INTERNAL ONLY
Location: Penrith
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37 per week
About this opportunity
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Technical Authority Lead to act as the Council’s professional technical lead for all matters relating to property and built assets.
Reporting to the Senior Manager – Capital Programmes, you will provide authoritative technical advice and assurance across the Council’s property portfolio, capital projects and maintenance programmes. You will play a key role in ensuring that buildings and infrastructure are safe, compliant, sustainable and fit for purpose, whilst helping the Council become a more informed and intelligent client when commissioning consultants and contractors.
This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for developing and maintaining corporate property standards, providing technical governance and assurance, and supporting the successful delivery of major capital investment programmes.
Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as the Council’s competent professional lead for technical property and construction matters.
- Providing impartial technical advice to senior managers, project boards and elected Members.
- Leading the development and implementation of corporate standards covering design, engineering, sustainability, accessibility and asset management.
- Providing technical assurance and oversight across capital projects, maintenance programmes and commissioned works.
- Ensuring compliance with statutory requirements relating to building safety, fire safety, accessibility, condition and energy performance.
- Reviewing and challenging technical proposals to ensure value for money and alignment with Council priorities.
- Supporting the Council’s ambitions around decarbonisation, modernisation and service transformation.
- Developing strong working relationships across the organisation and with external consultants, contractors and stakeholders.
Ideal candidates will have:
- Significant experience providing technical leadership across complex property portfolios, capital programmes or major construction projects.
- Extensive knowledge of property, engineering, construction or building services disciplines, supported by relevant professional qualifications.
- Experience of developing technical standards, governance arrangements and assurance frameworks.
- Strong understanding of building compliance, health and safety legislation and statutory obligations.
- Experience of operating effectively in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- The ability to provide independent professional challenge and support robust decision making.
- A passion for delivering high-quality public sector outcomes and continuous improvement.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-profile team at a time of significant investment and transformation, helping to shape the future of Westmorland and Furness through technical excellence and professional leadership.
What can we offer you!
Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
Would you like to find out more?
For further information about this role, such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view the below attachments:
- Post Specification
- Role Profile
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Mike Crowther, Senior Manager – Capital Programmes ([email protected]).
Application and Interview information
Closing date: 19th July 2026
Interview date: 28th July 2026
We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Interview details such as venue/timings will be shared with successful candidates, following the shortlisting process. If you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this with you.
If you experience any technical difficulties applying for this role, please contact the HR Systems Team at [email protected].
Safer Recruitment & DBS
At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect all workers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment.
Option 4 - This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and requires an enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check.
Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with Children.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences.
As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview.
We also offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or care experienced and under 24 years old (someone who has been looked after by a local authority at any point, for any length of time, e.g. foster care, residential care, or under the guardianship of a local authority) that meet the essential criteria for the role.
