Head Of Regulatory Services

Wokingham Borough Council; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 76,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave 31 days + 5 after 5 years

Local Government Pension Scheme

GP Helpline

Employee Assistance Programme

Free Eye Tests

Job summary

Wokingham Borough Council is recruiting a Head of Regulatory Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across Licensing, Environmental Enforcement, Commercial Services and Housing & Environmental Protection.

You will lead a team of managers, shape service plans and oversee inter-authority collaboration, delivering high-quality, evidence-led public protection for residents and businesses across the borough.

Qualifications

• Substantial knowledge and understanding of regulatory services, with the professional breadth and credibility to provide authoritative advice across a diverse regulatory portfolio.
• Significant senior management experience of strategic leadership and leading organisational and service change, including workforce change, recruitment and the development of effective and resilient teams.
• Strong strategic, analytical and decision-making skills and political awareness, with the ability to translate complex regulatory and operational issues into clear strategic advice and priorities.
• Experience across more than one regulatory discipline, such as environmental health, licensing, environmental crime or private sector housing.
• Experience of managing shared-service or inter-authority regulatory arrangements, including working with joint committees.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Regulatory Services, setting a clear direction aligned with the Council’s priorities and delivering high-quality, resident-focused outcomes.
• Act as the Council’s senior professional lead for Regulatory Services, providing authoritative professional advice to elected Members, senior leaders and managers, and providing oversight and challenge on complex, sensitive and high-risk regulatory matters.
• Shape and deliver strategies, policies, operating models and service plans, ensuring specialist regulatory advice informs wider corporate and partnership priorities and anticipating changes in legislation, regulation and policy.
• Lead, develop and support multidisciplinary managers and professional specialists, building a resilient, accountable and inclusive service and leading service improvement and organisational change.

Job description

Head of Regulatory Services

Salary: £75,876-£83,546 Per Annum, Plus Benefits
Location: Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End/Home Working
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 06/12/2026 at 23:00
Reference: 713380

We have an excellent opportunity for a Head of Regulatory Services to join our Place and Growth directorate here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a Full-time, Permanent basis.

As Head of Regulatory Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across our Regulatory Services portfolio (Licensing, Environmental Enforcement, Commercial Services – Food and Workplace Safety, and Housing & Environmental Protection) ensuring statutory duties are discharged effectively, and residents and businesses receive consistent, high-quality services.

You’ll hold professional and strategic accountability for the Council's regulatory and enforcement functions, acting as the Council’s senior professional lead and providing authoritative advice to elected members, senior leaders and managers. You’ll provide oversight and challenge on the most complex, sensitive and high‑risk matters, while ensuring regulatory and enforcement activity remains consistent, proportionate and evidence‑led.

As the Head of Service, you will lead a team of experienced service managers, setting clear objectives, developing professional capability and leading organisational change, service improvement and workforce development to meet current and future service requirements. You’ll also act as the Council's lead officer for the Public Protection Partnership, managing our inter‑authority agreement for Trading Standards services alongside West Berkshire and Bracknell Forest Councils, and representing the Council with the Joint Public Protection Committee.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a credible, politically aware regulatory professional who combines professional expertise with strategic perspective, sound judgement and a strong track record of leading people through change.

Staff Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave – 31 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• GP Helpline - Available 7 days a week
• Employee Assistance Programme - Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
• Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
• Free Onsite Gym - Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes - Including Car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Local & Lifestyle Discounts - Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
• Move through Menopause Course
• Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
• Learning & Development Opportunities
• Employee Networks
• And more!

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Regulatory Services, setting a clear direction aligned with the Council’s priorities and delivering high-quality, resident-focused outcomes.
• Act as the Council’s senior professional lead for Regulatory Services, providing authoritative professional advice to elected Members, senior leaders and managers, and providing oversight and challenge on complex, sensitive and high-risk regulatory matters.
• Shape and deliver strategies, policies, operating models and service plans, ensuring specialist regulatory advice informs wider corporate and partnership priorities and anticipating changes in legislation, regulation and policy.
• Lead, develop and support multidisciplinary managers and professional specialists, building a resilient, accountable and inclusive service and leading service improvement and organisational change.

Candidate Requirements

• Substantial knowledge and understanding of regulatory services, with the professional breadth and credibility to provide authoritative advice across a diverse regulatory portfolio.
• Significant senior management experience of strategic leadership and leading organisational and service change, including workforce change, recruitment and the development of effective and resilient teams.
• Strong strategic, analytical and decision-making skills and political awareness, with the ability to translate complex regulatory and operational issues into clear strategic advice and priorities.
• Experience across more than one regulatory discipline, such as environmental health, licensing, environmental crime or private sector housing.
• Experience of managing shared-service or inter-authority regulatory arrangements, including working with joint committees.

Our Area

Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.

Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.

Alternatively, to arrange an informal discussion about the role, contact Rachel Lewis, Service Director of Environment, via [e-mail] (Strictly no agencies).

Closing date: Sunday 6th December 2026 at 11pm

Interviews will take place between Monday 14th and Friday 18th December 2026.

AI in Applications:

We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.

If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.