Service Director Street Services

About Plymouth

Plymouth is Britain’s Ocean City and is ambitious, forward-looking and proud of its identity. With significant investment, growth and regeneration underway, the city is evolving rapidly. We are focused on delivering high-quality public services, improving outcomes for residents and creating a sustainable, inclusive future.

The Role

This is a pivotal leadership role leading one of the Council’s most visible and complex service areas. As Service Director for Street Services, you will lead a broad portfolio including highways and transport infrastructure, waste collection and disposal, street scene, green spaces, parking and commercial operations. You will be responsible for delivering safe, efficient and customer-focused frontline services that have a direct impact on residents, communities and the city’s environment.

Reporting to the Strategic Director for Growth, you will operate as a key member of the senior leadership team, working closely with elected members, partners and stakeholders to deliver the Council’s priorities and drive public value.

The Opportunity

This is a role with real scale and impact. You will:

• Lead and shape a large, high-profile frontline service that touches every resident and business in the city
• Drive transformation and continuous improvement across complex operational services
• Deliver strong financial grip and value for money in a challenging environment
• Embed a culture of accountability, performance and customer focus
• Play a key role in delivering Plymouth’s climate ambitions, including the commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030
• Work across organisational and system boundaries to deliver integrated, place-based outcomes

This is an opportunity to lead change at pace, improve service delivery and position Street Services as a high-performing, modern and responsive function.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for an experienced and credible leader who can operate effectively at Chief Officer level. You will bring:

• A strong track record of leading complex, multi-disciplinary services, ideally within highways, waste, environmental or infrastructure-related functions
• Experience of delivering transformation and cultural change in large organisations
• Commercial awareness and the ability to manage significant budgets and resources
• The ability to translate strategic priorities into clear, deliverable plans
• Strong political awareness and experience of working with elected members and senior stakeholders
• A collaborative, system leadership approach, with the ability to influence and build partnerships
• A focus on performance, outcomes and continuous improvement

You will be a visible and resilient leader, able to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a demanding and high-profile environment.

Why Join Us

Plymouth City Council is committed to delivering better outcomes for our residents and communities. This role offers the opportunity to shape critical services, lead meaningful change and contribute to the future of the city.

The expectation is that the role will be office-based for 3 to 4 days per week to support collaboration and visibility, with flexibility around how the remaining time is worked. As a flexible employer, we are open to discussing working arrangements to balance service needs with individual circumstances. If you have any queries, please contact neil.stevens@plymouth.gov.uk.

Closing date: 20 May
Assessment centre: 10 June
Final interview: 17 June

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