Programme Director, Wellbeing and Public Health
Fixed Term, Full Time – 12‑month contract. Salary: £92,237 – £108,513 per annum. Location: Chelmsford. Working Style: Anywhere Worker. Closing Date: Monday 6th April. Interviews will be held on Friday 17th April at County Hall, Chelmsford. The successful candidate will be expected to attend County Hall as needed.
About the Role
Essex is entering a pivotal period of transformation. As Programme Director, Public Health and Wellbeing, you will lead a complex, high‑impact transformation programme across Essex County Council and three North East Essex councils, redefining the future of wellbeing, public health and community services across Greater Essex.
Responsibilities
* Lead a portfolio of major transformation programmes with multi‑million pound benefit profiles, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality objectives.
* Deliver significant financial benefits across the portfolio, shaping future spending decisions across multiple organisations.
* Provide visible system leadership across Greater Essex, cultivating influential partnerships with senior leaders in local government, the NHS, the ICB, universities, voluntary sector partners and national bodies.
* Translate national policy direction into strategic opportunity, anticipating shifts, shaping organisational response and securing alignment across multiple stakeholders.
* Use evidence, citizen insight and data‑driven intelligence to guide priorities, inform commissioning and support improved public health and wellbeing outcomes.
* Manage risk and interdependencies across high‑value, politically sensitive programmes, ensuring strong governance and accountability.
* Offer expert leadership and constructive challenge to elected members, senior officers and partner organisations to support the delivery of shared strategic ambitions.
* Lead and inspire multi‑disciplinary teams within a complex matrix environment, enabling high performance and cross‑organisational collaboration.
About You / Qualifications
* A master’s level qualification in Public Health or equivalent professional experience, alongside strong ongoing professional development.
* Substantial senior leadership experience within large, complex organisations, ideally spanning local government, the NHS or multi‑agency public systems.
* Deep understanding of statutory public health responsibilities and the wider national, regional and local policy landscape.
* A proven track record of delivering complex, cross‑organisational programmes requiring sophisticated stakeholder engagement and political fluency.
* Exceptional influencing skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and build credibility quickly with senior decision‑makers.
* Strong strategic judgement, resilience and the ability to lead confidently through ambiguity and change.
* Leadership behaviours that inspire, build high‑performing teams and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
What We Offer
* A high‑impact leadership role with influence across multiple organisations and systems.
* The opportunity to shape the future of public health and wellbeing at scale.
* A culture that values innovation, collaboration and evidence‑led decision making.
* Flexible working and a generous benefits package, including local government pension.
Apply Now
If you are motivated by leading transformational change across complex systems and improving the health and wellbeing of communities in Greater Essex, we would be delighted to hear from you. Click Apply to take the next step in your leadership journey.
For more information, contact Sarah.Robison@essex.gov.uk
Equal Opportunities and EEO Statement
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We are also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
We value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
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