Job title: Head of Service – Public Protection
Grade/Salary: Band Hay 1 (circa £85,000)
Contract Type: Full time, Permanent
Hours: 37 hours
Location: Sandwell Council House, Oldbury (Hybrid)
Sandwell Council’s Environment & Public Protection Division is seeking a Head of Service – Public Protection to join its established team. As Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for designated service areas, ensuring delivery aligns with the Council Plan and wider corporate priorities. You will lead service planning, performance improvement and transformation, manage significant budgets, and provide high‑level professional advice to senior officers, Cabinet Members and elected members. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will contribute to corporate strategy, lead cross‑council initiatives, and deputise for the Service Director as required to ensure effective, efficient and customer‑focused service delivery.
In this role you will:
* Provide high‑level professional advice to the Council, Cabinet Members and senior leaders on environmental protection, regulatory and public protection services, preparing and presenting robust, evidence‑based reports.
* Lead the effective and efficient delivery of the Council’s environmental protection and environmental enforcement services, ensuring statutory compliance and high professional standards.
* Deliver customer‑focused Regulatory Services, including general licensing and taxi licensing, and fulfil the Council’s responsibilities as a Licensing Authority and local Weights and Measures Authority.
* Lead the Council’s work on animal health and welfare, promoting the Animal Welfare Charter across the organisation and local communities.
* Ensure the Council fulfils its statutory duties relating to pest control and infestations under relevant legislation, including the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
* Support responsible business practices and protect residents through an effective Trading Standards service, including product safety and underage sales enforcement.
* Ensure delivery of the Council’s Environmental Health responsibilities, including food hygiene and safety, statutory nuisance and health and safety enforcement.
* Work closely with the Head of Public Realm to maintain high standards of street cleanliness through coordinated enforcement, with a particular focus on reducing fly‑tipping.
* Lead the management and coordinated response to unauthorised encampments, working with internal and external partners to minimise impacts on residents.
* Ensure the Council delivers its responsibilities under the Duty to Protect, safeguarding vulnerable individuals and communities.
* Manage and coordinate the Environment and Public Protection Business Support Team, ensuring efficient and effective service support.
* Provide expert advice on new and emerging legislation and best practice across environmental health, regulatory and enforcement functions.
* Lead and support managers through effective performance management, adopting a high‑support / high‑challenge approach to drive improvement.
* Ensure robust financial and resource management, delivering agreed outcomes and performance targets on time and within budget.
* Represent the Council externally, building strong professional networks and partnerships to enhance reputation, learning and benchmarking.
* Champion health, safety, wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, consistently modelling the highest standards of public service leadership.
Attributes that you would bring to the role:
* Senior leadership experience within environmental health, regulatory services, public protection or enforcement‑based services in a complex, regulated environment.
* Strong knowledge of environmental health, licensing, trading standards and enforcement legislation, with the ability to respond effectively to legislative change.
* Proven ability to balance statutory responsibilities, customer focus and proportionate enforcement.
* Experience of leading multi‑disciplinary teams and coordinating services across organisational boundaries.
* Confidence and credibility in advising elected members and senior leaders on complex, sensitive and high‑risk issues.
* Strong financial and performance‑management capability, with experience of delivering services within tight governance and budgetary controls.
* A collaborative, partnership‑focused approach, with experience of working effectively with internal services, partner agencies and businesses.
* A people‑centred leadership style, with a track record of engaging, motivating and developing teams in line with HR and OD best practice.
* High levels of professional integrity, resilience and sound judgement, reflecting the standards expected of senior public office holders.
* A strong commitment to the Council’s values, the ‘One Team’ culture and being a visible champion for change and continuous improvement.
Why Sandwell Council?
At Sandwell Council, our work has a real impact. We are proud to be a values‑led organisation that supports its employees with excellent benefits, a competitive remuneration package, and a strong focus on development. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in delivering services that make a real and lasting difference to thousands of people across the borough.
To find out more, please visit our careers page: We Are Sandwell – We Are Sandwell
Please submit a CV and supporting statement to Sukhy Lall on sukhy_lall@sandwell.gov.uk
Click here to find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a high number of applications be received. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
If you are an internal candidate and currently at risk, please let the recruiting manager know.
We place equality, diversity and inclusion at the core of who we are and how we lead, where every voice matters. At Sandwell, we recognise and value the richness that comes from diverse lived experiences, perspectives, backgrounds and identities. This diversity makes us a stronger and more effective council.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are treated fairly, and have the opportunity to thrive. Creating an environment where colleagues feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully is central to our culture and the way we work. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants and employees have equitable access to opportunities. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and within the workplace so that everyone has the support they need to perform at their best and succeed in their role.
If you have any questions relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion, you can contact the EDI Team at EDI_Team@sandwell.gov.uk.
If you wish to apply as Care Leaver or a Disability Confident candidate, please make sure to state this when submitting your CV.
If you have a disability and require assistance in submitting your CV, please contact sukhy_lall@sandwell.gov.uk