Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage essential services like waste, traffic, and parks for Croydon's diverse community.
- Company: Croydon Council, dedicated to improving public services and community outcomes.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, impactful role, and the chance to make a difference in residents' lives.
- Why this job: Shape Croydon's environment and sustainability while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in public services with strong financial and operational skills.
- Other info: Join a dynamic council focused on climate resilience and community trust.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Croydon is one of London's largest and most diverse boroughs, home to more than 390,000 residents, with a proud civic history and a clear ambition to deliver better outcomes for its communities. The Council is operating in a challenging context, with significant financial pressures and high public expectations, but it is also at a point of renewal – focused on stability, delivery and rebuilding trust through consistently good public services.
We are now seeking a Director of Streets and Environment to lead a portfolio that sits at the very heart of residents' everyday experience of Croydon. This is a senior, high-profile leadership role with responsibility for some of the Council's most visible and operationally complex services, from waste and recycling, highways and traffic management, parks and open spaces, through to environmental health, licensing, parking, SEND transport and fleet management.
Reporting to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery, you will lead a large and diverse directorate and be accountable for significant budgets, income streams and transformation activity. You will be expected to balance strong operational grip with long-term strategic thinking, ensuring services are safe, compliant and responsive, while also driving improvement, efficiency and value for money.
This is a role for someone who understands the realities of running large-scale public services in a complex urban environment. You will need to be comfortable working in a highly political and public-facing context, advising elected members with clarity and confidence, and working constructively with partners across London and beyond. You will also act as the Council's senior professional lead across highways, traffic, environmental protection and waste, and as Croydon's representative on the South London Waste Partnership.
Croydon has clear ambitions around climate resilience, net zero and environmental sustainability, and this role will play a central part in turning those ambitions into practical, deliverable action. At the same time, you will be responsible for maintaining the basics that matter most to residents: clean streets, reliable waste services, safe roads, well-managed parks and fair, proportionate regulation.
We are looking for an experienced senior leader, ideally from local government or a comparable public sector environment, with a strong track record of leading complex operational services at scale. You will bring sound financial judgement, experience of delivering savings and service improvement, and the ability to build and sustain high-performing, inclusive teams. Just as importantly, you will bring resilience, emotional intelligence and a collaborative leadership style, with a clear commitment to public service and to the people who live and work in Croydon.
Responsibilities:
- Lead a large and diverse directorate with responsibility for services including waste and recycling, highways and traffic management, parks and open spaces, environmental health, licensing, parking, SEND transport and fleet management.
- Report to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery; manage significant budgets, income streams and transformation activity.
- Balance strong operational control with long-term strategic thinking to ensure services are safe, compliant and responsive while driving improvement, efficiency and value for money.
- Advise elected members with clarity and confidence in a highly political, public-facing context; collaborate with partners across London and beyond.
- Represent Croydon as the Council's senior professional lead across highways, traffic, environmental protection and waste; serve as Croydon’s representative on the South London Waste Partnership.
- Support the Council’s climate resilience, net zero and environmental sustainability ambitions by turning plans into practical actions; maintain core services for residents (clean streets, reliable waste services, safe roads, well-managed parks, fair regulation).
Qualifications and experience:
- Experienced senior leader, ideally from local government or a comparable public sector environment, with a track record of leading complex operational services at scale.
- Strong financial judgement with experience delivering savings and service improvement.
- Ability to build and sustain high-performing, inclusive teams; resilient, emotionally intelligent and collaborative leadership style.
- Clear commitment to public service and to the people who live and work in Croydon.
Director of Streets and Environment employer: Local Government Chronicle
Contact Detail:
Local Government Chronicle Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Streets and Environment
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those connected to local government or public services. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Croydon Council’s recent initiatives and challenges. Show that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about making a difference in the community. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to clearly articulate your vision for the Director of Streets and Environment role. Think about how you can balance operational control with strategic thinking, and be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the opportunity. Keep an eye on deadlines and follow up if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Streets and Environment
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading complex operational services. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Director of Streets and Environment, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We’re looking for someone with a collaborative leadership style. In your application, share examples of how you’ve built high-performing teams and fostered inclusivity. This will help us understand how you can lead our diverse directorate effectively.
Demonstrate Financial Acumen: Since this role involves managing significant budgets, it’s crucial to highlight your financial judgement. Include specific instances where you’ve delivered savings or improved services through sound financial decisions. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Local Government Chronicle
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with Croydon's current challenges and ambitions, especially around climate resilience and public service delivery. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a senior leader, it's crucial to convey your leadership style during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've built high-performing teams in the past and how you plan to foster collaboration and inclusivity within the directorate. Use specific examples to illustrate your emotional intelligence and resilience.
✨Prepare for Political Questions
Given the highly political context of the role, prepare for questions about how you would advise elected members and manage public expectations. Think about scenarios where you've navigated complex stakeholder relationships and how you can apply those experiences to Croydon’s environment.
✨Align with Their Vision
Croydon has clear ambitions for environmental sustainability and community service. Be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with theirs and how you can turn strategic plans into practical actions. Highlight any relevant experience you have in driving service improvements and achieving financial savings in similar contexts.
