Head of Housing, Communities and Leisure

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.

In this key role, you will lead a wide and high-impact portfolio shaping homes, places, services and experiences across County Durham, including:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 will take place on Friday 27 and Monday 30 March 2026.

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, 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…