Assistant Director of Regulatory Services
Do you enjoy being part of a high‑performing service, working in a supportive environment where your talents are recognised, nurtured and developed? This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced regulatory services professional with expertise in planning, highways development control, trading standards, compliance and service transformation.
Qualifications and experience that match roles such as Head of Regulatory Services, Head of Planning, Head of Highways Development Control, Head of Trading Standards or Regulatory Services Manager are highly desirable.
Job Overview
The assistant director will lead a connected range of services that support place‑making, regeneration, sustainable growth, compliance, performance improvement and high‑quality outcomes for residents, businesses and local communities. The role will involve strategic direction, expert advice and values‑led leadership through transformation and change. Key stakeholders include senior leaders, elected members, partner organisations, developers, government agencies and professional bodies.
Duties
- Strategic Leadership: Provide leadership and management across planning, highways development control, land searches and trading standards services
- Statutory Compliance: Ensure services meet relevant legislation, policy, professional standards, outcomes and targets
- Service Transformation: Lead continuous improvement, organisational efficiency, service redesign and new ways of working
- Partnership Working: Build effective relationships with local authorities, government departments, developers, businesses, enforcement agencies and regional partners
- Planning Leadership: Provide expert advice and leadership on statutory planning functions, local plans, development management and planning policy
- Highways Development Control: Lead the statutory consultee function for highways matters, ensuring effective advice, negotiation and network protection
- Trading Standards: Oversee operational activity, intelligence sharing, enforcement processes and engagement with service users and local businesses
- Performance and Budget Management: Manage complex budgets, performance systems, service plans and best value outcomes
- Senior Advice: Provide professional advice to senior officers, elected members, committees and strategic management teams
- Change Leadership: Support wider organisational transformation, including transition and local government reorganisation activity
Candidate Requirements
Essential
- Leadership Experience: Demonstrable experience of leading and managing services within a large, complex, multi‑service organisation
- Regulatory Expertise: Substantial technical knowledge of place‑based regulatory services, particularly planning and highways development control
- Strategic Thinking: Proven ability to translate policy, statutory requirements and organisational priorities into deliverable programmes
- Change Management: Experience of managing significant organisational change, service redesign and performance improvement
- Financial Acumen: Proven experience of managing substantial budgets and developing financial strategies that deliver value for money
- Partnership Skills: Track record of developing successful multi‑agency partnerships and working across service boundaries
- Political Awareness: Ability to work effectively with elected members, senior officers, public committees and external stakeholders
- Communication Skills: Strong written, verbal, presentation, negotiation and influencing skills
- Personal Effectiveness: Resilience, integrity, accountability and commitment to public service and continuous improvement
- Qualifications: Appropriate technical or professional qualification with substantial relevant post‑qualification experience
Desirable
- Professional Membership: Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Institute of Civil Engineering or similar relevant professional body
- Leadership Qualification: Leadership or management qualification such as ILM7, MBA or equivalent
- Sector Knowledge: Good appreciation of wider departmental work and major legislative changes affecting local government
- Management Practice: Knowledge of management theories, quality management practices and future local government challenges
Benefits
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexible working options, subject to service needs
- Range of employee leave schemes, including maternity, paternity, adoption, parental, foster carer, disability and study leave
- Employee discounts, cashback offers and wellbeing support through the employee rewards platform
- Employee Assistance Programme for personal and professional wellbeing support
- Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme
- Electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, subject to eligibility
Job reference: AWDO-P14774.
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