Director of Corporate Services

About the Place
Ebbsfleet is one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, with a vision to create a 21st-century garden city that blends new homes, jobs, and high-quality infrastructure in a vibrant and sustainable way.  With responsibility for delivering England’s first garden city in nearly a century, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) has already overseen the building of thousands of homes, the creation of community facilities, and the development of transport links that connect Ebbsfleet directly into London, Kent, and beyond. But the story is still being written.

The scale of ambition here is striking. From major residential developments and green spaces to commercial growth and infrastructure, Ebbsfleet is about shaping a place where people want to live, work and visit. It is about building an environment that encourages enterprise and opportunity, while ensuring sustainability and community are at the heart of every decision. As a small but highly influential organisation, EDC has the ability to be both agile and impactful, working closely with government, local partners, and the private sector to deliver lasting change.
 

About the Role
As Director of Corporate Services, you will play a pivotal role in enabling the Corporation to deliver on this vision. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Board, you will lead all corporate service functions, including finance, HR, procurement, ICT, governance, asset and facilities management, and health and safety. It is a broad and strategically significant remit, requiring you to ensure EDC remains financially robust, compliant with public sector standards, and equipped with the systems and processes that underpin success.

You will oversee financial planning, assurance and audit, providing the Chief Executive and Board with clear, accurate, and timely information that inspires confidence and supports decision-making. You will also manage key external relationships, from auditors and government finance officials to outsourced contractors and HR partners, ensuring that every aspect of corporate services is delivered to the highest standards.

But this is not just a back-office role. As part of a small, highly collaborative executive team, you will be expected to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, contributing to wider organisational priorities and project delivery. You will bring a commercial perspective to the table, helping shape decisions and ensuring EDC can move quickly and confidently in a dynamic funding and delivery environment. You will also provide visible leadership to the Corporate Services team, fostering cohesion and instilling a culture of ambition, innovation, and continuous improvement.

This is a role that combines strategic influence with operational responsibility. You will need to navigate funding allocations and manage risk with confidence. At the same time, you will need to be hands-on in supporting your team and ensuring compliance with government requirements. The breadth of the challenge is matched by the opportunity to make a visible impact across the organisation and the community it serves.
 

About You
We are looking for an outstanding leader who combines a strong grasp of public service finance and corporate governance with the ability to inspire, motivate and deliver. You will bring demonstrable senior-level experience of managing public money, with a clear understanding of government accounting and audit protocols. You don’t need to be a qualified accountant, what matters is that you bring senior-level experience in corporate services or finance, with a strong understanding of managing public money and working confidently with auditors, sponsor departments, and boards.

You will have a track record of leading diverse teams across corporate functions and delivering high-quality outcomes in complex organisations. Equally important will be your leadership style, collaborative, visible, and able to build confidence across staff, board members and external partners alike. You will be solution-focused, commercially aware, and willing to innovate, but grounded in the assurance and compliance that managing public money requires.

This is a role for someone who wants to make a tangible difference. It offers the chance to bring together your professional expertise and leadership skills in a small but high-profile organisation, where your contribution will be visible and valued. The role combines real challenge with real opportunity, asking you to provide clear direction, inspire a talented team and ensure the organisation continues to operate with resilience and impact. In return, you will be at the heart of a project that is transforming a community for generations to come, working in an organisation that thrives on teamwork, innovation and ambition.
If you are motivated by the chance to drive, influence and deliver within one of the most exciting regeneration projects in the UK, we would be delighted to hear from you.
  
For more information and to apply, please visit www.join-ebbsfleetdc.co.uk or get in touch with our recruitment partners at Tile Hill. Maud Hollis, Senior Consultant | 07444 696659 or Dylan Craven, Lead Researcher | 07442 408861
 

To apply:
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (three sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (three 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 rebecca.keen@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);
• Details of your current salary and notice period
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview.

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.