Aspen People

Service Leader - People & Culture Midlothian Council Dalkeith £71,476 - £78,219 (Grade 12) Midlothian Council is seeking to appoint an experienced and dynamic Service Leader - People & Culture to provide strategic leadership for the organisation's workforce, culture and people services. Reporting to the Chief Officer - Corporate Solutions and working closely with the Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team, this role will be central to shaping an engaged, high-performing organisation capable of delivering the Council's long term ambitions. Midlothian is one of Scotland's fastest growing areas. The Council's Single Midlothian Plan sets out ambitions to reduce inequalities in learning, health, economic circumstances and climate change. Delivering these priorities relies on a capable, engaged workforce supported by strong leadership, modern people practices and a positive organisational culture. The People & Culture service plays a central enabling role in achieving these ambitions, supporting workforce capability, leadership development and organisational transformation across the Council. This is a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced HR professional who can operate confidently at corporate level while leading a proactive People & Culture service that drives culture, capability and continuous improvement. The Role The Service Leader - People & Culture will lead the Council's integrated HR function, ensuring delivery of workforce strategies, people policies and organisational development that support corporate priorities and statutory responsibilities. Acting as the Council's lead HR professional and a key member of the Corporate Management Team, the postholder will contribute directly to organisation wide strategy, decision making and cultural development. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a collaborative and engaging leader who can work across senior leaders, trade unions and external partners to support workforce transformation. Providing strategic HR leadership and advice to the Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team Leading workforce, people and organisational development strategies aligned to Council priorities Driving organisational change, transformation and workforce planning across services Leading equalities, wellbeing and employee engagement agendas and embedding a positive culture Developing a corporate learning and development strategy to strengthen leadership and capability Leading complex employee relations and trade union negotiations Ensuring HR policies comply with employment legislation, national agreements and best practice Representing the Council in national forums including COSLA and external bodies Leading and developing the People & Culture team to deliver high quality HR support The Candidate Midlothian Council is seeking a credible and experienced HR leader with the capability to operate at the most senior levels of a complex public sector organisation. You will bring a strong track record in workforce strategy, organisational development and service improvement, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at senior level. You will be a degree qualified, CIPD Chartered professional with significant senior HR leadership experience in a large or complex organisation, ideally within the public sector or a similarly governed environment. You will have experience operating at corporate leadership level and contributing to organisation wide strategy and decision making, alongside strong knowledge of employment law, workforce governance and public sector frameworks. You will also bring experience in leading organisational change, managing teams and budgets, and delivering strategic programmes of work. A visible, collaborative and engaging leadership style, with a strong commitment to equality, inclusion and employee wellbeing, is essential. A postgraduate management qualification or leadership development programme would be advantageous. Working for Midlothian Council Midlothian Council offers a supportive and progressive working environment, alongside a strong benefits package including flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of wellbeing and employee support initiatives.

Midlothian Council Dalkeith £129,606 This role is responsible for supporting the Executive Director of Place by leading, developing, and managing Place services, with a focus on delivering innovative strategies that grow the local economy and promote inclusive, sustainable development. It involves driving organisational and cultural change, improving service performance, and ensuring effective collaboration across the Council, partners, and external stakeholders. As a member of the Corporate Management Team, Chief Officer Place focuses on shaping strategy, policies, and procedures to position Midlothian Council as a leading modern local authority. It involves fostering staff development through clear progression pathways and a positive, collaborative culture that encourages new ideas ensuring that services are of the highest quality and meet Elected Member and public aspirations, whilst achieving Best Value and making the best use of resources. The position also includes overseeing budgets, governance, risk, and compliance, as well as developing policies, service plans, and delivery models that meet community needs. Place Services Protective Services (Business Regulation, Public Health and Environmental Protection and Health, Safety and Resilience) Placemaking (Planning, Sustainable Growth & Investment and Building Standards) Neighbourhood Services (Land, Fleet, Roads and Waste) Building Maintenance Housing Candidates must have substantial experience in leading transformation initiatives and delivering citizen centred services, as well as operating effectively at a strategic level within a large complex organisation. The position requires extensive management experience, including service improvement, strategic planning, partnership working, project and budget management, and staff leadership, alongside a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks.

A local authority organization in Dalkeith is looking for a Chief Officer Place to support the Executive Director and lead Place services. The role involves developing innovative strategies to foster economic growth and sustainable development. Candidates should have strong experience in transformation, strategic planning, and managing services within a complex organization. The position offers a salary of £129,606, ensuring high-quality services meet community needs, governance, and compliance expectations.