Head of Service (Bereavement) in Leeds

Salary: DIR 45 £60,480 - £66,318

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Farnley Hall as primary office base but a driving license is required for regular site visits across Leeds.

As a Head of Service within the Climate, Energy and Green Spaces department, you’ll thrive on leading a team to provide good customer service, drive improvement and develop your own team. A background in bereavement services is not a core requirement as although bereavement services is a core focus of the role, there will be other areas of responsibility within the wider Climate, Energy and Greenspaces service. However, experience of working in a role that requires sensitive management would be a benefit.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About You

As a Head of Service, you will bring to the role:

• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Good commercial acumen and financial management skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Good experience of managing health and safety in an operational environment
• Experience of leading transformation

About The Role

The role is integral to our Climate, Energy and Greenspaces department which has over 500 FTEs and is part of its senior management team. As our next Head of Service (bereavement), you will provide senior leadership to the staff that are overseeing both the customer service team and the frontline operational teams, undertaking both burials and cremations. Your key focus will be on ensuring that bereavement services becomes the best in class by improving processes, systems and leading improvement plans across our key sites. Alongside bereavement services, this Head of Service will also lead other smaller services within the department. This role presents a great opportunity for an ambitious candidate to move into a senior leadership role and will provide the chance to further develop a wide range of skills, including operational management, commercial acumen and transformation.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How To Apply

Please upload CV and complete a supporting statement. Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Polly Cook, Chief Officer, Climate, Energy and Green Spaces. Call telephone number: 0113 378 7800 or email caroline.gray@leeds.gov.uk to arrange a discussion. The interviews will be held on 17th or 18th February in the city centre.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

This role is responsible for the oversight and management of 23 cemeteries, 3 crematoria and approximately 5,500 burials/cremations that are delivered every year. This post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the service offers a good level of customer service to funeral directors, families and other stakeholders. Replacement software has been introduced in 2025 and the post holder will be responsible for ongoing implementation and process improvement to maximise potential for efficiency and business process improvement. Identifying and understanding future developments within the bereavement sector and the opportunities/challenges that these could present to the service is also an important part of this role. Although bereavement services is the core focus of the role, the role will also be responsible for other services within CEGS such as the workshop and grounds maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of programmes of strategic significance to the Council to deliver services in line with Council priorities.
• Responsible for the development and delivery of the service plan and drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects.
• Responsible for the strategic and operational management of bereavement services, including responsibility for the delivery of the 50 year burial plan.
• Responsible for the safe management and an improvement plan for each of the cemeteries and crematoria.
• Responsible for other services within CEGS such as the workshop and management of the grounds maintenance contract, ensuring that these functions can meet the demands of the operational services, residents and wider stakeholders, and that opportunities to improve health and safety, environmental performance and value for money are all optimised.
• To play a key role in the Senior Leadership Team of the Climate, Energy and Green Spaces service, contributing to wider service improvement priorities and key projects.
• In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for all financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations.
• Review and monitor the performance of services, systems, budget, teams and individuals against standards and agreed outcomes in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic local, political and national context.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications

Appropriate professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge and experience in the service area.

Working Context

Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Able to demonstrate experience of procurement and contract management.
• Able to demonstrate experience of engaging with stakeholders and members of the public on sensitive issues.
• Able to demonstrate experience of implementing and upholding the highest health and safety standards in an operational environment.
• Able to demonstrate experience of leading and developing teams.
• Able to demonstrate examples of managing services and achieving quality transformational outcomes.
• Able to manage competing priorities, ensuring delivery on a range of programmes and adapting to changing circumstances.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
• Experience of senior leadership and management relevant to area of service delivery.
• Experience of strategic and operational resource management including the evaluation of competing priorities and managing accountabilities.
• Significant experience of leading change programmes, driving up standards and performance.
• Significant experience and commitment in relation to engagement in decision making processes.
• Significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.

Driving licence is essential

Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city.
• Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.