Imagine a role where you can shape the places people call home, create vibrant cultural and leisure experiences, and strengthen the communities that bring County Durham to life. As our new Head of Housing, Communities and Leisure, you’ll lead teams that help residents feel safe, supported, active and connected. From building the homes we need, to enhancing our libraries, museums and leisure centres, to empowering local neighbourhoods - this is your chance to make a visible and lasting difference to people’s daily lives across the county. ABOUT THIS ROLE In this key role, you will lead a wide and high-impact portfolio shaping homes, places, services and experiences across County Durham, including: Housing and Homelessness You will lead the Council’s overall housing agenda, setting and delivering the Housing Strategy, overseeing the Council House building programme, managing services for vulnerable and homeless residents, and driving improvements across both public and private housing. You’ll ensure the county has the right mix of homes, expand affordable housing with partners, support community-led schemes and maximise external funding. Spatial Planning and Building Control You will guide the county’s long-term growth by leading planning policy and statutory plans, including the County Durham Plan. You’ll oversee Building Control to ensure safe, compliant development that supports sustainable, well-designed places. Communities, Safety and Local Networks You will oversee community-facing services including Care Connect, telecare and out-of-hours support with NHS partners. You’ll lead CCTV operations with Police and strengthen place-based working through Local Networks and neighbourhood-funded programmes that give communities a real voice in shaping local priorities. Leisure, Culture, and Tourism You will drive the development of high-quality leisure, sport, cultural and outdoor services. This includes enhancing leisure centres, parks and delivering the county’s cultural offer - theatres, museums, heritage sites, events and key partnerships. You’ll also guide the delivery of a modern, accessible library service. Corporate Leadership and Health As part of the senior leadership team, you’ll collaborate across the directorate and wider Council to deliver shared priorities and work closely with the Director of Public Health to improve wellbeing and quality of life for residents. ABOUT YOU We’re looking for someone who brings: A relevant degree-level professional qualification and strong grounding in housing, communities, leisure or place-based services. Strategic leadership experience, with a proven ability to set direction, shape policy and deliver large, high-impact service portfolios. Expertise in housing legislation, delivery and management, including affordable housing, homelessness support and private sector regulation. Strong political awareness and confidence operating in a complex local government environment, including effective working with Elected Members. A track record of leading major service improvements, transformation and change, with the ability to balance competing priorities and drive performance.Significant partnership experience, working across government, health, housing providers, cultural organisations and community stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes. INTERVIEWS Interviews will take place on Friday 27 and Monday 30 March 2026. OUR OFFER TO YOU We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. REMOVAL AND LODGINGS Removal, lodging and separation expenses may be available to the successful candidate if at the time of application for appointment their place of residence is outside the administrative area of County Durham and more than 30 miles in a straight line from their new administrative centre, along with several other criteria for eligibility. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process. CONNECT WITH US Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Visit our website HOW TO APPLY Please submit a CV and include a personal statement to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed. To find out more, please contact our retained consultants at Penna: Nick Raper on 07715 690463 for a confidential conversation, or visit this link for further information and to apply. Important Information for Members of the Local Government Pension Scheme HM Revenue and Customs impose controls on the amount of pension savings you can make without having to pay extra tax. These controls are known as the Annual Allowance and Lump Sum Allowance. The Annual Allowance is the amount by which the value of your pension benefits may increase in any one year without you having to pay a tax charge. You are most likely to be affected by the Annual Allowance if you receive a significant pay increase, and/or you are a high earner. Two lump sum limits were also introduced in April 2024. If the value of all lump sums taken from UK pensions is higher than these limits, you will have to pay tax on any excess at your marginal rate. More information can be found at www.lgpsmember.org/your-pension/the-essentials/tax/ If you are successful in your application for this post and wish to find out more about these controls, please contact the Pension Section at pensions@durham.gov.uk VPRS/161