Strategic Director - Environment, Sustainability and Leisure

Description

Southwark is at the heart of London’s success, known across the world for its physical landmarks but powered by its extraordinary people.

We have much to be proud of and every reason to be ambitious about the future. Our recently agreed 2030 Strategy unites partners around a vision that together, we will build a fair green and safe Southwark where everyone can live a good life as part of a strong community.

To deliver our shared vision, we will need to unleash the collective talents of residents, communities, organisations and businesses for the good of everyone who calls Southwark home.

This senior leadership role will be pivotal in driving our Southwark 2030 vision, ensuring our core principles and the needs of our residents remain central to everything we do.

Strategic Director, Environment, Sustainability and Leisure | Up to £183,201 pa +£5,799 Additional Cash Benefit 

We are seeking a transformative leader to drive Southwark’s Environment, Sustainability & Leisure functions. As a core member of our corporate management team, the role provides strategic leadership for a range of crucial services that directly affect the quality of life and opportunities for Southwark’s residents, businesses, and partners.  

In this high-impact role, your primary purpose will be to oversee and drive the implementation of key strategies that enhance environmental sustainability, improve our recently insourced leisure centres, and ensure that our borough remains a vibrant, safe, and inclusive place to live and work.

Setting the strategic direction for the department which includes over 1,000 people, the role includes ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and setting performance targets that drive positive outcomes. 

Working collaboratively with the Chief Executive, councillors, and senior officers to align our strategic goals with actionable policies and innovative programs, your strong leadership expertise will be instrumental in developing partnerships and influencing policy, both regionally and nationally to advance Southwark’s interests.

We are keen to attract senior leaders with substantial experience of managing large teams within a public sector environment.  You will be able to demonstrate a strong track record of managing significant budgets effectively, and utilising data to drive evidence-based decisions.

The role requires a comprehensive understanding of how the political landscape impacts the day-to-day services of council functions. You will be able to evidence experience of collaborating with political leaders to shape and implement strategic policies, displaying the ability to influence and guide organisational change.

We are looking for a senior leader who not only has the dedication to public services, but also has a genuine passion for community development. You will have a deep understanding of the challenges facing local government, brining innovative solutions to address them.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Southwark at a time of significant transformation.

If you are passionate about public service, inspired by the opportunity to lead in a values-driven council, and ready to help shape the future of Southwark, we want to hear from you.

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Further info

For more information about this role, please go to https://join-southwark.co.uk/. For a confidential discussion about your suitability, please contact our recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson: Ben Parsonage (07530 578 921), Frazer Thouard (07384 810 743), or Duncan Collins (07586 705 475).

At Southwark, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone. As part of our ongoing commitment to building an inclusive and supportive workplace, we offer a Guaranteed Interview scheme for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. If you meet the essential criteria for the role and identify with any of the following groups, you will qualify for the Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

• Current or former member of the armed forces
• Someone who is, or has previously been in care
• A person with a disability or long-term health condition

We value the unique perspectives and experiences you bring and are dedicated to ensuring that your potential is recognised.