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About the Portfolio Director – Safety, Security and Home Affairs role

Portfolio Director – Safety, Security and Home Affairs

Portfolio: Safety, Security and Home Affairs
Responsible to: Chief Secretary
Responsible for: Brigade Manager, Prison Manager, Head of Customs and Immigration/Senior Immigration Officer, Emergency Planning and Sea Rescue Manager, Harbour Master, Maritime Authority, Head of Strategy and Infrastructure, Roads, Rock Guards, Strategic Emergency Response, JESCC, Cyber Security Strategy, Resilience Forum, and with Chief of Police under an SLA with Police Directorate over community safety and security
Grade: SMG Tier 2a

Context

This is a key role in delivering our overarching vision of making St Helena a great place to live, learn, work, visit and invest.  Portfolio Directors are integral to supporting the overall financial resilience of the Public Service and have a responsibility to ensure value for money and return in investment across all areas of their Portfolio and the Public Service as a whole.

Job Purpose

  • To improve the lives of all within our community and help the island thrive by providing strategic leadership across the Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio.

  • Define the Public Service strategy to ensure the communities safety and improve the quality of life for Island residents by providing effective services for their safety, protection and security.

  • Providing the expertise to support the Public Service to ensure effective integration between all functions and services within the Portfolio.

  • Operate strategically as a member of the Corporate Management Team and across the Public Service influencing Public Service and Government policy and practice.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Provide expert professional advice to the Chief Secretary and Ministers, and engage with Executive and Legislative Councils, Partners and Colleagues across the Public Service and UK Government stakeholders to deliver the strategic vision for the Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio.
  2. Support the Chief Secretary and Elected Members in developing and delivering the Public Service’s strategic agenda.
  3. Provide strategic oversight of services within the Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio, ensuring the Public Service is delivering against both statutory and non-statutory responsibilities.
  4. Accountable for both the shaping and delivery of the Safety, Security and Home Affairs strategic agenda and the delivery of services which are appropriate, effective, value for money and meet quality standards.
  5. Overall accountability for developing services within a modern, effective, efficient and integrated Safety, Security and Home Affairs Portfolio, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and collaboration.
  6. Ensure resources are utilised imaginatively and cost effectively, enabling a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and evaluation.
  7. Provide assurance that the systems in place, and services delivered by Safety, Security and Home Affairs for the local community are fit for purpose.
  8. Lead a group of services and highly experienced leaders and professionals, setting direction, establishing priorities, building capacity, maintaining focus, and delivering a programme of action to deliver strategic objectives.
  9. Provide strategic leadership to ensure the Portfolio’s resources are appropriately managed, including leadership of the Portfolio’s medium-term financial and strategic plan, and planning and delivery of capital or other projects to further meet priorities. Overall accountability for the Portfolio Budget.  
  10. Ensure appropriate governance structures are in place and supported to effectively oversee and scrutinise key functions and services within an appropriate quality assurance framework.
  11. Build and nurture strong relationships with UK Government departments and agencies and with professional bodies, to promote the interests of the Public Service.
  12. Responsible for the effective management and timely resolution of people management issues. Complete Manager Self Service (HR21) processes where appropriate.
  13. Manage the efficient and effective use of physical and financial resources to support activities, deliver Portfolio strategy and achieve Public Service objectives. Manage the annual Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) process.

Special Conditions

There are no special conditions associated with this role.

However, for the proper performance of the responsibilities this post will not be limited to normal working hours, the postholder will, in response to the demands of the post, be required to work out of normal working hours.   

This job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities.  There may be other ad hoc duties that fall within the remit of the role that the job holder may need to complete.  In addition, the job holder will be required to carry out any other reasonable duties as requested which are commensurate with the grading and level of responsibility for the role.

Person specification

Terms of Appointment

Contract Type:

2 years fixed-term, renewable.

Salary:

£92,000 per annum + 7.5% pension contribution.

Pension:

7.5% of salary in a lump sum at the end of each completed year of contract. Approval can be sought from the Commissioner of Income Tax for the exemption of income tax on Pension Contributions where payments are being made into an approved superannuation or pension fund.

International Supplement (Taxable):

Unaccompanied Couple Couple+
17900 20700 24300

Hours:

Standard contractual hours are 35 per week but for the proper performance of the responsibilities this post will not be limited to normal working hours, the postholder will, in response to the demands of the post, be required to work out of normal working hours.

Reports to:

Head of Public Service (locally referred to as Chief Secretary).

Probationary Period:

6 Months.

Centre of Duty:

It is a requirement of the post that the incumbent resides in the St Helena for the duration of their employment. There may be the occasional need to travel to Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, as well as international locations, while fulfilling the duties of the post.