Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service

Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority; Kingston upon Hull; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional authority in East Yorkshire seeks a dynamic leader for the inaugural Chief Executive position to shape and drive the new Combined Authority. The role requires strategic vision and experience in managing public services. Candidates with backgrounds in public service or the commercial sector are encouraged to apply. The position is based full-time in Hull City Centre and aims at delivering lasting impact in the region.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a senior strategic leader in a complex political environment.
• Track record of delivering organisational transformation and managing public services.
• Deep understanding of place-based leadership and economic growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation through its formative years and establish strategic direction.
• Shape policy and delivery across all devolved functions.
• Forge strong partnerships across various sectors.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Collaborative leadership

Political acumen

Resilience

Emotional intelligence

Commercial awareness

Education

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Job description

Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) represents a bold new chapter in the region’s history. Formed through the UK Government’s devolution agenda, HEYCA is a Strategic Authority with significant powers and funding to drive transformation across Hull and East Yorkshire. With a £400 million investment fund over 30 years, and additional capital and revenue funding already secured including for housing, transport, regeneration and post-19 training/skills HEYCA is uniquely positioned to deliver lasting change.

The region is defined by its proud industrial and maritime heritage, vibrant urban centres, and stunning rural and coastal landscapes. HEYCA brings together Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council in a formal partnership, building on years of collaboration and shared ambition. The Authority is committed to inclusive growth, clean innovation, and ensuring that every community benefits from the opportunities devolution brings.

Under the leadership of the region’s first directly elected Mayor, Luke Campbell MBE, elected in May 2025, HEYCA will deliver priorities to create a more prosperous region for everyone who lives here, including:

• Securing more public and private sector investment for a previously underfunded region
• Enhanced transport and digital connectivity
• Affordable housing and regeneration
• Job creation and skills development
• Health and wellbeing
• Opportunities for young people
• Increasing local people’s involvement in decision-making

This is a rare opportunity to join a start-up Combined Authority at its inception — shaping its culture, systems, and impact from the ground up.

About the Role

This is a career-defining opportunity to become the inauguralChief Executive and Head of Paid Serviceof HEYCA. You will be the most senior officer of the Authority, reporting directly to the Mayor and the HEYCA Board, and responsible for turning vision into reality.

You will lead the organisation through its formative years, establishing its strategic direction, operational effectiveness, and a values-led culture. You will be the Mayor’s principal adviser, helping to shape policy and delivery across all devolved functions, and acting as the key interface with central government under the “devolution by default” principle.

Your leadership will be instrumental in:

• Designing and scaling HEYCA’s teams, systems, and services
• Building a high-performing, collaborative organisation
• Driving innovation in areas such as new clean energy production and energy security, AI and digital transformation, and place-based delivery
• Forging strong partnerships across government, business, education, the third sector and with local people
• Representing HEYCA at regional, national, and international levels

This role demands strategic vision, political acumen, and a deep commitment to public service. You will be responsible for embedding robust governance, financial stewardship, and a culture of continuous improvement.

About the Candidate

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary leader who can bring credibility, energy, and strategic insight to this once-in-a-generation opportunity. You will be a values-led individual with a passion for place-based leadership and a track record of delivering transformation in complex environments.

We are genuinely open to, and actively interested in candidates from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Whether your experience is rooted in public service, the commercial sector, or spans both, what matters most is your ability to lead with purpose, navigate complexity, and deliver lasting impact for the region.

As the inaugural Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, you will be:

• A strategic thinkerwith the ability to translate long-term regional ambitions into practical delivery plans.
• A collaborative leaderwho can build trust and alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Politically astuteand personally credible, able to navigate sensitive environments with integrity.
• Resilient and emotionally intelligent, with the ability to lead through ambiguity and change.
• Committed to inclusive leadership, equity, and public service excellence.

Essential Skills and Experience:

Proven experience as a senior strategic leader in a complex political and stakeholder environment.

• Experience working within or alongside Strategic Authorities, combined authorities, or central government departments involved in devolution policy.
• Track record of delivering organisational transformation and managing public services at scale.
• Deep understanding of place-based leadership and the levers of economic growth.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial management capabilities.
• Exceptional partnership working and influencing skills across sectors and government levels.

Knowledge and Qualifications:

Deep understanding of the Hull and East Yorkshire region, including its opportunities and challenges.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Membership of a relevant professional body is desirable.

The role is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended) and will be based full-time in Hull City Centre.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact:

Marek Dobrowolski, Partner

D:[phone]

M:[phone]

[e-mail]

Corinne Attwood, Senior Researcher

D: [phone]

[e-mail]

Ruth Hernandez Turner, Principal Researcher

D: [phone]

[e-mail]

Closing date for applications is: Sunday 31^stAugust, 2025

Downloadable Content

• Candidate Brief Published_Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority_Chief Executive.pdf

To apply please click theApply Nowlink below.