Head of Strategy & Governance – Communities

Overview

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and collaborative leader to head the Strategy and Governance function for the Communities Directorate. This pivotal role works closely with the Corporate Director and Service Directors to shape the strategic direction of the Directorate, ensure robust governance arrangements, lead staff engagement activities and drive delivery against key organisational and directorate‑level priorities.

You will play a central role in ensuring the Directorate plans effectively for the future, responds to emerging challenges, and delivers outcomes aligned with wider corporate priorities. This is an exciting opportunity to influence major strategic decisions, support high‑level governance, and ensure that systems, processes and performance frameworks are robust, effective and forward‑looking.

Salary grade: PTMG 1

About us

Our Communities Directorate plays a central role in delivering vital services that support residents, local areas and wider organisational priorities. Working across complex systems and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, we aim to deliver high‑quality, efficient and responsive services for our communities.

About the role

As the Head of Strategy & Governance – Communities, you will lead a small multi‑disciplinary team responsible for strategy development, governance oversight, performance management, risk, business continuity and strategic planning across the Directorate. You will work closely with Corporate and Service Directors, as well as senior colleagues across our services to provide expert professional advice and ensure the organisation meets internal and external expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Strategy & Governance function, working with colleagues across the Directorate to ensure the delivery of high‑quality outcomes.
• Drive the development, implementation and monitoring of strategies, governance frameworks, systems and procedures across the Communities Directorate.
• Provide expert advice to Corporate Directors, Service Directors, senior managers and Members on operational, legislative and strategic issues.
• Coordinate effective performance management, risk management and business continuity planning across the Directorate.
• Anticipate and respond to national and local policy changes, ensuring the Directorate remains compliant and responsive.
• Oversee the forward plan for Communities, ensuring timely, high‑quality decision‑making supported by robust reports.
• Manage key internal and external stakeholder relationships, representing the Directorate at high‑profile meetings and events.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, learning and professional development within the service, and more broadly across the Directorate
• Lead and support corporate initiatives, including internal Directorate communications and  ensuring effective professional, HR, financial and operational management across the area of responsibility.

About you

You will have significant experience in local government and understand wider sector influences on the Council’s Policies and Strategies. Confident and credible working with senior leaders and politicians, you will have a background of establishing positive and productive relationships and engaging successfully at a range of levels. As an experienced people manager, you will have worked collaboratively with staff, stakeholders and partners to influence positive outcomes and delivery. You will be a good communicator with excellent interpersonal and presentation skills and able to work independently and with autonomy, demonstrating drive, commitment and a can-do approach.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

This is a hybrid role and you will be required to work a minimum of 2 days a week at one of our Council Office locations and as needed.

Closing date: 8^th March 2026

Interview date: 13^th March 2026

Interview-type / process: TBC

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Lindsey Vallis, Service Director, Transport & Regulatory Services. 

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/