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- Tasks: Lead a team to enhance bereavement services and drive operational improvements.
- Company: Join Leeds City Council, a major employer with a commitment to community service.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and generous pension contributions.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in bereavement services while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership, financial management, and stakeholder engagement experience required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and diverse environment.
The predicted salary is between 60480 - 66318 £ per year.
Salary: £60,480 - £66,318
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Farnley Hall as primary office base but a driving license is required for regular site visits across Leeds
As a Head of Service within the Climate, Energy and Green Spaces department, you’ll thrive on leading a team to provide good customer service, drive improvement and develop your own team. A background in bereavement services is not a core requirement as although bereavement services is a core focus of the role, there will be other areas of responsibility within the wider Climate, Energy and Greenspaces service. However, experience of working in a role that requires sensitive management would be a benefit.
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 You
As a Head of Service, you will bring to the role:
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Good commercial acumen and financial management skills
- Strong stakeholder management skills
- Good experience of managing health and safety in an operational environment
- Experience of leading transformation
About The Role
The role is integral to our Climate, Energy and Greenspaces department of over 500 staff, and you will be part of its senior management team. As our next Head of Service (bereavement), you will provide senior leadership to the staff overseeing both the customer service team and the frontline operational teams, undertaking both burials and cremations. Your key focus will be on ensuring that bereavement services becomes the best in class by improving processes, systems and leading improvement plans across our key sites. Alongside bereavement services, this Head of Service will also lead other smaller services within the department. This role presents a great opportunity for an ambitious candidate to move into a senior leadership role and will provide the chance to further develop a wide range of skills, including operational management, commercial acumen and transformation.
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
Please upload CV and complete a supporting statement - click apply for redirection to the council's recruitment platform. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Polly Cook, Chief Officer, Climate, Energy and Green Spaces. Call tele number: 0113 378 7800 or email caroline.gray@leeds.gov.uk to arrange a discussion. The interviews will be held on 17th or 18th February in the city centre.
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 visa route 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. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Head of Service (Bereavement) employer: Leeds City Council
Contact Detail:
Leeds City Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service (Bereavement)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those connected to bereavement services or local councils. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even recommendations.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the council's values and recent projects. Show us you’re not just a fit for the role but also for the team culture. Tailor your answers to reflect how you can contribute to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about your experiences managing teams and driving improvements. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Leeds City Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service (Bereavement)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Service role. Highlight your leadership, people management, and financial acumen to show us you’re the right fit!
Craft a Compelling Supporting Statement: Use your supporting statement to tell us why you’re passionate about bereavement services and how your background can contribute to our goals. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the role.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills: In your application, emphasise your experience in managing stakeholders effectively. We want to see how you’ve navigated complex relationships and driven improvements in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leeds City Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the key responsibilities of the Head of Service role. Familiarise yourself with bereavement services and the wider Climate, Energy and Greenspaces department. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and people management skills. Think about times when you've successfully led a team or managed sensitive situations. Be ready to discuss how you can drive improvement and foster a positive team environment.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management
Stakeholder management is crucial for this role. Come prepared with examples of how you've effectively engaged with various stakeholders in the past. This could include managing expectations, resolving conflicts, or collaborating on projects.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation. You might ask about their current challenges in bereavement services or how they envision the future of the Climate, Energy and Greenspaces department.
