dangerous structure rota for IESBC.
Instruct legal services in respect of enforcement action, prepare evidence for Court or
other hearings and appear as a witness.
To ensure that all forms of necessary inspection are carried out within the prescribed
time limits.
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To ensure that all deposited plans are examined for compliance with the building
regulations and associated legislation.
To ensure that correct fees are collected for the submission of building regulation
applications and to liaise with other services to ensure the collection of inspection
charges due.
To provide advice to residents, business, developers/agents on matters relating to
the building regulations and construction.
To keep up to date with current legislation and building practice and ensure staff are
kept informed.
To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out
duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with each Council’s Health and
Safety Policy and relevant health and safety legislation.
Any other reasonable duties as may be required from time to time by the Line
Manager(s)/Corporate Management Team(s).
Standard Items:
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To comply with appropriate legislation, service and Council policies.
All employees have responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act
1974. These responsibilities are laid out in the Council’s Health and Safety Policy
and Procedures.
To support and be committed to each Council’s policy on safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups including, young children and adults and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
To support each Council’s equalities and diversity policies.
To operate within each Council’s IT policies.
To operate within each Council’s Financial Regulations.
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Reports to: Head of Planning and Coastal Management (East Suffolk Councils) and
Operations Manager, Planning and Development (Ipswich Borough Council).
Responsible for: (minimum 3 direct reports – team leader level)
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Political Restriction:
This post is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and
postholders are prohibited from seeking public election, holding political office, writing or
speaking publicly on matters of political controversy.
Note:
This is a description of the job as it is constituted at August 2016 but, as the organisation
develops, it may be necessary to vary the duties and responsibilities from time to time. It is
the practice of both Councils to periodically review Job Descriptions to ensure that they
relate to the job as being performed or to incorporate whatever changes may be necessary.
It is both Councils' aim to reach agreement to such reasonable changes with the postholder
but if agreement is not possible the Councils reserve the right to insist on changes to the Job
Description after consultation with the postholder.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Leadership Capabilities
Collaborate: Working
 Seeking opportunities to share resources and ideas with
effectively with partners and
colleagues and partners
others to deliver services
 Prepared to compromise and reach consensus decisions
for mutual benefit of partners and corporate goals
 Facilitating the development of external relationships to
build and maintain effective partnerships
 Communicating effectively to ensure staff and partners are
kept informed and engaged
 Building teams that are diverse, competent and motivated
 Collaborating with others to improve and transform
processes in service area
Lead: Contributing to the
development of the
organisation by
understanding, influencing
and communicating the
corporate priorities
 Taking responsibility for setting clear and deliverable
targets to achieve corporate objectives
 Keeping people informed so they can perform their roles
effectively
 Aware of how individual decisions and actions may impact
on others, internally and externally
 Displaying enthusiasm for the Councils that inspires and
creates confidence and motivation in others
 Helping others to understand the corporate vision and how
they can contribute towards it
 Awareness of and sensitive to political views, the
democratic process, corporate goals and priorities
 Leading by example and am accountable for my decisions
Empower: Ensuring
everyone has the right
capability and the freedom
to apply and develop their
knowledge and skills
 Ensuring that the Councils have the resources and
capacity to deliver services effectively, efficiently and
economically
 Thinking ahead and plan workforce development
requirements
 Taking positive action to address performance issues
 Celebrating individual, team and organisational successes
 Ensuring my team has the necessary resources and
information to undertake their roles effectively
 Encouraging my team to take personal responsibility for
their own development
 Giving others appropriate freedom and flexibility to develop
and fulfil their role
Achieve: Continuously
striving to deliver and
improve upon performance
 Ensuring my team are aware of what is expected of them
 Nurturing lateral thinking and encourage new ideas and
solutions
 Seeking out examples of good practice and ideas from
both inside and outside the councils
 Appreciating the changing political context and assess how
this impacts on future service delivery
 Encouraging my team to reflect on its performance and
seek feedback
 Giving constructive feedback to others
 Taking a lead role in implementing change
Respect: Providing quality
services to our customers
that respond to different
cultural, environmental and
social needs
 Proactively managing the customer relationship by
consulting and seeking feedback
 Shaping customer behaviours and promote self sufficiency
 Identifying diverse points of view and weigh up competing
priorities effectively
 Proactively keeping my customers informed about changes
to services
 Putting processes in place to ensure a consistent and
quality customer service
 Liaising with other agencies who have expertise in
addressing diverse needs in order to optimise service
provision and maximise efficiencies
 Developing plans to balance the needs of a diverse
community
 Taking a strategic approach to developing the Councils’
services in response to needs, expectations and changing
environment
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
 Proven track record in a relevant professional area at a senior level, in a large multidisciplined organisation, with particular emphasis upon Building Control.
 Experience of working at a senior level in a political context, building and maintaining
effective relationships
 A track record of working and forging successful partnerships with a wide range of
internal and external bodies.
 Significant and proven experience in project management working with a range of
organisations
 Experience of developing and sustaining a culture that meets the needs of and engages
with customers and staff within a safe, open and high performing work environment.
 Budget management experience
Desirable
 Previous experience working with Elected Members
 Previous line management experience
 Demonstrable success in the management of organisational and cultural change
 Evidence of success in building and enhancing the reputation of an organisation with
external bodies and the media
 Experience of preparing project briefs, tenders and funding bids
Skills and Abilities
Essential
 Excellent interpersonal skills
 Strong negotiating skills
 Report writing skills
 Presentation skills
 Rapport building
 Proven forward planning and organisational skills
 Ability to deliver complex projects within deadlines and budgets
 To be able to recognise, take responsibility and manage a range of risks faced by the
District Councils
Education and Training
Essential
Relevant degree accredited by the RICS and/or CABE
 Ability to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development
Desirable
 Qualification in a management related discipline and marketing
Other Requirements:
Essential
 Able to work across all Suffolk locations as required
 Flexibility of working hours (occasional attendance at evening meetings)
Desirable
 A current valid driving licence
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