Energy. Ambition. Dedication. Teamwork
Join us and make a difference to our communities
Southampton City Council is a forward thinking, progressive organisation, with a highly motivated and dedicated team of people who are passionate about delivering our services and making a positive difference to our communities.
We encourage, empower and invest in our staff whilst supporting them to make a difference, valuing their skills and helping them achieve their full potential. We are strongly committed to promoting equal opportunities.
A career with Southampton City Council will be rewarding and built on your particular strengths. If you are the kind of person who enjoys making a difference to people’s lives, take a look at our vacancies and see where your career at the council will take you.
Our vision and values
We're doing things differently
Southampton is undergoing an amazing transformation. Since the launch of our City Centre Master Plan in 2012, we have secured over £1.9 billion of new investment into the city, unemployment has been cut to just 1.5%, and over 4,000 new homes have been built or have planning consent. In just five years we have cemented our position as the economic powerhouse of the south coast, and created new training and job opportunities for over 10,000 residents.
However, Southampton is a city of two halves. Despite our economic success, there are areas of deprivation that have not yet felt the benefit of this growth. As a result, we are experiencing an increasing demand for some of our services. To meet these demands with reducing budgets, we have been transforming into a lean, outcomes-focused organisation. Southampton is fundamentally changing, and so is Southampton City Council.
We started our reorganisation right at the top, with a radical restructuring of our senior management team. We have removed ‘Directorates’ and the silo mentality, instead adopting a new ‘One Council’ approach in which we all work together to drive improvement and innovation. Every vacancy on this site will play an important role in delivering the vision and strategy of both the council and the city so we are only looking to find the very best candidates. People who can not only demonstrate evidence of success, but also show they have the vision, ideas, energy and hunger to make a real difference to the council and the city. If you’re the sort of person who doesn't see the Local Authority budget situation as a problem, but a challenge to embrace and turn into an opportunity, then Southampton City Council could be the place for you. Please take a look at the information on our website, and if you think you’ve got what it takes to join the team, then please apply – we look forward to hearing from you.
Our core behaviours
Employer of choice
At Southampton City Council, we have a vision: to be an employer of choice and to be recognised as a ‘Great Place to Work’ where staff have pride in their work, the council and the city.
We want to build on Southampton’s unique sea city location with exceptional transport links, its strong position nationally for economic growth, with rich diversity and cultural mix. We want to put residents and customers at the heart of what we do, reflecting the city’s diversity.
Everyone who works for Southampton City Council has an important role to play in achieving our mission and we are committed to providing high quality services so that we can safeguard the services that matter the most to our communities.
The work we do is varied. Different jobs require different skills, but at Southampton City Council, whatever your role, your work and behaviour will revolve around our five important values below and the delivery of our ‘One Council’ approach.
Our priorities
Discover the city of opportunity
Southampton as a City is undergoing an amazing transformation and is changing radically, so too is Southampton City Council. Our vision is to be a modern and sustainable council. We have set out four important priorities to deliver and make up our vision – a city of opportunity where everyone thrives.
Our strategies
Embracing change
The Council Strategy 2016-2020 sets out our vision to create a city of opportunity where everyone thrives. Delivering this is essential if we are to help make Southampton the city our residents deserve. A city where people have opportunities to succeed and are able to live healthy, happy lives.
While our strategy focusses on what the council can do, we acknowledge that we can’t do everything ourselves. Our City Strategy 2015-25 has been created by business, public, community and voluntary sector organisations in the city, operating under the name Southampton Connect. With an overarching goal of prosperity for all, the City Strategy focusses on economic growth, skills and employment, and healthier and safer communities. This partnership approach is indicative of the spirit of the city – we are Team Southampton.
Our staff are instrumental in delivering both these strategies and maintaining effective relationships with our partners in the city. We are therefore searching for people who can help deliver the vision for the entire city, ensuring we leave a positive legacy for future generations.
Our new Workforce Strategy is helping us develop the talent we need to maximise the opportunities and face the challenges ahead and highlights the five key behaviours we expect all current and future staff to live and breathe.
Embracing Change
Southampton City Council has experienced a significant reduction in funding per head of population since 2011. We have managed to save £92.4 million over the last few years, but dependent on the extent of government cuts we will need to save at least another £42.3 million by March 2020.
While the driver for change was initially financial, we have a robust Medium Term Financial Strategy in place and our key focus is now on continuous improvement and taking advantage of the fantastic opportunity our transformation gives us. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to innovate and radically rethink the way a local authority needs to operate so it can deliver improved outcomes for its residents. In addition to our new ‘One Council‘ approach, we are embracing digital technology to improve services and cut costs, becoming a modern organisation that consistently delivers excellent service and performance in everything we do. We are, in essence, becoming a local authority that is fit for the future.
While we have made progress in lots of areas, there is still much to do. Our journey is well underway, but we are looking for more exceptional talent to join our team.
Our benefits
Engage. Recharge. Revitalise
As an employer we recognise that our staff are the council’s greatest and most valuable resource. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where staff can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
As a staff member with us you will benefit from:
A competitive salary
Annual leave
Staff are entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement of 23 days per annum (pro-rata) increasing to 33 days (pro-rata) based on the salary point and length of service.
Car sharing
We have our own car share database as part of the wider Hants Car Share.
Childcare vouchers
All staff can apply for childcare vouchers to save tax and national insurance (for children under 15 years old).
Cycle scheme
You will be able to get a brand new bike at a subsidised rate. Southampton Civic and the Depots provide cycle storage, showering and changing facilities.
You can choose a bike and safety equipment and Southampton City Council will purchase it and then loan it to you as an Income Tax and National Insurance exempt benefit. You repay the cost of the purchase by giving up part of your regular salary for 12 months, known as 'salary sacrifice'. This repayment is taken from your salary before tax, so you only have to pay tax on the remainder of your salary. The initial 12 months is known as the 'hire period'.
Discounts on goods and services
Staff discounts on goods and services including:
- Food and drink
- Health and beauty
- Shopping
- Film and theatre
- Leisure and entertainment
Eye test
You will be reimbursed for the cost of a standard eye test and the council will make a contribution towards the cost of spectacles/contact lenses if required for VDU work.
Family friendly policies / positive work life balance
We recognise the importance of staff wellbeing and we support work-life-balance where we provide a range of services including flexible working hours, maternity, paternity and special leave, adoption leave and time off for dependants.
Learning & development
Our aim is to develop staff in order to achieve the council’s aims and objectives. We offer a range of e-learning and other professional development courses.
Long service award
Staff completing 25 years and 40 years of service will be eligible for a Long Service Award.
Occupational health service
We value our staff and take a proactive approach to improving health and wellbeing through the provision of excellent occupational health services via Medigold Health.
Occupational sick pay scheme
Pension scheme
On joining the council, you will automatically be enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
Season ticket loan scheme
Interest free loans plus 20% off season ticket are available for public transport season tickets.
Smarter working arrangements
Including working compressed hours, term-time only, job share, part-time and home working.
Staff assistance programme
You will have 24/7 access to a free staff helpline where you can speak to professionals/counsellors about your personal, financial, emotional issues and many more.
Workplace choir
