Section Leader – Licensing Salary: £44,075 - £49,282 (Grade 7) Hours: 37 per week Contract type: Full time, permanent Work style: Flexible Previous applicants within the past 6 months need not apply. Are you ready to take on a pivotal Licensing role in protecting public safety ? We’re looking for a skilled and motivated Section Leader to manage a new team in our Taxi Licensing and Compliance service whose responsibilities will primarily cover the administration of licence hearings and Private Hire Vehicle Operator applications. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead on the suitability review of licence holders and applicants in line with legislation and the council’s guidelines. You’ll be at the heart of our regulatory service, gathering evidence and preparing cases for driver and operator hearings and appeals to Magistrates and Crown Courts. What you’ll be doing: Managing a team of officers responsible for processing applications for Private Hire Vehicle Operator licences, as well as preparing hearing reports for licence reviews. Responsible for overseeing the service’s hearing processes, ensuring that licence applications and reviews are determined in a timely manner, with comprehensive records kept. Determining licence applications from private hire vehicle operators and conducting licence hearings. Reviewing driver licence holders against legislation, policy and by-laws Gathering and analysing evidence from multiple sources. Plan and manage investigative actions, considering resources, priorities, and proportionality. Preparing reports and presenting evidence at Regulatory Committee, Magistrates and Crown Courts for appeals. Keeping up to date with licensing legislation and related regulations. Maintaining accurate records and ensuring evidential integrity. Recommending service improvements and supporting policy updates. Promoting the work of the Licensing Service at internal and external meetings. What we’re looking for: Significant experience in a regulatory and customer-focused environment Strong investigative skills and experience giving evidence in legal settings Knowledge of licensing legislation and enforcement procedures Substantial experience in licence reviews and subsequent decision making in line with licensing legislation Excellent written and verbal communication skills with excellent attention to detail Ability to manage sensitive and challenging situations with professionalism Competence in using ICT systems and maintaining data protection standards A relevant qualification (degree level) or equivalent experience Willingness to travel in line with the job requirements and to attend court when needed Help shape high-quality services through effective staff management and development For full details of the responsibilities and requirements of this role please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification. If you’re passionate about Licensing and want to play a part in shaping an efficient, customer-focused service, we’d love to hear from you. For more information or an informal chat about the role, get in touch with Lorraine Jones ( Lorraine.Jones@wolverhampton.gov.uk ) Our working arrangements All council roles are allocated to either a fixed, field or flexible work style. Some roles are agile which enable and empower employees to maximise their performance and productivity, whilst maintaining a healthy work life balance. Roles with a fixed workstyle work in a fixed permanent council location. Roles with a field workstyle are usually allocated where employees are required to be out working in the community with a minimum requirement for 'touch down' space at any council location. Roles with a flexible workstyle have a flexible base location to meet the needs of the business and employees can work from a mixture of home or any council office, partner/client, or external location, as required to meet service requirements. Please refer to the Job Description for further information on the workstyle assigned to the role you are applying for. For more information about working for our organisation including the culture of the Council, the Council plan and vision, staff equality forums, core HR policies and much more please click here. Diversity We are committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse community we serve. We want to attract the best applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups because we strongly believe in adding value through diversity, inclusion, and equality. Our employees enable us to deliver services that are accessible, inclusive, and reflective of Wolverhampton residents. Our status as a Disability Confident Employer showcases our commitment to people with disabilities or health conditions, advocating for their opportunities and potential. We've received the Stonewall Gold Award, emphasising our dedication to the LGBT community by nurturing an inspiring, inclusive, and equal workplace. As of March 2023, the RACE Code Quality Mark signifies our active engagement with racial equality. These recognitions validate our continuous efforts towards fostering an inclusive work environment that respects and values our diverse employees. As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the essential criteria for the post. We encourage, inspire and value an inclusive culture here at the council where employees can flourish, thrive and be themselves. We have four staff equality forums for employees to join. These help to ensure our employees have a voice, they feel empowered to speak up and where everyone is treated with respect - Learn more about the staff equality forums here Recruitment of Ex-Offenders We are committed to the fair treatment of all our employees, potential employees, or users of our service regardless of offending background. The Council uses the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for any vacancies that require a DBS check to obtain information about applicants to assess their suitability for employment in positions of trust. We do not discriminate unfairly against any individual on the basis of a conviction or any other information revealed as a result of a DBS disclosure - Learn more here Employment Information & Support If you are considering applying for an apprenticeship or a role where the salary is (Grade 2-5), and would like to visit us to learn about the application, interview process and what it is like to work for the council, please click on this link to find out more - Learn more here Attached documents Job Description and Person Specification