Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities

Full time, Permanent

Statutory Director of Public Health | Member of the Corporate Leadership Board

 

Bristol is a city like no other - vibrant, diverse and full of opportunity.  As a core city, across its many communities, Bristol offers a challenging prospect for a dynamic system leader to support the improvement of health and wellbeing outcomes at scale, working across neighbourhoods to address the complex determinants of poor health and inequality.

 

We are looking for an exceptional Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities to take on one of the most significant and wide-ranging roles of its kind.

 

This is far more than a traditional Director of Public Health role. In Bristol, the role brings together statutory public health leadership with a broader portfolio spanning neighbourhood and community services, domestic abuse reduction, sports services, environmental health and community safety and resilience.

 

It is a rare opportunity to lead across the whole system, influence the city’s long-term direction and help improve outcomes for communities across Bristol.

 

As a member of the council’s Corporate Leadership Board, you will have a direct role in shaping the council’s overall strategic direction and collective leadership. You will work across the organisation and with city partners to drive a place-based approach to prevention and tackle persistent inequality. You will influence at the highest level locally, regionally and nationally, ensuring public health insight and shape strategic decisions across the whole council and wider system.

 

You will be an experienced and accomplished senior leader who can step confidently into a large and complex local authority role. You will bring the credibility, judgement and presence of a corporate and systems leader: someone who can work effectively with elected members in a cross-council Committee system; someone who can work across organisational boundaries, navigate complexity, influence a wide range of partners, and remain focused on the outcomes that matter most to residents.

 

Alongside your statutory and professional public health expertise, you will bring a track record of leading through influence, delivering through partnerships, and translating ambition into tangible improvements in population health, wellbeing and opportunity.

 

This is a statutory Director of Public Health post, jointly appointed by Bristol City Council and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Candidates must be on the GMC Specialist Register (Public Health Medicine) with a licence to practise, the GDC Specialist List, or the UK Public Health Register at specialist level. Candidates will have membership of FPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment, or equivalent.

 

Selection will be by Advisory Appointments Committee in line with the joint guidance of the Faculty of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Care and the Local Authority.

 

For a confidential discussion, please contact our search partners at GatenbySanderson: Ben Parsonage on ben.parsonage@gatenbysanderson.com, or Phillip Emms on philip.emms@gatenbysanderson.com 

 

For full information and to apply visit: www.opportunitybristol.com 

 

Closing date: 21^st June 2026.

 

Bristol City Council is committed to building a workforce that reflects the city we serve. We welcome applications from people who are currently under-represented at senior leadership level.