Head of Housing and Communities Services

Head of Housing and Communities Services

Salary package: £99,947 – £102,952

At Denbighshire County Council, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved – and even more excited about what’s ahead. We’re on a bold journey to make Denbighshire an exceptional place to live, work, and thrive. As part of our Senior Leadership Team, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving that vision forward.

We’re seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking Head of Service to lead a diverse and high-impact portfolio, including:

• Housing Development and Maintenance
• Working Denbighshire (employment and skills)
• One Stop Shops
• Libraries and Archives
• Youth and Community Resilience

This is more than a leadership role – it’s a chance to shape services that matter deeply to our communities. You'll be a strategic thinker, a decisive leader, and an inspiring collaborator with a proven track record of delivering meaningful outcomes. Business acumen, professional credibility, and a passion for public service are essential.

Job Purpose

• To be responsible for the overall professional, strategic and operational leadership and management of the Service/s including leading on the development and implementation of service priorities.
• To support the Chief Executive and Corporate Directors in the overall management of the council through the designated services, ensuring the effective delivery of council priorities, strategies and major projects.
• To provide leadership to the specific council services through membership of the Senior Leadership Team ensuring integrated policy development and service delivery.
• To play a crucial role in increasing performance and efficiency across the council and its partners for the benefit of the community.

Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide strategic and effective leadership in conjunction with other Heads of Service on the delivery of specific plans as defined both within the service area and across the Council to deliver corporate initiatives.
• Provide a learning environment and a positive, proactive and flexible approach to decision making.
• Provide professional support and advice to Members and Corporate Directors to support the delivery of council objectives and to meet the council’s statutory responsibility.
• Role model the organisation’s purpose and vision and keep managers focused on delivering that vision.

Service Delivery

• To ensure that an appropriate range of modern services are planned, commissioned and provided which demonstrably meets the needs of the service users, including the development of business plans.
• To ensure these services are effectively organised, cost efficient, systematically reviewed and redesigned where necessary.
• To ensure high quality services which meet statutory and good practice guidance and standards.
• To be committed to delivering excellent customer service to meet expectations and satisfy customer needs, and promote the Denbighshire Way.

Corporate and Service Strategy and Policy Development

• Develop and implement policies and strategies which deliver high standards and continuous improvement in outcomes and standards for the service.
• Create and develop effective partnerships with internal departments, external agencies and organisations in the public, private and third sectors in order to maximise the resources available to the council in meeting its strategic aims and objectives.

Change and Continuous Improvement

• To champion change and improvement to both their specific services and the council as a whole.
• To communicate and provide vision for employees regarding changes and improvement.
• To position the council for future success by identifying new opportunities.

Management of Resources

• To be ultimately accountable for the management of resources within the specified service area/s.
• To ensure budgets and other resources are planned, monitored and managed and expenditure is controlled to ensure all service managers understand and take responsibility for balancing budgets.
• To ensure clear lines of accountability and control.
• To maximise the resources available for the service to meet its strategic aims and objectives.

Safety, Quality and Performance Management

• To establish and manage systems and procedures that deliver a safe working environment, in accordance with; HSE Guidance Notes, relevant legislation, and the council’s policies.
• Ensure that staff are provided with the necessary training, support and resources to undertake their role safely. Actively promote a positive health and safety culture, and lead by example.
• To ensure financial information, service quality and outcomes data is collected accurately and to use performance data on an ongoing basis.
• To demonstrate through business and project plans, performance indicators and outcome measures, a culture of high performance.
• To establish a framework for assuring quality professional practice in the services, including undertaking regular practice audits and observations by managers at all levels in the Service and reporting mechanisms to the management processes.

Risk Management

• To review regularly all service activities and projects to ensure that risks are being managed properly.
• Ensure risk management through risk assessment, risk monitoring procedures, and risk mitigation measures including risks to employees, members of the public, the council’s customers, the council’s assets, safeguarding risks and risks to the council’s reputation. Risk areas to be managed include; data management, business continuity, fire safety, and health and safety.

Human Resource Responsibilities

• To ensure high quality and consistent management of staff performance.
• To ensure development of a workforce plan in conjunction with business planning processes, working collaboratively across the council and with external bodies to meet the needs of the plan.
• To actively manage absence to meet key performance targets.
• To ensure effective and constructive staff relations and communications.
• To ensure effective and sustainable recruitment to meet the organisations objectives.

Equalities and Sustainability

To ensure the service meets its equality and sustainability responsibilities under the specific legislative requirements.

Delegated Responsibilities

To undertake such duties and responsibilities as may be reasonably specified by the Chief Executive and Corporate Director under the scheme of delegation.

Key Objectives and Corporate Programmes

Key Objectives and Corporate Programme Leadership will be proposed and discussed with the post holder and monitored by the Corporate Director.

For further details and and application pack please click "apply on our website"