Service Director People, Culture and Traded Services

Kirklees Council is a place of ambition, opportunity and change. Serving a diverse borough of more than 440,000 residents, we're committed to delivering excellent services, driving inclusive growth and creating thriving communities. As we continue our transformation journey, we're looking for exceptional leaders who can help shape the future of Kirklees and make a lasting difference for our residents.

About the role

We're now looking for an exceptional leader to join our Corporate Leadership Team as Service Director - People, Culture & Traded Services. This is a newly configured role that reflects our ambition to put strategic people leadership at the heart of the organisation, whilst providing leadership across a diverse portfolio of services that support our communities and contribute to the borough's success.

You'll lead the development of a modern, high-performing workforce, helping Kirklees respond to changing demands, workforce expectations, financial pressures and the opportunities presented by new technologies and ways of working.

Alongside responsibility for People Services, you'll oversee a diverse portfolio spanning culture, venues, tourism, markets, bereavement services and a range of traded services. Working with experienced Heads of Service, you'll help ensure these services remain financially sustainable, customer-focused and clear about their future purpose and direction.

As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, you'll play a key role in some of the council's most important priorities; from workforce transformation, organisational design and terms and conditions reform, to driving commercial thinking, securing external investment and ensuring services are equipped to meet the needs of future generations.

About You

We're looking for an experienced senior leader with a track record of leading organisational change within a complex environment.

You will bring strong strategic HR expertise, combined with the confidence and credibility to operate across a broader corporate portfolio.

Whether your experience comes from local government, the wider public sector or another large and complex organisation, you'll be politically aware, commercially astute and comfortable managing competing priorities.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who can build relationships, challenge constructively, make difficult decisions when needed and support others through change. You'll recognise that successful organisations are built through great people, clear direction and a culture that enables individuals and teams to perform at their best.

If you're looking for a role that will challenge you, stretch you and give you the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a borough with real ambition and enormous potential, we'd love to hear from you.

For more information, visit or get in touch for an informal conversation:

Please also see the Job Description for the role here.

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight Thursday 24th September

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email

If the organisation we’re representing is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you’d like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.

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