Please read before applying:

To apply for this role you will need to submit a CV and statement of suitability. These need to be merged into one document. When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and statement of suitability. There are further details in the Selection Process section further below in this advert.

If you experience technical issues during the application process we have found using a different browser or device in the first instance can be a quick fix.

If those don't work please email scs.recruitment@communities.gov.uk with your application and/or CV before the submission deadline. Any applications received after the deadline may not be considered.

Job Description

This is a stretching, rewarding and intellectually stimulating Director role driving our landmark local government reform programme. This is a genuine opportunity to shape the future of local government in England, leading a high performing directorate which will drive ministers’ ambition to rebuild and reform local government, and maximise opportunities for public service reform. 

The Local Government Reform and Strategy directorate is made up of around 250 individuals. It covers a broad portfolio focused on driving the department’s vision for local government, leading creative and responsive policy thinking on public service reform and engaging and working closely with local leaders to facilitate the  significant programme of local government reorganisation that was announced in the English Devolution White Paper. The role also leads on HMG’s formal statutory interventions in councils that have significant governance and financial failures including, but not limited to, Birmingham, Woking and Thurrock. 

You will be expected to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide network of local places and local leaders in this role, including through leading the department’s engagement function with the sector and leading high profile delivery programmes with areas. This includes driving forward the biggest structural changes in local government for a generation and intervening with authorities in difficulty. 

This is a public facing, visible Director role where no two days are the same. Proactive problem-solving and creative policy thinking will be paramount, as well as an ability to broker partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders and engage credibly with the sector. Leaders in MHCLG are also expected to role model our principles and values which complement the wider Civil Service Leadership Statement. 

Key accountabilities The role is responsible for:

• Leading the strategy and portfolio function for the Local Government, Growth and Communities Group.

• Leading policy thinking for the Department on public service reform, working across MHCLG and with Cabinet Office to ensure a clear position for the Spending Review.

• Overseeing the Department’s local engagement function and area based teams, ensuring that Ministers are supported in their engagement with key partners in the sector and can understand issues facing local areas.

• Leading the design and delivery of the Government’s programme of local government reorganisation, as announced in the English Devolution White Paper.

• Brokering partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels and across sectors, particularly local government, to drive forward the Government’s ambition on local government and public service reform.

• Overseeing and supporting teams responsible for identifying and working with councils with significant governance, service delivery and financial issues. In severe cases, that can involve directly intervening in the councils and you will be responsible for ensuring that department representatives in areas are supported, including working with them on specific issues of interest to Ministers. 

Person specification

This role requires someone who will be a collaborator and influencer; and can thrive on handling a broad range of policy issues. You will use your judgment, drawing in outside expertise as needed to develop your advice. You will engage effectively across departmental boundaries at a senior level and have proven and credible experience working with senior stakeholders, such as Ministers, C-suite executives or equivalent.

You will also be a credible communicator able to handle a wide range of relationships, internally and particularly externally with senior officials, local councils, and other stakeholders. You will also have a track record of leading complex work streams, drawing on analysis, insight and evidence, supported by robust plans, together with a willingness to challenge and innovate.

As an experienced and inspirational leader, you will empower, develop and motivate teams to deliver through pressure and uncertainty. Committed to MHCLG’s values and principles, as well as the Civil Service Code and its principles of objectivity, integrity, impartiality you will be a visible role model.

We particularly encourage applications from those of an ethnic minority background and those with disabilities, who are currently underrepresented within MHCLG at this level, as well as candidates based outside of London.

Essential Criteria

• An engaging, adaptable and collaborative leader, who can lead effectively through uncertainty with a strong ability to develop staff, nurture talent and get the best out of a diverse workforce.

• A proven track record of setting direction and leading major programmes with excellent judgement and political acumen, with an ability to manage risk and reach sound judgements in an environment that is subject to media attention and public scrutiny.

• Highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, with a proven ability to negotiate with and influence a wide range of external partners, including Ministers, Local Authority Chief Executives, C-suite executives or other equivalent stakeholders, and respond to demands at pace.

• Experience of acting as a thought-leader and source of expertise and innovation to set professional standards, future capabilities, strategies and driving continuous improvement across an organisation.

• Strong personal resilience and the ability to lead effectively under pressure.

• Understanding of local government, with knowledge of the accountability frameworks within the public sector and other relevant organisations.

Selection process details

How to apply 

Please click the Be Applied link to provide the required information and complete your application through the Be Applied website by 23:55 on 30 March 2025.

You will be asked to enter some personal details, upload your CV and to provide your responses to the role’s advertised essential criteria.​

When prompted to upload your CV, please upload a single document consisting of:

• a CV (including the names of 2 referees and your current remuneration) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, achievements and your relevant qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. ​ 

• a statement of suitability explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria provided in the person specification. (max. 2 pages or 1000 words)​

Please remember to save these two items in one document. Both items will be assessed to determine sift outcomes.  

Failure to submit both a CV and statement of suitability will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the Essential Criteria. 

Please note that only completed applications through the Be Applied route will be considered and that any further progress updates will be sent through Be Applied. 

The hiring manager, Will Garton, would be happy to have informal discussions with candidates who would like further information about the role before submitting an application. If interested, please contact scs.recruitment@communities.gov.uk  

The selection panel will be made up of:

• Sarah Pittam, Civil Service Commissioner and chair

• Will Garton, MHCLG Director General and hiring manager

• Brendan Threlfall, MHCLG Director General for Strategy and Communications

Additionally, the panel will be joined by one of our staff representatives from a pool of volunteers as part of our commitments to diversity and inclusion.

Selection process and assessments

During sifting, both your CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the role’s Essential Criteria. These Essential Criteria will also be used to form the basis of the panel’s questions in your final interview.

If a role lists Desirable Criteria, these will only be used to determine the merit order of candidates who rank evenly when assessed against the Essential Criteria.

Candidates that are shortlisted may be invited to attend a staff engagement panel.  

At MHCLG we hold staff engagement panels as an integral part of the recruitment process for Senior Civil Servants (SCS) – they are designed to help us build up a rounded picture of each candidate and give us an insight into how you might engage and interact with your team should you be successful. The purpose of the session is to help us assess your engagement and communication skills and is not about testing your subject knowledge or expertise for this particular role. Feedback from the session is passed onto the selection panel for consideration alongside the final interview.

Candidates may also be invited to a meeting with a Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister, and/or other senior stakeholders. This is not a formal part of the selection process but an informal chance for candidates to find out more about the role and the organisation. 

Shortlisted candidates will also be invited to give a short presentation or complete an exercise at the beginning of their final interview. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates when invited to interview.

All of the evidence presented as part of the process will be considered in the final assessment. 

Location 

This role is available in Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Hastings, Hemel Hempstead, Leeds, London, Manchester, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, or Wolverhampton.

Any offer made will be based on the specific location you select during the application process. 

Please note that, as your normal work location, costs cannot be claimed for travel to and from your base office location.

Salary 

For external appointments, remuneration for this role will be £98,000 pa pro rata, plus a bonus opportunity depending on performance (within the normal Civil Service pay arrangements) and attractive pension.​

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If appointed on promotion you would get the higher of 10% uplift or the new minimum for Director.

Future pay awards will normally be made in line with current SCS performance-related pay arrangements.

Reserve List  

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details in a reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this.

​Near Miss Offers​ 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign.

Security Clearance 

All MHCLG colleagues must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history.

In addition to the BPSS, the level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC) and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete. For more details of vetting levels and requirements please refer to the Cabinet Office HMG Personnel Security Controls.

Complaints Process 

Please see candidate pack slide 23 for details.