At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve people’s lives.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is seeking an outstanding senior leader to take on the role of Head of Community & Compliance a pivotal and influential post at the heart of our Place Management and Sustainable Communities agenda.
This is a rare opportunity to lead an exceptionally diverse and high-impact portfolio of services that shape how our places feel, function and are experienced by residents, businesses and visitors every day.
Abou the role:
Reporting at Head of Service level, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a wide-ranging portfolio including:
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Public Protection and regulatory services
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Emergency Management, business continuity and CCTV
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City Centre Security and preparedness (including Protect & Prepare and Martyn’s Law)
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Major events, markets and filming
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Parks, green spaces and open spaces
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Bereavement Services, including cemeteries and crematoria
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City Centre Management
You will lead around 150 staff, oversee a multimillionpound revenue and capital portfolio, and work closely with Members, Executive Leadership Team, Directors, senior officers, partners and communities to deliver services that are safe, compliant, compassionate and politically informed.
This is a role for someone who can confidently operate at pace and under scrutiny, balance risk with opportunity, and provide calm, credible leadership in complex and often sensitive situations.
What you’ll be responsible for:
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Setting clear strategic direction across multiple statutory and nonstatutory services
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Providing strong corporate coordination and assurance across complex, overlapping workstreams
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Leading on risk management, safety, compliance and preparedness, including emergency planning and major incident response
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Driving continuous improvement, performance and good governance
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Building trusted relationships with Elected Members, partners, regulators and stakeholders
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Acting as a senior ambassador for the Council in highprofile, highvisibility forums
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Leading and developing senior managers and teams, fostering an inclusive, resilient and highperforming culture
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Ensuring services are customerfocused, compassionate and accessible, particularly where people are vulnerable or distressed
About you:
We’re looking for a senior leader who brings:
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Significant experience leading complex, multidisciplinary services within local government or the wider public sector
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Strong judgement and credibility when working in politically sensitive and highprofile environments
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A proven ability to manage risk, safety and compliance across varied operational contexts
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Experience of strategic commissioning, contract management and financial oversight
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Confidence engaging with Members, communities, partners and external agencies
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A leadership style that is calm, inclusive, decisive and valuesled
You’ll be educated to degree level (or equivalent senior-level experience) and able to demonstrate the professional credibility needed to operate at this level.
If you are interested in this post and require more details or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Chris Major, Director of Place Management on 01225 394231 or email [email protected]
Interview date: Tuesday 2rd November 2026.
No Agencies Please.
Please note: that this advert may close earlier than the stated closing date due to high demand. We advise all interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
- Please note, BANES Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register (redeployee). This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role they will be considered ahead of external applicants.
