The Highland Council

Dear Candidate

A thagraiche choir

A sincere thank you for your interest in the post of Depute Chief Executive or Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place at The Highland Council.

The Depute Chief Executive position brings a once in a lifetime experience to work innovatively in partnership with myself, the Members, our staff, partners and communities at a time of significant change, challenge and opportunity. It is a time of ideas, energy, futures thinking and planning.

The position of Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place brings potential to progress our key areas of public service provision, connecting our communities and working with partners to develop the Highland offering.

Our staff are amazing. During the pandemic they have been resilient, resourceful and most importantly caring towards our communities and towards each other. Our staff are one of our greatest assets and the roles of Depute Chief Executive and Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place provides a wonderful opportunity to be a leader within an inspiring group of staff who are supportive, talented and committed to delivering high quality services and making a difference to the communities we serve in our Highlands.

We are focused on delivering our Highland Council Programme ‘Local voices, Highland choices’, Health and Prosperity Strategy and Corporate Plan; alongside our Highland Improvement Programme through our core themes of striving to be ambitious, sustainable and connected.

If you relish challenge and working at a very fast pace whilst connecting with people at every opportunity, across a vast beautiful geographic area in the north of Scotland, then one of our executive positions may be the perfect role for you.

Our People and our Places are special and unique; that is why the Highlands of Scotland is one of the top ten destinations in the world. It really is a very special place to work, to live and to grow. We want our Depute Chief Executive and our Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place to have excellent partnering skills and commitment to delivering high quality public services.

Above all, you will be committed to openness, fairness and accountability in all that you do.

2022 is a time of growth and development as we respond to new opportunities. We will also be serving the next Council of the Highlands following the Local Government elections in May.

The Depute Chief Executive and Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place will be committed to learning and development and be a positive role model who embraces new challenges with a ‘can do’ mindset.

If you share our vision and want to help us make public services in the Highlands the very best they can be working with our key partners, we would very much welcome your application for these executive posts.

I look forward to meeting you and getting to know you through the application process.

For a confidential discussion please contact Catriona Mackie or Donogh O’Brien at Aspen People on 0141 212 7555.

Donna Manson, Chief Executive