Welcome, and thank you for your interest in learning more about the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (“the Combined Authority”) and these exciting new roles.
As the first Chief Executive of the Combined Authority, I am very proud to be at the forefront of an organisation which will bring positive and lasting change for the residents and business communities of our fantastic region. This is a very exciting time for York and North Yorkshire - we are at a pivotal point in our history, and these roles will be fundamental to the development and running of the Combined Authority itself, as well as ensuring it generates future successful economic prosperity for the whole area. These roles really are vital and will appeal to ambitious and experienced leaders who, like me, are eager to play a key role in making sure we forge a bright future and create a lasting legacy for York and North Yorkshire. Our ambition is resolute and palpable!
We are in the fortunate position of being able to capitalise on devolved funding from central government. It is now almost 2 years since the Combined Authority was established and so we are now very well placed to develop our existing structure as we look to grow and expand. These are great opportunities to join us at the start of the journey and help shape the future.
This is where you come in – I am looking to establish a talented team of inspirational leaders with the vision and ambition to help spearhead the charge. Working closely with our Mayor David Skaith and many other influential leaders both locally and nationally, you will help bring about significant change and make sure the region fully capitalises on all that devolution can offer. I am also looking for leaders who see the importance in people and will be true role models in shaping and maintaining a positive culture for all.
To help achieve this we are looking to make a significant number of key strategic recruits.
Firstly, as the Director of Transport, you will report to me as Chief Executive. This is a highly visible and influential role which will involve close collaboration with the Mayor to provide strategic and executive leadership for the transport services within the Combined Authority and region as a whole. You will be a proven leader within the transport field with a forward-thinking, ambitious approach, and the drive to work progressively and collaboratively with key stakeholders regionally and nationally. Your strategic leadership abilities will develop our vision and your passion will deliver an ambitious transport agenda, shaping the transport strategy and securing investment for our region. Transport is the gateway to growth, working closely with our partner local authorities, Department for Transport and wider partners you will provide the platform to achieve accessible, green and effective transport solutions for our region.
Next, as Head of Transformation and Change you will report to Mike Russell, Director of Resources (Section 73 Officer). This brand new role will provide you with a unique career opportunity to join us as we embark on the next phase of our growth plans – you will help deliver ambitious, interesting projects and drive change. As an exceptional strategic leader this is a visible and impactful role which will spearhead a major transformation programme designed to drive change across systems, processes, people, and operational integration. The role is pivotal in ensuring that all internal change initiatives are successfully delivered by influencing and collaborating with senior colleagues at the Combined Authority, and you will thrive on delivering successful and meaningful programmes and will relish the opportunity to play a key role in making positive organisational changes.
Finally, Head of Business Growth and Innovation and Head of Skills, Education and Employment are brand new opportunities which will help to shape North Yorkshire’s economic future by ensuring we are well placed to drive future growth and prosperity for the region. Both roles report into the Director of Economy, Andy Kerr. Head of Business Growth and Innovation will lead on strategic business support, trade, and investment initiatives to drive regional economic growth, whilst as Head of Skills, Education and Employment you will lead on the strategic development and delivery of regional skills and employment strategies aligned with the Mayoral vision and Economic Framework.
Our vision is to create a thriving and confident York and North Yorkshire, where every community feels safe and is connected to opportunity. This is why I am looking to continue to create a team who will provide ambitious and strategic leadership to make sure York and North Yorkshire’s presence is felt nationally and internationally, who will be bold and ambitious and champion the region with pride. We will seek to engage effectively with a wide range of partners, including local authorities, our emergency services, central government, commercial partners, statutory agencies, residents and local businesses to ensure that we can develop and deliver the policies, plans, programmes and services that will benefit our communities, placing these communities at the core of everything we do. At the same time we will be looking to take full advantage of our devolved decision-making powers to harness millions of pounds of funding for both York and North Yorkshire to help bring our vision to life.
To sum up, the Combined Authority and devolution plans provide a fantastic opportunity to play a strategic role in helping to shape and build public confidence by making sure York and North Yorkshire is seen as well as heard, locally and nationally. We will strive to make sure our communities remain central to our vision for success. These roles provide an amazing opportunity to lead this next phase of the York and North Yorkshire success story at a critical moment in its’ history. Opportunities to join an organisation at the start of its’ inception and on the cusp of exciting growth which enable you to make your mark and leave a legacy will not come much better than these exciting roles.
If you have the experience, passion and ambition to join us and help lead at this pivotal time in our history, then we would like to hear from you. In the meantime, following an initial conversation with one of my colleagues in our Resourcing Solutions team, our hiring Directors would be very happy to arrange a further conversation to discuss our exciting plans with you.
J
ames Farrar
Chief Executive
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
Living and working in York
We are proud of York’s status as one of the safest and best cities to live in the UK, engaging our 202,000 residents and 7 million visitors to live healthier, happier independent lives.
We are a vibrant, digital city at the heart of Yorkshire - the best of tradition and the modern. With excellent connectivity by road and rail, the neighbouring towns and cities of Leeds, Hull and Harrogate are in easy reach. National Parks and areas of areas outstanding natural beauty are on our doorstep, with their quaint villages and market towns, whilst the Yorkshire coast provides a retreat ideal for sunny days.
We are known for our considerable assets – we have our internationally important heritage, with strong creative industries and a significant cultural offering. We have strengths as a science city, and our digital infrastructure recognises us as the UK’s first Gigabit City. We have a young and highly skilled workforce, and lay claim to world-leading universities and some of the highest performing schools and colleges in the country.
We are ambitious and aim to be a prosperous city for all - where local businesses can thrive and residents have good quality jobs, housing, opportunities and access to quality public services. We celebrate and champion the diversity of our population and encourage everyone to play an active role in the city, so that our vibrant economy and rich communities can make York the acclaimed city it is. We are one of the safest cities in the country and offer some of best available education.
A city of Sanctuary and Human Rights, our community is truly multicultural and diverse. We are the first city in the North of England to set the aspiration to make our city an anti- racist and inclusive one. We are committed to tackling discrimination in all aspects of services that the Council delivers, including public health, in order to have an impact and bring about positive change to our residents.
Our thriving retail and visitor economy welcomes millions of visitors every year. We have been recognised as the ‘foodie centre of the universe’ and our Christmas market is the best in the UK. Our many awards include Sunday Times best place to live, Conde Nast city of best architecture and in 2018 YouGov found that we are the nation’s favourite city. We are friendly, community-spirited, festive and summer-friendly – what’s not to like?
Find out more about working and living in the City of York here It's All York
Living and working in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a thriving county that adapts to a changing world and remains a special place to live and work.
North Yorkshire's natural beauty is captured in its three areas of Outstanding Natural Parks, National Nature Reserves, stunning coastlines, scenic rural villages, vibrant cities and market towns. North Yorkshire really is a beautiful, thriving and special place to live and work, rich in heritage and culture.
North Yorkshire features significantly in the ten best places to live in the UK in Halifax Quality of Life Survey. The Quality of Life index aims to quantify where living standards are highest in the UK by ranking local performance across a range of indicators. Local areas featured in the top ten included Richmond, Selby and Malton.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics bulletin positions North Yorkshire as the safest place in England with extremely low crime rates.
In addition, the county benefits from excellent road and rail links, with easy access via the east coast mainline, the A1(M) and A19. Leeds, York, Newcastle, Durham and Teesside are all easily commutable, and London and Edinburgh are just two hours away by train.
From its lively cities to pretty villages, rolling countryside and grand coastline, North Yorkshire has so much to offer including great employment opportunities for your family members, along with a higher proportion of schools which are good or outstanding compared to national figures.
You can find out more about what North Yorkshire has to offer on the No place like North Yorkshire website North Yorkshire - start planning your visit - VisitNorthYorkshire.com
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