Principal Licensing Officer

This is a full time, permanent position.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To assist the Licensing Manager in the development of the Licensing Section in order to deliver a high quality, customer focussed licensing service ensuring a contribution to the wider corporate objectives and the fulfilment of the Council's statutory duties as well as meeting the requirements of national legislation and guidance. Manages and issues licences, authorisations and other appropriate documentation for hackney carriage and private hire vehicle, drivers and operators and for other licensable activities where necessary. Acts as Team Leader, supervising and planning work for 10 officers engaged on providing professional and administrative support for the licensing functions and to assist in the supervision and direction of the work of other officers supporting the licensing section. To contribute to and assist in the policy formulation for the Service. In addition, the post holder will assist and deputise for the Licensing Manager in all administrative and enforcement issues.

Principal Accountabilities

• Strategy - Assist the Licensing Manager to identify objectives, develop and implement policies, set performance targets and implement systems and work programmes to ensure the efficient and economic control of the taxi and private hire licensing function and other licensable activities where appropriate having regard to best value and ensuring performance output targets are met and to maintain statistical returns and other monitoring information to ensure identified targets are met.
• Customer Focus - To plan, lead on and implement high quality project work, to set out standards and quality of services, provided by the licensing section, over the medium to long term, to improve customer awareness, enhance customer satisfaction and enable their views to be integrated into the service.
• Performance Management - To conduct performance and development interviews with staff, to allocate work, identify and support opportunities for career development. Monitor performance, draft statistical reports and analyse data to identify underperformance and work with the Licensing Manager to solve operational problems.
• Leadership - To supervise, guide and support specialist staff; to produce and review written procedures, to ensure that the service operates in accordance with the defined policies, and agreed priorities and objectives. Provide staff with guidance and direction in dealing with the most complex issues, and deputise for the Licensing Manager as required.
• Statutory Obligations - To ensure the section fulfils its statutory duties, work with the Licensing Manager to develop the Sections Work Plan and enable staff to deliver services in an efficient and effective manner having regard to quality, consistency and good practice.
• To participate in the development and implementation of new and improved IT solutions covering all areas of the sections work including the management of payments and income.
• Prepares and presents to the Licensing Committee reports recommending the approval, with or without conditions, the refusal or revocation of any permit, permission, certificate, licence, authorisation or other appropriate documentation offering options and advice to allow the committee to exercise its statutory functions.
• To promote, organise and deliver promotional activities in respect of taxi and private hire licensing and other relevant licensable activities, including attendance at relevant forums and meetings.
• To participate in the Councils Standby and Call Back to Work Scheme as required to meet the demands on the service.
• Prepares and presents to Cabinet and Council reports recommending the approval of policies or other relevant local guidance offering options and advice to allow the Licensing Authority to exercise its statutory functions.

GENERAL: The above principal accountabilities are not exhaustive and may vary without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility. The post holder must be flexible to ensure the operational needs of the Council are met. This includes the undertaking of duties of a similar nature and responsibility as and when required, throughout the various workplaces in the Council.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New Year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a 'name blind' approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.

We are committed to 'our values' at the Council of People First, Respect, Learning, Ambition and Partnership. If these align with you then we welcome your application. By joining our team you will be making a tangible difference to the lives of people in Hull. Working with people who are as passionate about our place and public services as you are.