Search launched for £295k a year chief to repair broken Birmingham City Council and 'return glory days'

Birmingham City Council has officially launched its search for an outstanding new boss, with a salary of up to £295,000 on offer. The council, currently in special measures and under the direct rule of commissioners, wants to find a new Managing Director who can lead them back to their glory days.

The advert, placed just this week, closes in a matter of days - on May 27th - which strongly indicates somebody is already in the frame. The last Chief Executive, Deborah Cadman, lasted less than three years. And in all the council has had a total of nine chief executives in permanent, interim and acting roles over the last decade.

The ad says of the position: "There was a time when Birmingham City Council was highly regarded, but over the last decade the council has increasingly failed to deliver good governance and effective services and has consequently had to seek Exceptional Financial Support in order to balance its budget and continue to provide services to its residents.

READ MORE: Why is Michael Gove dragging heels on finding truth about council crisis? Birmingham deserves better

"The resulting Best Value Intervention requires the council to do much better and improve at pace so that we can retake our place in the mainstream of local government. We need a determined, well rounded and seasoned local government leader who will drive the necessary change and lead and deliver a culture where members and officers can work together, understanding each other’s roles to do the best for each citizen.

"You will lead the officer team as Managing Director, shaping the organisation to work together, building confidence with elected members to exit the current intervention regime by ensuring delivery of a financially sound organisation which delivers the approved Improvement and Recovery Plan. You will be appointed Head of Paid Service and be required to personally exercise the role of Returning Officer.

"Are you one of the very few individuals who care enough about the people of Birmingham, the integrity of local government and have the resilience and skills to deliver this?" Applications are by way of a CV with covering letter to the council's director of people services Katy Fox with a deadline of 5pm on Monday May 27th.

When we recently met up with lead commissioner Max Caller - you can read our full interview here - we asked if anyone would want to work here, given the current restrictions, even allowing for the salary and terms involved.

"The right person will want to come here, because it is a great job," he said. “There will be someone who wants to come here because this is the biggest challenge in local government and the rewards in terms of how the people of Birmingham will benefit will be worth it. It is the pinnacle of what we (in local government) do,” he said, recalling the 'glory days' of earlier in the century when it was 'the best council in the country.'

He also warned that ‘very few applicants will be good enough to do it’, and simultaneously care enough about making Birmingham the great authority it once was.

Read our full Max Caller interview here at Inside Birmingham with Jane Haynes

Leader of the council Cllr John Cotton, said: “This is a key role in our improvement journey, leading the transformation of the city council and the way we provide services for our citizens, and it is vital we get the right person who will address our challenges and shape our journey ahead. There is a standard process that needs to be completed when appointing to such a senior position and we will update staff and stakeholders when we are able to make an announcement."