WTF is this job about?

[whoami]

mattnunn said:

Doesn't the job description adquatly define the role?

[AJS-]

I think it's a sort of Humphrey Appleby role, trying to turn the ramblings of politicians into the ramblings of council policy.

[DonkeyApple]

mattnunn said:

In a large multi-national or coperate company this kind of work would be done by an experienced HR person and maybe shared with marketing and legal. Every American coperate I've worked for has external consultants on things like ethics policy and training.

It's not invaluable work to make sure that policies are researched and drafted correctly, especially in a council or civil service where you've got all the welfare and protection policy stuff to consider. Sounds to me like it might be quite an interesting job.

One wonders why Essex' needs would be different from say, neighbouring Hertfordshire?

Often wondered why, for a slightly different example, do Local Authorities all have different websites?

There must be enormous synergies being duplicated within all the LA bodies?

[Deva Link]

DonkeyApple said:

One wonders why Essex' needs would be different from say, neighbouring Hertfordshire?

Often wondered why, for a slightly different example, do Local Authorities all have different websites?

There must be enormous synergies being duplicated within all the LA bodies?

I suppose it's all about local accountability.

We could have a national Police force, fire service etc too.

Many such organisations are using shared services set-ups now.

[Digga]

As far as the police force goes, I cannot see why it's structured as it is, given how in many major tasks - the Olympics and the (onging) search in Machynlleth - the resources are pooled from many areas.

[Ari]

mattnunn said:

Doesn't the job description adquatly define the role?

I don't really get the beef here, it's not like they're advertising for a "Head of Diversity"

Because many people like to not quite understand things, but get upset by them anyway.

It's why the Daily Mail is such a popular newspaper.

[DonkeyApple]

Deva Link said:

DonkeyApple said:

One wonders why Essex' needs would be different from say, neighbouring Hertfordshire?

Often wondered why, for a slightly different example, do Local Authorities all have different websites?

There must be enormous synergies being duplicated within all the LA bodies?

I suppose it's all about local accountability.

We could have a national Police force, fire service etc too.

Many such organisations are using shared services set-ups now.

Very true but as these group do the same job and are just local representatives surely their is no need to duplicate things like websites? Just share a standard template and framework with sections that a local admin can vary?

It's a small example but if each body is hiring teams to do the same thing it seems like an area that can be simplified?

[whoami]

DonkeyApple said:

Deva Link said:

DonkeyApple said:

One wonders why Essex' needs would be different from say, neighbouring Hertfordshire?

Often wondered why, for a slightly different example, do Local Authorities all have different websites?

There must be enormous synergies being duplicated within all the LA bodies?

I suppose it's all about local accountability.

We could have a national Police force, fire service etc too.

Many such organisations are using shared services set-ups now.

Very true but as these group do the same job and are just local representatives surely their is no need to duplicate things like websites? Just share a standard template and framework with sections that a local admin can vary?

It's a small example but if each body is hiring teams to do the same thing it seems like an area that can be simplified?

Absolutely correct.

However, this is a complete lack of will to do this as the current regime protects, and indeed adds to, staggering numbers of non-jobs.

[The Don of Croy]

I'd imagine the people who write these job descriptions are 'talking' to a select bunch of like-minded people, from a similar background, who speak this kind of general B/S and will understand only too well what is on offer.

Takes one to know one sort of approach.

Whether this a service the good burghers of Essex either deserve or desire is another matter entirely.

[Deva Link]

DonkeyApple said:

Very true but as these group do the same job and are just local representatives surely their is no need to duplicate things like websites? Just share a standard template and framework with sections that a local admin can vary?

Not sure that would be cheaper - didn't a Government Dept get into trouble recently for spending £35M on a website?

[Deva Link]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The dealer's will be being charged a fortune for that though. Like the special coffee cups Audi dealers have to have, only available through Audi. Etc.

[DonkeyApple]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

And I'm guessing that part of the reason to charge hefty sums for them is so that Merc don't bankroll the tea service of every franchisee's employees?

But it does raise another question of why are their standard Govt stationary, chairs, cups etc etc. A single 'John Lewis' style website which lists the approved items which councils or any department may purchase.

It can include all items required for re-furbs, everything.

A single department of procurement can then handle all the corporate pitches and decide which items are cheap enough and sufficiently durable to make it onto the list.

I'm sure that just the bulk buying power would slash running costs and also limit megalomaniacs personal office furniture and decorations.

[Deva Link]

DonkeyApple said:

A single department of procurement can then handle all the corporate pitches and decide which items are cheap enough and sufficiently durable to make it onto the list.

They do that kind of thing to an increasing extent. It's got pros and cons though, particularly that local suppliers can't get supply contracts from their local council. It favours the big boys, which isn't always a good thing.

[Dracoro]

mattnunn said:

Doesn't the job description adquatly define the role?
I don't really get the beef here, it's not like they're advertising for a "Head of Diversity"

That's the problem, we don't know WHAT is ACTUALLY being advertised here, for all we know it IS something like "head of diversity" but they word it in such a convoluted fashion that we don't know so we can't complain

Maybe (and this goes for any role), if you can't describe what the job is in one sentence, it's a non-job. If that person/job was NOT there, how would the public notice, what deterioration in services will they suffer as a result?

Ask many public (and some private for that matter) sector workers what they actually do (after they reply that they are a civil-servant/council-worker/etc.), many can't explain that makes any sense.

Anyway, in the case of this topic, the job is for one of those people that attend lots of meetings but no-one knows why they are there or what they actually do. No-one will ask or question this as they themselves have a role that can't easily be explained/justified either. Best not open that can of worms Besides, they need a few meeting attendees as that marks the meeting as "important" as so many people have/need to be there

Actually I CAN describe this job in two words - Meeting Attendee. Ask nothing further

Edited by Dracoro on Thursday 20th December 14:14

[Digga]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Top-down policy sock puppet.

FWIW, I reckon half of these sort of ads only exist because regulations insist they are advertised and that the recruiters generally already have a fat arse in mind to shine the requisite seat.

[Guybrush]

Deva Link said:

REALIST123 said:

BoRED S2upid said:

Part of the pooled policy resource




I would suggest you could take this job turn up for 12 months and actually acheive very little of any worth.

I would BET you could take this job etc. etc.........

It's a public sector job - they'll have someone's daughter lined up for it already and be just going the motions.

Sad but probably true. It's why they are so overmanned, but when cuts are in force, will cut the front line. It's also why there's so much bumbling idiocy from people who aren't there on merit. Vast swaths of the BBC's 'management' is similar.