Opportunities

Whitby Town Council has 19 councillors covering 7 Committees has a staff team of 6 and our precept for 2019/2020 stands at £213,380. The council’s offices are located within the Pannett Art Gallery and Whitby Museum building which is located within the award winning Pannett Park. Whitby is situated on the east coast of Yorkshire, 20 miles north of Scarborough and has a resident population of 13,000. As a major year-round tourist destination Whitby has several iconic cultural and historical attractions including the 900-year-old Whitby Abbey and its connections with Captain Cook and Dracula. It is surrounded by the stunning North York Moors National Park and the Town’s economy is boosted by its annual visitor population.

The Town Council operates allotments, public conveniences and the Pannett Art Gallery and its collection. The council, as sole trustee for Pannett Park and the building housing Pannett Art Gallery and Whitby Museum, delegates the responsibility for day to day management to the town clerk who works closely with volunteer groups from the Park and Museum. The town council also deliver a number of annual events and projects including a three-day Christmas Festival, Armed Forces Day and Armistice Day events. We are currently considering the development of other services and our new town clerk will play a crucial role in exploring such opportunities.

The council wishes to recruit a new town clerk who will also act as Responsible Financial Officer. The person appointed will manage the council services, its staff and take on a pivotal role in ensuring our council continues to move forward. The successful candidate will have to demonstrate clear leadership abilities and have a sound understanding of our sector and the opportunities which lie ahead. A clerk who can demonstrate strong governance and financial management skills alongside good business acumen and provide strategic direction and project delivery which will lead the council through a period of growth and development. You will need to be able to build a wide range of positive working relationships with councillors, staff and partner organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The post of town clerk is challenging, and the duties will require regular evening work and occasional weekend working which is reflected in the salary being offered. You may be an experienced or qualified clerk, or you may have a successful track record elsewhere in local government or a legal or finance background in the commercial/private sector and are prepared to qualify quickly as a town clerk. The holding of the Certificate in Local Council Administration is desirable or a commitment to obtain it within two years of appointment.

This is a politically restricted post.

Further details can be obtained from the Town Council website www.whitbytowncouncil.gov.uk

To download an application form click here.

To download a person specification click here.

To download the job description click here.

Closing date: 21st October 2019

Interviews will take place on 19th and 20th November 2019