Cash-strapped Rotherham Council to hire £75,000 "change and innovation" expert

The new role — described as critical by Rotherham Borough Council — will involve “making savings while driving innovation,” the job advert says.

RMBC approved its budget for 2017/18 two weeks ago, pledging to prioritise social care amid £15 million more Government cuts.

The job advert for head of change and innovation says: “Rotherham is changing. Driving this change is a council that’s passionate about putting Rotherham on the map for all the right reasons. 

“Now you’ll take us even further by bringing the same commitment, tenacity and ambition to this critical role.”

Opposition leader Cllr Allen Cowles, UKIP, said: “In view of the budget cuts and tight financial constraints in which we are forced to operate, this a totally unnecessary position. 

“All strategic leaders and senior managers should be capable of driving change through their own organisations from the top down. They surely cannot claim insufficient knowledge of what is happening. 

“Clearly, communication to the wider public is required, this has never been good, but this could be provided much cheaper at a lower level.”

Lib Dem Cllr Adam Carter said: “Once again at a time of increased council tax, service cut backs and job losses Rotherham Council seem to be prioritising huge wages for senior managers. 

“We should be focusing on improving our local services and making it easier for our town’s poorest and most vulnerable.”

The job — leading RMBC’s new change and innovation team — also carries an £8,000 relocation allowance on top of the salary.

The council said the successful candidate would be an experienced project manager, skilled negotiator and a creative thinker.

The advert says: “We’ll look to you to make sure leaders, managers and colleagues embed diversity, as well as our values and behaviours, into every change initiative. 

“We’ll expect you to establish effective ways to set targets, manage performance, oversee procurement and control spending.”

In addition, the council is looking for a new assistant director for HR.

The £84,000 role is RMBC’s top people management position.

Applications for both jobs close on March 22.

The coming year’s budget includes the loss of 83 full-time equivalent positions — approximately 100 jobs.