Job title: Chief Officer - Transformation and Delivery
Salary: £92,911 - £101,990
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Civic Hall
Closing Date: Friday 22nd May 2026

This is an exciting, newly created leadership role at the heart of delivering Leeds City Council’s future.

Leeds City Council is embarking on a bold and ambitious journey to deliver its 2026–2030 Council Plan - achieving long-term financial sustainability and improving outcomes for residents by working in new ways across Council teams (for example, to reduce escalating demand for Council services, improving our organisational effectiveness, or building long-term revenue growth).

Alongside the agenda set out in the Council Plan we are also working to achieve the Leeds Ambitions - bringing organisations around the city together to tackle poverty and inequality through becoming a healthy, thriving, growing and resilient Leeds.

To help achieve this, we are establishing a newly consolidated Transformation and Delivery Service, bringing together around 100 FTE into one strategic, delivery‑focused service designed to accelerate change and ensure the Council focuses its time and resources on the right priorities.

We’re now seeking an outstanding senior leader to become our Chief Officer - Transformation and Delivery, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Corporate Leadership Team and other related corporate services.

About the Role

This is a pivotal role - central to ensuring the successful delivery of the Council Plan and associated savings, and to shaping the future way the organisation works. Your job will be to make sure we have the right resources, plans, governance and ambition in place to deliver the Council Plan and other organisational priorities, and that we deliver the programmes set out in the Plan promptly and effectively. Working with Programme Senior Responsible Owners and drawing on practice and examples from other Councils and organisations, you will advise Council leadership on how to develop and accelerate the programmes in the Council Plan.

You will be a champion for cross-Council working and will work with teams in every corner of the Council to understand and explore their contribution to this agenda.

To enable you to do all of this, you will form, lead and inspire a new strategic transformation and delivery function, and role model a data-informed, inclusive performance culture.

About You

We are looking for a confident and credible senior leader with:

Extensive experience leading strategic transformation and delivery in a large, complex organisation.
Strong programme and project management expertise.
A track record of shaping organisational culture.
Strong knowledge of the local, regional and national context.
Excellent communication and influencing skills.

Why Leeds City Council?

We are committed to being an efficient, inclusive and resilient organisation - guided by our values and the ambition to support health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, strong communities and a sustainable city.

How to apply

For further information, please request a candidate information pack by emailing recruitment@leeds.gov.uk

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 wordsstating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact; Ed Whiting, Chief Executive at PA.ChiefExec@leeds.gov.uk, Mariana Pexton, Deputy Chief Executive at Mariana.Pexton@leeds.gov.uk or Andy Dodman, Assistant Chief Executive, People, Digital and Change at Andrew.Dodman@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose To bring together and lead a single, strategic transformation and delivery function (approx. 100 FTE, budget tbc) that accelerates delivery-focused change across Leeds City Council. The role will ensure that Leeds City Council delivers key programmes in its 2026-30 Council Plan and Leeds Ambitions, maximising its positive impact for local residents, securing its long-term financial sustainability, and ensuring that the organisation is focussing its time and effort on the right priorities.

Responsibilities

Working across Leeds City Council services, champion integration of Council services where it would achieve better outcomes for residents, support service improvement, and deliver large-scale change programmes that reflects the Council’s values and ambition to be a more efficient, inclusive and resilient organisation.
Work with other members of the Leadership team to define and promote the cultural change that will enable LCC to fully realise the goals in the Council Plan - including unlocking creativity and capacity in frontline service delivery.

Lead assurance of Council Plan programme delivery.

Provide project and programme management resource to plan and track progress on key programmes, working with subject matter experts in services.
Ensure provision of secretariat for LCC’s Strategic Delivery Board, providing regular, transparent reporting on progress bringing together insight from teams; helping teams and leaders to bring programmes off-track back into target.
Support communications and engagement on the Council Plan as it progresses, ensuring key stakeholders are kept up to date with developments, and that LCC has effective feedback loops with people, communities and organisations to inform and support delivery of the Council Plan.
Champion collaborative working with other key support, enabling services such as Finance, HR, Communications, Digital, Policy and Partnerships, Data and Performance to provide effective resourcing, delivery, monitoring and tracking of the Council Plan’s activities and the production of comprehensive dashboards and highlight reports that provide transparent oversight to the Council’s leadership team and elected members.

Champion a data-informed, inclusive performance culture across Leeds City Council.

Be accountable for and present integrated reporting on organisational performance giving advice to CLT, Chief Executive and political leadership on performance against key Leeds City Council priorities and indicators, covering both statutory requirements and other indicators of organisational health and delivery for residents- and proposing how CLT should prioritise its focus and effort accordingly.

Create and lead a new major function of the Council (approx. 100 FTE), reporting to the Corporate Leadership team and Chief Executive on key delivery priorities. Specifically:

Take the strategic lead in developing and implementing a single transformation delivery function that enables cross-council change aligned to strategic, city, regional and national priorities and financial sustainability.
Provide expert advice and leadership on transformation strategy, methodology and delivery, ensuring clarity of purpose and measurable impact, by ensuring demonstrable learning from good practice and use of external support where required.
Lead, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
Ensure robust programme and project management methodologies are applied consistently, with a clear focus on benefits realisation and measurable impact and that best use is made of resources available.
Strengthen enabling capacity and streamline governance to support large-scale change programmes and projects and ensure accountability for high-impact delivery and in doing so, support the strategic board in its oversight of the Council Plan’s delivery.
Embed a culture of innovation, learning and personal accountability, promoting knowledge sharing, skill transfer and continuous improvement across services, empowering teams to contribute to change and improvement.
In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the programmes.
Set and deliver transformational goals with broad perspectives and long-term timelines, which maximises effective resource management, ensures financial compliance and is responsive to sector and city priorities. Plans are in place to meet priorities; budgets are maximised and there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources.
Provide strategic leadership, with advice and expertise to decision makers across the Council. Working with key partners at national, regional and local level where appropriate.
Champion initiatives within the organisation and work in collaboration with colleagues and partners to support the delivery of real change across the city.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications A degree, professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial experience across the service area.

Working Context - Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend the balance of their time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Demonstrable experience in leading strategic transformation and delivery across a complex organisation, with a track record of aligning change initiatives to strategic priorities, financial sustainability and in line with an organisational culture.
In-depth knowledge and application of robust programme and project management frameworks, with a focus on benefits realisation, measurable impact, and effective governance of large-scale change.
Proven experience in applying and embedding consistent programme and project management methodologies across diverse service areas, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, governance standards, and measurable outcomes and benefits.
Evidence of successfully fostering an organisational culture that promotes innovation, continuous improvement, and personal accountability, empowering teams to contribute to transformation outcomes.
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to the financial challenges facing local authority operations; the importance of a preventative approach, revenue generation and integrated place-based working.
Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
Knowledge and understanding of local government.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across sectors to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.
Evidence of working with partners and key stakeholders and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.
Experience of successful leadership and management of large-scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.
Experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities and a resilient sustainable city.
Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council. Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to the financial challenges facing local authority operations; the importance of a preventative approach, revenue generation and integrated place-based working.
Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information relevant to the role.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.