Director Commissioning and Communities

Job introduction

Are you ready for your next exciting and challenging career move?

Are you committed to tackling inequalities and driving initiatives that make a real difference to the community?

Do you have a passion to influence change, lead strategically and promote innovative ideas?

If so, we’d like to hear from you

Brighton & Hove is an iconic, diverse, coastal city. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are now looking to appoint a Director of Commissioning and Communities who will have the unique opportunity to make a real impact on the wellbeing of our communities, contributing to the future of our vibrant city and helping to create a place where everyone can feel safe and welcome. 

This is a rare chance to be at the forefront of public service in an exciting, vibrant and diverse city, with a wide-ranging portfolio offering you the opportunity to make a real difference. You’ll help us to embed our learning organisation culture, which promotes collaboration, connection, innovation, diversity and inclusion, and staff wellbeing. Our vision is a better Brighton & Hove for all - where a fair and inclusive city is a key priority. In this key role, collaboration with colleagues, partners, communities, and the people of Brighton & Hove will be essential to turn this vision into reality, across such a diverse and dynamic city.

To find out more about this unique and exciting opportunity, please contact

Deb.austin@brighton-hove.gov.uk for an informal conversation.

Closing date: 23 January 2026

Interview date:  w/c 2 February 2026

External secondment from an outside organisation: applicants will need to agree their release from their employer for 12 months, and the successful applicant would be paid by their employer and remain an employee of their own organisation. A secondment agreement would be set up between the employer and Brighton & Hove City Council, and arrangements made for the employer to recover salary costs from the Council as the host organisation.

Internal secondment: This role is available as a secondment to internal applicants in line with our secondment policy. Before applying, please ensure you have read the Secondment policy to ensure you are eligible to apply. In accordance with the policy, please ensure you have the written approval of your line manager before applying. Evidence of this must be included with your application.

About the role

We’re looking for an inspirational leader who will motivate and unite teams and communities. With a proven track record of system leadership to deliver success in similar environments, the successful candidate will bring experience in driving improvements that will have a lasting positive impact. 

As our new Director of Commissioning and Communities, you will

• lead a highly respected, influential, multi-professional team of 200 dedicated staff, and be a vital part of the council’s senior leadership team ensuring alignment of service delivery with our missions in the Council Plan.
• provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for Community Cohesion and Community Safety, Libraries, the Customer Service interface between the public and council services,Post-16 Skills and Employment, Children Service Commissioning as well as the Children Safeguarding Partnership and Quality Assurance.
• Demonstrate expertise in modernising and transforming services through collaborative partnerships, fostering cultural change and embedding continuous improvement.
• motivate and unite teams and communities inclusively, in ways that have a lasting positive impact.
• have a proven track record of system leadership to deliver success in similar environments.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has the ability to set vision and have strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to develop and implement inclusive strategies that meet the needs of children, families, and residents, while promoting diversity and equality in practice.
• Is able to make sound judgment, have strong management skills cultivated through senior leadership roles within large and complex organisations, with a proven commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, and equitable outcomes.
• Has the ability to navigate complex dynamics and resolve conflicts constructively.
• Is an effective leader who builds strong teams and creates a dynamic environment that can deliver changes to improve outcomes for residents inclusively.
• Has a proven track record of system leadership to deliver success in similar environments.

In joining us you will be part of the Families, Children and Wellbeing Directorate Leadership Team focussed on providing leadership and strategic direction for Community Cohesion and Community Safety, Libraries, Customer Service, Post-16 Skills, and Employment and Commissioning for Children services as well as Child Safeguarding Partnership aligned with missions in the council plan.

As a member of the Extended Corporate Leadership Team and attendee of relevant discussions at weekly Corporate Leadership Team meetings, you will have direct relationships with the Corporate Leadership Team and the Chief Executive. You will be a statutory chief officer and the principal adviser on all related matters to elected members and officers.

Brighton & Hove City Council is an exciting and vibrant place to work, and we have a reputation for delivering innovative approaches. With an administration that has a strong political majority for the first time in two decades, we are determined to grip and tackle the issues our residents are facing.

We’re a learning organisation with a united leadership team, committed to innovation, collaboration and impact. Despite financial pressures, we’re investing in transformation and building a council fit for the future one that’s connected, creative and confident.

This role is politically restricted. For further information on what this means for employees in post, please click on the document attachment below.

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your CV and a supporting statement. Your supporting statement is the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (CV guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Supporting statement guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Link to Community safety and crime reduction strategy 2023 to 2026

Link to community safety strategy yourvoice.brighton-hove.gov.uk/projects/community-safety-strategy

Library papers, link to this cabinet paper (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk). 

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.