Yet again, TPA supporters have been sending in non-jobs they’ve spotted in their local press. This week we learned that three new assistant finance director posts were being created at Barnet Council at a total cost of almost £300,000. One of these new vacancies, with a salary of £90k, is ironically tasked with “creating a high performing culture that drives improvement and efficiency savings”.
In Stoke-on-Trent the council spent same amount (£300k) just on recruitment for no fewer than seven new executives for their local quango.
On the Guardian jobsite today we can see that Transport for London are offering £30k + benefits for a communications officer for their Surface Transport Communications Centre, and the Greater London Authority are putting up £27,271 for a' Personal Assistant to a Labour Assembly Member' and proffering such perks as “30 days annual leave, interest free season ticket and bicycle loan, final salary pension and incremental salary scheme”.
This week’s non-job however comes direct from the Local Government Association, who’ve created a new highly paid role and hired Veredus recruitment agency to do the rest:
“Director of Communications
Attractive six figure salary
New Government, New Role, New Challenge
This is an exciting time to join us. Never has there been a better opportunity for local government to show that it has, or can shape, the solutions to the problems we face in public services. And this new leadership role is essential to our success here.
Created as part of our drive for greater impact and value for money, you will lead a new communications service to create powerful messages and ensure they are heard in the right places.
This is not a traditional communications role. You will operate in a highly political environment, leading our campaigning and media strategy to enhance the reputation of local government and influence key opinion-formers.
For more information, including details on how to apply, please visit www.veredus.co.uk quoting reference 10975”.
So it’s £100,000k+ for a reputation enhancer, and it’s nice to see they’ve already made a start on the spin with their catchy new slogan/excuse to invent new vacancies: “New Government, New Role, New Challenge”.
The successful applicant will be heading up the communications team which includes: seven people on ‘Media’, five on ‘Campaigns and Public Affairs’, a new team of eight on ‘Member Communications’ and a team of thirteen on ‘Conferences and Events’. And this is apparently after a 2009 restructuring to maximise ‘quality, impact and value for money’.
With massive pressures on public finances, is now really the time to create 9 new posts in communications at the LGA?