The Chief Executive is the Comhairle’s chief policy adviser and is responsible for the successful delivery of the outcomes the Comhairle wishes to achieve, ensuring that these impact positively the lives of communities across the diverse environments of the Western Isles. The Chief Executive is Head of Paid Service, with ultimate responsibility for our employees, and has responsibility for the efficient and effective management of the Comhairle’s resources. The Chief Executive provides the focus, drive and leadership to guide, inspire and support a committed workforce and ensure that all activities the Comhairle undertakes are sustainable, supportive, represent best value for money and make a positive difference to the lives and prospects of our residents.
We are seeking an individual with significant and demonstrable experience at senior level, with a proven track record of effective leadership of strategic change and innovation. You will have successfully navigated the challenges facing public services, delivering improvement through collaboration, clarity, and decisive leadership, based on your knowledge of Local Government.
A cornerstone of your success will be your ability to build trust and foster confidence across the Comhairle and with external stakeholders. Your leadership style will be defined by personal credibility, integrity, and excellent communication—enabling you to engage effectively with Members, employees, partners, and communities.
As Chief Executive, your office base will be in Stornoway, where you will lead the Comhairle’s Corporate Management Team, ensuring a unified approach to service delivery and organisational performance. Working closely with our team of Chief Officers, you will provide clarity of purpose, drive improvement, and champion innovation across all Council services.
Requirements
You will be a highly collaborative leader, interested in people and in developing their capabilities, and committed to cultivating a culture of empowerment, accountability, and excellence. Your energy, insight and commitment will inspire others to perform at their best and to lead change with confidence.
You will also bring strong financial acumen, with a clear understanding of the fiscal context in which Scottish local authorities operate and will be committed to the principles of good public sector governance. You will be confident in interpreting complex performance data and in deploying resources effectively to maximise value and impact. Above all, you will drive high-quality service delivery and ensure that our residents and communities experience public services at their very best.
The Western Isles are a unique environment in which to live and work. We want to make our islands even better. If you’re ready to join in leading us, shaping our future, inspiring our people, supporting our communities and serving with ambition and compassion, we look forward to hearing from you.
You should be educated to degree level or equivalent appropriate professional qualification and be able to provide evidence of continuing professional development.
The post attracts a salary of £133,530 plus Distant Islands Allowance of £2,859. Please be advised that the Chief Executive Pay Review is pending and an updated salary will be available shortly.
A relocation package of up to £8,000 is available if required. This post is politically restricted.
For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact, Malcolm Burr, Chief Executive at m.burr@cne-siar.gov.uk
Closing Date: Monday 24 November 2025
Interview Date: Week commencing 8 December 2025
Tuairisgeul Obrach
’S e prìomh chomhairliche poileasaidh na Comhairle a th’ anns an Àrd-oifigear agus tha e an urra ri lìbhrigeadh soirbheachail nan toraidhean a tha a’ Chomhairle airson an coileanadh, a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum bi seo a’ toirt deagh bhuaidh air beathannan dhaoine sna coimhearsnachdan againn thairis air na diofar àrainneachdan sna h-Eileanan Siar. ’S e Ceannard Seirbheis Phàighte a th’ anns an Àrd-oifigear, le uallach deireannach airson ar luchd-obrach, agus tha e an urra ri riaghladh èifeachdach is buadhach ghoireasan na Comhairle. Bidh an t-Àrd-oifigear a’ toirt seachad am fòcas, an spionnadh agus an ceannardas gus stiùireadh, brosnachadh agus taic a chur ri luchd-obrach dealasach, agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil a h-uile gnìomh a bhios a’ Chomhairle a’ gabhail os làimh seasmhach, taiceil, a’ lìbhrigeadh an luach as fheàrr airson an airgid a chaidh a chosg, agus a’ dèanamh diofar adhartach do bheathannan agus cothroman muinntir nan Eilean.
Tha sinn a’ sireadh neach le tòrr eòlais so-dhearbhte aig àrd-ìre, le eòlas dearbhte air ceannardas èifeachdach ann a bhith a’ stiùireadh atharrachadh ro-innleachdail agus ùr-ghnàthachas. Bidh thu air dèiligeadh gu soirbheachail ris na dùbhlain a tha mu choinneamh sheirbheisean poblach, a’ lìbhrigeadh leasachaidhean tro cho-obrachadh, soilleireachd, agus ceannardas cinnteach, stèidhichte air an eòlas a th’ agad air Riaghaltas Ionadail.
Bidh thu soirbheachail sa mhòr-chuid air sgàth ’s gu bheil thu comasach air earbsa àrdachadh agus misneachd a bhrosnachadh air feadh na Comhairle agus le luchd-ùidhe bhon taobh a-muigh. Bidh an stoidhle ceannardais agad stèidhichte air creideas pearsanta, ionracas, agus conaltradh sàr-mhath—a’ toirt comas dhut conaltradh gu h-èifeachdach le Buill, luchd-obrach, com-pàirtichean, agus coimhearsnachdan.
Mar Àrd-oifigear, bidh an oifis agad ann an Steòrnabhagh, far am bi thu a’ stiùireadh Sgioba Stiùiridh Chorporra na Comhairle, a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil dòigh-obrach aonaichte ann an lìbhrigeadh sheirbheisean agus coileanadh eagrachail. Le bhith ag obair gu dlùth leis ar sgioba de Phrìomh Oifigearan, bidh thu a’ toirt seachad soilleireachd a thaobh amasan, agus a’ brosnachadh leasachadh agus ùr-ghnàthachas thairis air gach seirbheis na Comhairle.
Feumalachdan
Bidh thu nad stiùiriche air leth co-obrachail, le ùidh ann an daoine agus ann a bhith a’ leasachadh an comasan, agus dealasach a thaobh a bhith a’ leasachadh cultar cumhachdachaidh, cunntalachd agus sàr-mhathais. Brosnaichidh an lùth, an lèirsinn agus an dealas agad daoine eile gu bhith dèanamh na h-obrach aca chun an ìre as fheàrr agus gus atharrachadh a stiùireadh le misneachd.
Bidh gèiread inntinne agad a thaobh ionmhas, le tuigse shoilleir air a’ cho-theacsa fiosgail anns am bi ùghdarrasan ionadail Albannach ag obair, agus bidh thu dealasach a thaobh phrionnsabalan deagh riaghlachais san roinn phoblach. Bidh misneachd agad ann a bhith a’ mìneachadh dàta coileanaidh ioma-fhillte agus ann a bhith a’ cleachdadh ghoireasan gu h-èifeachdach gus luach is buaidh a mheudachadh chun làn-ìre. ’S e an rud as cudromaiche buileach gum bi thu a’ stiùireadh lìbhrigeadh seirbheis aig àrd-ìre agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum faigh muinntir nan Eilean agus ar coimhearsnachdan eòlas air seirbheisean poblach aig an ìre as fheàrr.
Tha na h-Eileanan Siar nan àrainneachd gun shamhail airson a bhith a’ fuireach agus ag obair ann. Tha sinn airson ’s gum bi ar n-eileanan nas fheàrr buileach. Ma tha thu deiseil airson a bhith nad phàirt de bhith gar stiùireadh, a’ leasachadh ar n-eileanan airson an ama ri teachd, a’ brosnachadh ar daoine, a’ cur taic ris ar coimhearsnachdan agus a bhith gam frithealadh le àrd-amas agus co-fhaireachdainn, tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri cluinntinn bhuat.
Bu chòir dhut a bhith foghlamaichte gu ìre ceuma no teisteanais phroifeiseanta iomchaidh cho-ionnain eile, le fianais de leasachadh proifeasanta leantainneach.
Tha tuarastal de £133,530 aig an dreuchd seo, a bharrachd air Cuibhreann Eileanan Iomallach de £2,859. Thoir an aire gu bheil Ath-bhreithneachadh Pàighe Àrd-oifigeir ri thighinn agus gum bi tuarastal ùraichte ri fhaighinn ann an ùine ghoirid.
Tha pasgan ath-ghluasaid de £8,000 ri fhaighinn ma dh’fheumar. Tha an dreuchd seo fo chuingealachadh poilitigeach.
Airson còmhradh neo-fhoirmeil mun chothrom seo, cuir fios gu Malcolm Burr, Àrd-oifigear, aig m.burr@cne-siar.gov.uk
Ceann-latha airson Iarrtasan: Diluain 24 Samhain 2025
Ceann-latha an Agallaimh: An t-seachdain a’ tòiseachadh 8 Dùbhlachd 2025