Shortly after several director positions were removed, two new ones are employed.
THE DRAMA: In recent years, Drammen municipality has cut several director positions at the level below the municipal director (former councillor). Today, there are three left in the top management: Director for society, director for development and digitalisation, and director for finance and business management.
Newly appointed municipal director Trude Andresen is not satisfied with that situation, according to a press release from Drammen municipality on Wednesday. Here the municipality states that Andresen has decided to create two new director positions for weight gain, as well as health and welfare.
– The municipal director needs clearer lines of responsibility from the top management level out into the organisation. Today’s organization is perceived as unclear, with considerable risk. Responsibility and authority for people, professions and money must be placed in one continuous line from the director of the municipality via directors to municipal managers, business managers and department heads, the municipality states in the press release.
– The large service areas upbringing and health and welfare are not currently represented in the municipal director’s management team, this is a significant vulnerability. The municipality’s challenges, particularly those related to finances and living conditions, require joint strategic leadership. There is also a need to work more and better across current program areas, and directors with broader responsibilities will ensure this, says Andresen.
Employment freeze
The municipal director is aware that questions may be raised about the creation of two new positions at a time of hiring freezes and major financial savings.
– However, it is the assessment that in the long term the municipality cannot afford an inappropriate and vulnerable organisation. Today’s organization does not contribute to resources being used wisely and efficiently, and across the organisation, says Andresen.
She further points out that Drammen “will still have a slim top management with relatively few directors”, but that other municipalities of Drammen’s size have an organization that may be similar to the one Drammen is now introducing.
The two new director positions will be advertised shortly. In addition, a change is made to one of the other director titles in the municipal director’s management team: Director for development and digitization is changed to director for organization and development.
Tags: municipality creates director positions
