Chief Executive - County Buildings, Ayr - SOA11506 - SOA11506

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Ayr; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in South Ayrshire seeks a Chief Executive to lead strategic initiatives and enhance community services. The candidate will drive innovation and ensure high-quality service delivery while fostering a collaborative culture. Requirements include significant leadership experience and a relevant degree. A competitive salary, excellent pension, and work-life balance initiatives are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Excellent pension scheme

Generous annual leave entitlement

Wellbeing initiatives

Car leasing scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience at Director level or above.
• Proven track record of leading strategic change.
• Ability to navigate public service challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team.
• Ensure unified service delivery and performance.
• Drive improvement and champion innovation.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Financial Acumen

Communication Skills

Collaboration

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Are You Ready to Lead Us? Shape Our Future – Inspire our People – Transform Our Communities

This is a critical and exciting time for our organisation, our communities, and our partners.

The successful candidate will be a transformational leader, responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of services that directly impact the lives of communities across South Ayrshire. You will guide, inspire and support a committed workforce, united by a shared ambition to making a difference every day for the residents of South Ayrshire.

We are seeking an individual with significant and demonstrable experience at Director level or above, with a proven track record of leading strategic change and innovation within large and complex organisations. You will have successfully navigated the challenges facing public services in Scotland, delivering improvement through collaboration, clarity, and decisive leadership.

A cornerstone of your success will be your ability to build trust and foster confidence across the organisation and with external stakeholders. Your leadership style will be defined by personal credibility, integrity, and outstanding communication—enabling you to engage effectively with elected members, employees, partners, and communities.

As Chief Executive, you will lead the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team, ensuring a unified approach to service delivery and organisational performance. Working closely with Executive Directors, you will provide clarity of purpose, drive improvement, and champion innovation across all Council services.

You will be a highly collaborative leader, passionate about people and committed to cultivating a culture of empowerment, accountability, and excellence. Your energy, insight and commitment will inspire others to perform at their best and to lead change with confidence.

You will also bring strong financial acumen, with a clear understanding of the fiscal context in which Scottish local authorities operate. You will be confident in interpreting complex performance data and in deploying resources effectively to maximise value and impact. Above all, you will drive high-quality service delivery and ensure that our residents and communities experience public services at their very best.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

Please click on the Job Attachments to access the Candidate Pack and Job Description.

ABOUT US

South Ayrshire is at the heart of historic Ayrshire, with a wealth of local heritage and culture, first class leisure amenities, world-wide travel links, diverse landscapes and thriving communities.

Making a difference for our communities is at the heart of what we do and working with us means, you can use your skills, knowledge and experience to help us do just that. We currently employ around 6000 people to serve a population of more than 112,450 people located across a diverse area that includes the towns of Ayr, Girvan, Maybole, Prestwick and Troon as well as small rural villages, coastline and farmland.

We are an ambitious Council, and we aim to place people at the centre of everything we do as we look to deliver the best possible outcomes. We are ambitious for our communities too and our new Council Plan is based on priorities and outcomes that we believe will have the greatest impact on the wellbeing of our communities, our local economy, and our environment.

BENEFITS

Here’s what we can offer!

• Competitive salary
• Excellent pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement and enhanced leave scheme (purchase of up to 2 weeks’ holidays)
• Wellbeing initiatives and Occupational Health services
• A healthy environment supportive of work-life balance and caring responsibilities
• Car leasing scheme
• Discounts on major supermarkets and retailers, cinemas and gym memberships (including Council leisure facilities)
• Purchase of white goods and more via salary sacrifice
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Scotwest Credit Union

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

You should be educated to degree level or equivalent appropriate professional qualification and have evidence of continuing professional development.

Assessment Centre for this post is scheduled for 15 September 2025 followed by interviews on the 16 September 2025.

The grade of this post is Chief Executive.

Under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, this post is politically restricted.

The work style for this post is Officer worker.

Office Workers

The successful candidate will work from a designated office location.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Cleland Sneddon, Chief Executive on 01292 612002