Purpose of Post
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Managing Resources
Plan and monitor to ensure a high-quality service and continuous improvement. Provide value for money by buying, prioritising and monitoring the effective use of resources and recognising that knowledge, ability and skills are also resources.
Enabling and Empowering
Create and support an environment that enables each team member to contribute to and take decisions in order to provide the best possible services.
Delivery
Encourage the team to be innovative, enterprising and to learn from experience to improve performance.
Problem Solving
Be proactive and ensure that meaningful decisions are made in a timely manner, while also responding effectively to priorities as they change.
Communication
Share and listen to information, views and ideas without prejudice by using appropriate communication methods. Increase motivation by using inclusive communication that takes other people’s feelings into account.
Responsibility for Resources e.g. staff, budgets, equipment
• Delegated responsibility for staff
• Responsibility for budget
• Responsibility for kitchen and cleaning equipment

MAIN DUTIES
Delegated responsibility for leading the Catering and Cleaning Service for Gwynedd schools:
• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the centre of everything we do.
• Delegated responsibility for supporting the strategic direction of the catering and cleaning service.
• Joint responsibility with the Manager for the direction of the service's business model, considering and researching alternative options of providing the service as required.
• Responsibility for coordinating and interpreting the necessary work that requires attention, drawing up and identifying priorities for the service to implement as part of the service and the Department's annual business planning arrangements.
• Delegated responsibility for supporting the management of a small team of central staff, allocating responsibilities to them appropriately to ensure that the team delivers the expectation.
• Delegated responsibility for supporting and leading over 600 staff in over 80 educational establishments across the county, leading proactively to implement human resources processes, e.g. appointment, dismissal, sickness, capability and discipline in an appropriate and timely manner in accordance with the corporate policies and guidance available.
• Support the Service with staff recruitment processes, ensuring appropriate staffing at each site.
• Support the Manager with aspects of the service's customer services, including responding to and investigating complaints in accordance with the corporate complaints procedure, implementing various arrangements to gather the views of stakeholders, including the views of headteachers, children and young people on the service, considering, adapting and responding to the observations received as needed.
• Lead on implementing and negotiating Service Level Agreement requirements for the catering and cleaning field jointly with schools, ensuring clarity and compliance with the terms of the SLA, fostering a positive working relationship with school headteachers, to ensure their satisfaction with all aspects of the services provided for them.
• Support and implement arrangements for the evaluation programme proactively with relevant members of the team, in accordance with the requirements of the Education Department and the Council.
Funding and Resources:
• Support the Manager to ensure effective financial management of the service which has a budget of almost £15 million.
• Manage day-to-day catering and cleaning contracts to ensure customer satisfaction with every aspect of the service.
• Ensure appropriate resources and equipment for all members of staff on an ongoing basis, e.g. kitchen equipment, cleaning equipment, suitable attire, staffing resources and finance, etc.
• Being technical experts in the field, with a high-level and operational understanding of schools' ICT systems which are relevant to the catering field, e.g. cashless system, MIS system, etc.
• Support, coordinate and implement all the procurement requirements for the Service and on behalf of the county's schools.
• Lead the Service's IT Systems, e.g. School Comms, Bromocom, Parent Pay.
• Delegated responsibility for managing the procedure associated with providing a Pre-school Care Club/Breakfast Club.
• Responsibility for managing the Milk Scheme and submit financial claims to the Welsh Government with 'Free School Meals' accurately and promptly.
• Implement a timely manner of collecting income and debts associated with providing a nutritious meal for learners.
Compliance:
• Ensure a safe working environment for every staff member in the catering and cleaning service daily, complying with the legal health and safety requirements.
• Responsibility for drawing up guidance in the form of a staff Handbook in the catering and cleaning field to ensure that staff work in a secure and safe environment, and provide safely and appropriately for their customers.
• Support the service's risk management arrangements, including risk management arrangements in the field of allergies.
• Support the Manager to lead the service to ensure the highest standards in the school cleaning field, acting on any defects and risks in a timely manner.
• Support the Manager to ensure the highest standards in the Food Safety and Food Hygiene field, undertaking the public protection role seriously and acting on any defects and risks in a timely manner.
• Support the processes and actions associated with offering a nutritious and healthy meal for all learners, drawing up and preparing menus in accordance with the national standards and complying with the Welsh Government's Healthy Eating in Schools Regulations.
General:
• Represent the Council at meetings and public fairs, as well as at meetings with key stakeholders involved in the catering and cleaning field, e.g. school headteachers, governing bodies, private sector companies, e.g. food providers, cleaning equipment providers, equipment purchase and repairs companies, third sector companies, etc.
• Represent the Council as appropriate in discussions with officers and members of the Welsh Government, the WLGA, as well as officers in other councils.
• Participate in Council Working Groups, as needed.
• Prepare relevant reports and documents to report to the Education Management Team, business meetings and school headteacher strategic forums, as well as Council committees, as needed.
• Act on joint campaigns with schools that promote free school meals and encourage more families to take advantage of the offer.
• Lead and implement plans for children and families in partnership with the Welsh Government, which is based on providing healthy food and healthy eating, e.g. Food and Fun.
• Support and implement arrangements for the evaluation programme proactively with relevant members of the team, in accordance with the requirements of the Education Department and the Council.
• Responsibility for self-development and for promoting the development of relevant members of the team, taking advantage of the ongoing programme of Learning and Development training and personal development opportunities, as well as other relevant external organisations.
• Undertake any responsibility or other equivalent and reasonable duty at the request of the Manager, which equates to the salary level and responsibility level of the post.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsibility for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management standards and guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
• Responsible for reporting any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.

Special Circumstances e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.
WORK CONDITIONS
• This post is on permanent terms.
• The Council’s official working hours is 37 hours per week.
• The Council operates hybrid working arrangements, with the expectation to work from the office at least two days per week.
• The post is based in the Headquarters of Cyngor Gwynedd, in Caernarfon / Pwllheli.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh and English is essential.