Head of Service Transport and Operational Services

Step into leadership with a fascinating remit, a progressive employer and a beautiful location.

**The opportunity**

If you’re ready to lead, this a chance to oversee five teams across a varied and vital portfolio. You don’t need to be a specialist in these areas, as you’ll have expert team managers to deliver on your priorities. We’ll look to you to lead the service, set direction and take responsibility for governance.

Your portfolio will cover passenger transport, home to school transport, parking, waste disposal and rights of way.

The Passenger Transport team ensure the County has an affordable high quality bus network and they are also responsible for the Council’s fleet management service and the safe transport of adults to day care centres. The Home to School Transport and Compliance team work closely with colleagues in Children’s Services Department, Schools and parents/carers to provide effective and safe transport of children to School. The Parking team manages on-street parking in the County, which includes managing the contract for parking regulation enforcement. The Waste team manages a major multi-million-pound PFI contract for the disposal, energy recovery, composting and recycling of household waste for East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council. The Rights of Way team is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of 2,000 miles of public footpath and a number of countryside parks across East Sussex.

**The place**

You will be working in a highly desirable area of southern England. From the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park to the coastal charm of our seaside towns, our many historical landmarks and the cosmopolitan vibrancy of Brighton, East Sussex is a place where you can live an enviable lifestyle.

The moment an East Sussex resident steps outside their front door, they are interacting with the work of the services you’ll lead. The work you and your teams do will make a tangible positive impact on quality of life for people and the environment of our beautiful county.

**About you**

An experienced manager, you’re someone who can get the best from everyone. You have the confidence to work strategically, developing new service initiatives and managing change to benefit the people of East Sussex. It’s not essential to have worked in a local authority but it would certainly be an advantage to understand how local government works.

You’ll often be in contact with elected members, and you’ll work in partnership with the five borough and district councils across the county, so it’s important to be politically astute and politically neutral. Communication skills will be key to your success in this role - from the teams you lead and inspire, through to the members of the public whose lives we touch every day. You’ll bring to the role a proven flair for building and sustaining good working relationships.

**About us**

East Sussex County Council is a great place to work. Everyone here shares the real sense of achievement and purpose that comes from working to help others. As a customer driven organisation, we take pride in delivering great service. We always do what we say we will - and we’re always looking for innovative ways to do things better than before. We work together as one council, with our people empowered to work in agile ways and trusted to use their own judgement.

Here, you’ll discover a diverse range of learning and development opportunities. And you’ll enjoy excellent local government benefits, including pension and generous annual leave entitlement.

Interviews will take place in person at County Hall, Lewes during week commencing 3 March 2025_. _If you are unavailable on these dates let us know and we may be able to schedule an alternative date to interview you.

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

**_For work that makes a difference_