John Smith, the Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, will begin a phased retirement in May following more than three decades of service to Shetland Islands Council.
Mr Smith will support the transition to the Council’s new management structure and provide continuity as recruitment progresses for the new role of Director of Place.
Councillors approved plans for an organisation-wide management restructure in March. The first phase focuses on the Director level - the senior leadership tier reporting directly to the Chief Executive. It is anticipated that the new structure will be in place by October, after which attention will turn to Executive Manager and Team Leader roles, which oversee the Council’s front-line services.
Under the new arrangements, the Council will continue to operate with five Directorates, with responsibilities aligned as follows:
• Governance – including the statutory Monitoring Officer role, alongside Legal and Committee Services, Digital and Technology, Procurement, and Internal Audit
• People and Resources – including the statutory Section 95 Officer role, alongside Finance, Human Resources, Climate Change, Asset and Property Management, Waste Services, and Fleet. This Director will also undertake the role of Depute Chief Executive
• Education and Children’s Services – including Children’s Social Work, Family Support, and Libraries
• Community Health and Social Care – including the Integration Joint Board Chief Officer role, Adult Social Work, Adult Services, and Community Care Resources
• Place – including Housing, Economic Development and Growth, Ports and Harbours, Regulatory Services, and Roads and Transport
John Smith joined the Council in 1994 as Computer Services Manager and has since held a number of senior roles, including Head of Organisational Development and Executive Manager – Ports and Harbours, before being appointed Director in 2017.
Reflecting on his career, Mr Smith says: “Working for the Council has been a hugely rewarding experience. It has given me the opportunity to support people and communities across Shetland in a variety of roles, alongside many dedicated colleagues.
“From my early days working summer jobs in the Construction Department and at Scord Quarry, through to the past 30 years in the Council, I have greatly valued the work I have been part of. I now look forward to continuing to support the Council during this period of change, which I am sure will be both interesting and rewarding.”
Chief Executive Maggie Sandison says the restructure is an important step in ensuring the Council is equipped for the future: “This is the first significant review of our senior management structure since 2011, and the context in which we operate has changed considerably over that time. The demands on services have evolved, and our relationships with partners and government continue to develop.
“The new structure will ensure we have the right leadership capacity in place, with services aligned to support efficiency, resilience and our ability to deliver transformation while maintaining performance.
“The introduction of the Director of People and Resources and Depute Chief Executive role will further strengthen our leadership capacity and support the Council in meeting future challenges, while maintaining strong governance and stewardship of public resources.
“We recognise that change can create uncertainty for staff, and we remain committed to clear communication and engagement throughout the process, including with our trade union colleagues.”