Director of Community Operations

About the Council
At South Tyneside Council, we’re passionate about creating a place where everyone can live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives. As a forward-thinking local authority, we’re proud of our collaborative culture and strong leadership team. Our recent decision to bring housing services back in-house, covering 17,000 homes, opens new opportunities to integrate services for our residents.

We’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to improving communities and enhancing public services. South Tyneside is a unique mix of coastal beauty, urban development, and a rich sense of community spirit. Join us and be part of a council that values innovation, forward thinking, and making a real impact on people’s lives.

About the Role
As our newly created Director of Community Operations, you will play a pivotal role in shaping South Tyneside’s future. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you’ll be part of our Corporate Leadership Team, driving the delivery of essential services across the borough. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a wide-ranging directorate, overseeing housing management, waste, highways, street scene, and more.

This role allows you to truly make your mark on the services we provide. You’ll lead the transformation of our community operations, including a strategic review of waste management and a cultural shift in housing services following the transfer of 650 staff. You’ll work with a wide range of stakeholders – from elected members and senior leadership to front-line staff – ensuring that South Tyneside’s services are efficient, high-quality, and designed to meet the needs of our diverse communities.

You’ll have the chance to innovate and introduce new ways of working, all while ensuring our services remain sustainable and value-driven. From shaping our approach to local area management to ensuring our borough continues to thrive with modern transport networks and resilient infrastructure, you’ll have a leading role in delivering our ambitious vision for the future.

About You
We’re seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking leader who is excited about the opportunity to make a lasting impact in South Tyneside. Whether your background is in housing, waste management, or another related field, what’s most important is your ability to lead large teams and deliver results. You’ll be a strategic thinker who can manage change effectively, with a focus on improving service delivery and outcomes for residents.

Your people skills will be key – you’ll be someone who can build strong relationships at all levels, from front-line staff to elected members and external partners. You’ll bring a positive, solutions-focused approach to the role, and be someone who thrives in a collaborative environment.

You will be able to demonstrate your ability to lead teams through significant cultural and organisational change. You’ll be comfortable navigating local politics and working closely with elected members to ensure that their ambitions for the borough are realised.

If you’re looking for a career-enhancing role where you can lead meaningful transformation, this is your chance to make a difference. South Tyneside Council is a place where new ideas are welcomed, innovation is valued, and everyone has the chance to put their mark on the future.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you!Join us and help shape a brighter future for South Tyneside. Apply today!

For an informal conversation get in touch with Clare.connor@tile-hill.co.uk or Maud.hollis@tile-hill.co.uk

Closing date for Applications is Friday 25th October 2024 at midnight

To apply:
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (four sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements. Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only. If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact abbie.hamilton-grant@tile-hill.co.uk.

Applications should include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview.
• two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees)
• Notification of any dates when you are not available

Recruitment Timeline:

• Closing Date: Midnight 25th October 2024
• Longlist Meeting (candidates not required to attend): Week commencing 28th October 2024
• Technical Assessments: Week commencing 4th November 2024
• Shortlist Meeting (candidates not required to attend):: Week commencing 11th November 2024
• Emergenetics Profiles: Week commencing 18th November 2024
• Assessment Day: Monday 25th November 2024
• Final Interviews with People & Organisational Development Sub Committee: Wednesday 27th November 2024

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk.