The hunt is on for a senior leader to drive the biggest council shake-up in Staffordshire for more than 50 years.
Staffordshire County Council is leading the process and expects to pay around £135,000 a year, depending on experience, for a Programme Director to lead the proposed reorganisation of local government across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The successful candidate would oversee preparations to close 10 existing councils and establish two new unitary authorities by 1 April 2028, while keeping vital services running for more than one million residents.
Competition for the post is likely to be fierce, with many more councils across England seeking experienced transformation leaders simultaneously and many working towards the same April 2028 deadline.
Staffordshire’s director will coordinate programme workstreams, establish a programme management office and prepare for shadow authority elections, senior appointments and vesting day. The role also covers workforce changes and the transfer of assets, contracts and technology systems.
The council said the programme would involve around 12,000 employees and “well over £1 billion” of annual expenditure.
A spokesperson told Daily Focus: “Within the next 18 months we need to safely close 10 councils and establish two new unitary councils. Our well over one million residents will rightly expect vital services to continue uninterrupted.
“Given the task ahead of us, it is vital that we secure the right expertise to support us.”
Until the director is appointed, responsibility rests with Senior Responsible Officer Pat Flaherty, chief executive of Staffordshire County Council. He was designated by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Applications are being handled through Staffordshireleaders.com by recruitment agency Gatenby Sanderson.
The final decision on reorganisation will be made by the Secretary of State following statutory consultation, with the new structure requiring a Parliamentary Structural Changes Order.
Before elections, a representative joint committee would coordinate preparations while existing councils retain responsibility for services. An elected shadow authority would then take control of implementation following the inaugural elections.
If you think you can do the job and want to apply, here’s the link. Best be quick though… the closing date’s September 11.
