Executive Director, Place and Customer

Shape the Future of Essex. Drive climate action. Deliver for our communities.

Essex is on the government's Priority Programme for Local Government Reform, one of the most ambitious and complex reform programmes in the UK. At the heart of this radical transformation is a bold vision: to reshape local government and public service delivery across Greater Essex including the creation of a Mayoral Combined Authority. By 2028 there will be the reorganisation of the current two-tier system of fifteen Councils into fewer new unitary councils.

This is a rare opportunity for Essex County Council (ECC) and our partners to co-create a new model of local government. One that is rooted in neighbourhood, integrates key services, offers greater choice to communities, and is built on collaboration with partners including Health, Police, and Fire services.

Within this context of transformation, Essex County Council is seeking a visionary, delivery-focused, and resilient leader to take on a senior role at the heart of our organisational strategy. With an ambitious agenda on highways, environment, waste, customer and sustainable growth, Essex will need world-class infrastructure that meets the needs of our communities and supports a greener future.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with other Executive Directors, together, you will act as an effective communicator and strong team player to formulate corporate policy objectives and ensure the effective corporate management of ECC.

This highly visible and demanding position will be central to our ambitious agenda for climate action and sustainable growth, ensuring world-class transport and waste infrastructure that meets community needs. You will lead a diverse portfolio of services, including:

• Climate Action Strategy - driving forward our commitment to sustainability and net zero.
• Waste Services - overseeing our in-house operations and shaping future infrastructure.
• Highways & Transportation - managing significant supplier contracts and ensuring world-class transport solutions.
• Customer Services - delivering universal and regulated services that put residents first.

Your leadership will influence how Essex develops sustainable transport and waste infrastructure to meet the needs of our communities now and in the future.

As Executive Director, you will need to bring a strong commercial focus to the diverse range of functions within the scope of the role, with a solid background of operational experience. This role demands imagination, delivery focus, and the ability to navigate political complexity while inspiring others to visualise and build a better future.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead delivery strategy for all services in the portfolio, setting clear performance targets aligned to organisational priorities and informed by local, national, and global insight.
• Ensure efficient, responsive services for residents and stakeholders, reducing demand through smart design and engagement.
• Deliver ambitious strategies, to shape Essex as a place, which align to the organisational strategy and to create conditions to manage the major infrastructure and environmental challenges of the future
• Represent Essex nationally, building strong networks and partnerships to influence policy and secure progress on infrastructure and environment.
• Champion customer services, ensuring alignment with council priorities and promoting digital innovation, commercial approaches, and service redesign.
• Foster collaboration and innovation, recognising Essex's socio-economic diversity and strengthening community partnerships.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a strategic, imaginative, and politically astute leader who can thrive in complexity and drive positive culture, teams and results. You will bring:

• Experience within at least two of the following: Highways and transportation, waste management, climate, energy, flooding, environment, and customer.
• A proven track record of leadership skills, forging strong diverse teams and achieving strategic objectives in rapidly changing environments.
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to develop networks and partnerships which create inspiring action that benefits the residents, communities, and businesses of Essex, influencing both strategically and corporately in a complex organisation with senior stakeholders and partners, across government and nationally.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering functional strategy across a diverse range of services, integrating change and considering the impact of external forces. Evidence of leading and inspiring teams, setting high standards and expectations in terms of performance and delivery
• Strong programme management and commercial experience from delivering projects at scale, working with supply chains and partners, with evidence of a clear understanding of the financial responsibilities associated with major programmes.
• A deep commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive leadership.