Are you a strategic leader who thrives on collaboration, innovation, and delivering meaningful change for people and places?

If so, this could be the opportunity for you.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has been selected as one of the Government’s national Trailblazer Neighbourhoods. As the Head of the Community Trailblazer Programme, you’ll be at the heart of this exciting initiative - leading a dynamic programme that brings together statutory services, the VCSE sector, businesses, and, most importantly, our local communities.

Together, we’ll shape and deliver a broad programme of activity that puts people and place-based interventions at the centre of everything we do.

What’s the Role About?This is more than programme management - it’s about creating the conditions for thriving, inclusive communities. You’ll be a skilled collaborator, building place-based relationships through meaningful conversations, shared goals, and collective action.

What Will Your Day Look Like?No two days are the same. We’re looking for a Head of Service who is adaptable, proactive, and comfortable navigating complexity.

You will:

Build strong, trusted relationships across statutory, VCSE, business, and community partners.

Lead and coordinate strategic programmes, ensuring alignment with governance and delivery frameworks.

Champion a place-based approach that reflects the needs, strengths, and aspirations of our communities.

Who Are We Looking For?You’ll be a strategic thinker with a track record of leading complex programmes that deliver real outcomes. You’ll be confident managing financial and operational challenges, and skilled at working across systems and sectors.

Above all, you’ll be passionate about creating safe, inclusive, and thriving communities and committed to making a lasting difference.

For more detailed information about the role, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification included in the Supporting Documents section.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council prides itself on being a great place to work where staff are trusted, valued and supported to make a positive contribution at work.

We offer an excellent total reward package, including:

A competitive salary of £70,037 - £72,643

27 days annual leave per year rising to 32 with 5 years service (plus bank holidays). Ability to purchase additional leave is also available.

Generous Pension Scheme through the LGPS with ability to pay extra and plan for retirement.

Access to a number of other employee benefits including learning and development opportunities, a car lease scheme, discounts at high street and online retailers, an employee assistance programme and physiotherapy services.

And that’s not all – you can also work flexibly where you can work part of your week at home.

For more information about working for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, please visit the Careers section on our website:

https://www.stockton.gov.uk/careers

If you would like an informal discussion about the post, please contact Jane Edmends - Assistant Director on

jane.edmends@stockton.gov.uk

or via telephone on 01642 526682.

We are intending to interview on the 25th and 26th Sept 2025 and you will receive notification through North East Jobs if you have been shortlisted.

Guidance for applicantsYou must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications; submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.

Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered with North East Jobs, including your invite to interview if you are short-listed. Please check your email after the closing date for notification from ‘DONOTREPLY@NORTHEASTJOBS.ORG.UK’. All communication will also appear in the ‘My Messages’ section of your North East Jobs account.

#J-18808-Ljbffr