Programme Director for Local Government Reorganisation

• Suffolk Councils
• Address: Endeavour House Ipswich Suffolk IP1 2BX Hybrid working available
• Salary: 110100 - 121785 per annum
• Hours: 37 hours per week (notional)
• Contract: Permanent

In Suffolk were reimagining what local government can achieve.

As Programme Director youll take on one of the most significant public sector change programmes the county has undertaken. Youll lead the delivery of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) across Suffolk paving the way toensure thenew unitary councils are safe legal financially credible and fully operational from vesting day.

This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of a collaborative local governmentsystem whilst shaping a betterfuture forpublic services in Suffolk andensuring service continuity and better outcomes for residents.

Your role and responsibilities

Youll provide collaborative leadership working closely with all Suffolk councils to deliver local government reorganisation.

Working on behalf of the Suffolk LGR partnership you will:

• Lead the endtoend LGR programme reporting to the Senior Responsible Officer
• Establish and lead a single systemwide Programme Management Office (PMO) spanning all councils
• Translate government decisions and local proposals into integrated assured programme plans
• Provide clear oversight of risks interdependencies readiness and benefits realisation across accelerated timescales
• Lead preparations for governance finance workforce digital and service transition
• Act as the principal operational interface with central government Members and senior officers
• Provide clear assurance and transparent reporting to the Implementation Board relevant elected members (of the Joint Committees and shadow unitary councils) and senior leaders in the shadow councils.

This is a highly autonomous role operating across multiple sovereign councils within agreed statutory political and governance frameworks.

You will need

Were looking for a senior system leader who is calm under pressure politically astute and able to deliver at pace in highly complex environments. You will already be operating successfully at this level within complex local government or similarly politicallyled publicsector environments.

We hope youll bring:

• Senior leadership experience and delivery of largescale transformation or reorganisation programmes
• Confidence and credibility to challenge constructively maintain momentum and provide clear unambiguous direction.
• Proven ability to lead complex programmes across multiple organisations or systems
• Strong understanding of relevant statutory frameworks
• Experience working with elected Members and senior political leaders
• Significant financial and commercial acumen
• Excellent programme assurance risk management and reporting capability
• An inclusive collaborative leadership style with a strong commitment to public service values

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile (JPP) which you can find in theHow to apply section towards the bottom of this advert.

If you believe you can succeed in this role apply. Even if you dont meet all requirements still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

Although hosted by Suffolk County Council this is a genuinely system-wide role working across the full LGR system bringing together multiple councils disciplines and partners behind a single shared objective. You will act on behalf of all Suffolk councils and be accountable to a joint group of Chief Executives and elected members.

Youll lead a diverse geographically dispersed Programme Management Office and work alongside senior leaders across governance finance workforce digital assets and service delivery. What unites the team is a shared commitment to delivering change that protects services for residents and creates strong sustainable new councils.

For more information on LGR in Suffolk please visit the Three Councils for Suffolk website.

Empowering Everyone

Were big believers in potential possibility and the power of different ideas. Were always searching for ways to encourage respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact our recruitment partners at Tile Hill: Greg Hayes on or Clare Connor on 0or visit

How to apply

To apply for this role you must submit your application through Tile Hills Programme Director of Local Government Reorganisation job page.

That page includes full details of the application requirements and provides an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments.

Closing date:11.59pm 31 May 2026.

Interview date: 25 June 2026.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid