Director for Environmental and Commercial Services

Ciwmjobs; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Reading Borough Council seeks a senior leader to head environmental services in Reading. You will lead frontline services, work with the workforce, and own decisions shaping daily performance, reporting to the Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services.

You will oversee waste and recycling, highways and traffic, streetscene and fleet, with a budget over £30 million. The role requires political judgement, strong stakeholder engagement with Members, unions and colleagues,

Responsibilities

• Lead frontline environmental services and portfolio spanning waste and recycling, highways and traffic, streetscene and fleet.
• Manage a gross budget of over £30 million and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and generate income.
• Shape fleet replacement and modernisation of highways delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with Members and provide sound advice to shape daily performance.
• Lead a directly managed workforce and collaborate with unions and elected Members.

Job description

You can see the difference good environmental services make in every street. Residents notice when collections run reliably, roads are well maintained and neighbourhoods feel cared for. Behind that delivery are teams who need visible leadership and a Director who understands what it takes to get the job done.

At Reading, much of that responsibility sits directly with us. We run our own frontline services, and we’re looking for someone who wants to lead them. Someone who will spend time with the workforce, build confidence in the depot and take ownership of the decisions that shape daily performance.

Reporting to the Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, you’ll lead a portfolio spanning waste and recycling, highways and traffic, streetscene and fleet, alongside business development. With a gross budget of more than £30 million, you’ll have substantial scope to improve how services operate and the value they deliver.

There is a clear agenda ahead. You’ll help shape fleet replacement and strengthen the culture of our operational services, while progressing the modernisation of highways delivery. Across the portfolio, you’ll identify where better use of resources can improve performance and where there are credible opportunities to develop income. We want commercial ambition grounded in a thorough understanding of public services.

Political judgement will be central to your success. These are highly visible services, and you’ll work closely with Members to turn priorities into deliverable plans. You’ll need to anticipate concerns, give sound advice and know when an issue needs wider involvement. Your Executive Director will look to you to establish trusted relationships and take responsibility for your portfolio.

You may already lead a broad environmental services function, or be ready to step up from a substantial operational role. You’ll bring evidence of leading a directly managed workforce and improving services within financial constraints. Experience of working constructively with unions and elected Members will matter, as will the ability to earn the respect of colleagues with deep technical expertise.

In return, this is an opportunity to take a prominent leadership role in Reading, with direct influence over services that matter to every resident. You’ll join our Senior Leadership Group and help shape the council’s wider direction while seeing the results of your work on the ground.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 15th November 2026