Head of Service Culture and Leisure

Venn Group; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

A local authority in Devon is seeking an experienced Head of Service for Culture and Leisure to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight. This senior-level role entails enhancing service quality while managing financial sustainability. Applicants should possess extensive leadership experience, knowledge of the Culture and Leisure field, and have operated in public sector environments. Interested candidates can submit their CV to the provided email or apply online. The position starts ASAP and offers a flexible two days per week on site.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior leadership roles within complex organisations.
• Proven ability to deliver cost-effective services and manage budgets.
• Deep understanding of Culture and Leisure services and funding dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Culture and Leisure services.
• Collaborate with senior management to drive corporate leadership.
• Develop strategic and business plans aligned with council priorities.
• Ensure financial control and governance across services.

Skills

Senior leadership and management experience

Managing significant budgets

Strong partnership-working

Experience in a public sector environment

Knowledge of Culture and Leisure services

Job description

Head of Service – Culture and Leisure

We are recruiting for an experienced and strategic Head of Service to join a Devon based Local Authority to lead on their Culture and Leisure portfolio. This senior leadership role will provide strategic and operational direction across a diverse range of cultural and leisure services, ensuring high-quality, financially sustainable, and inclusive provision that supports the Council’s corporate priorities and the city’s cultural ambitions.

Role: Head of Service - Leisure and Culture

Start: ASAP

Duration: 6 months

Rate: £50 per hour but if interested please confirm your desired rate

Set-up: 2 days per week on site

The Role

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of Culture and Leisure services
• Contribute to corporate leadership through collaborative working across the Operational Management Board and Senior Management Board
• Deliver continuous service improvement, innovation and models of delivery that maximise impact, value for money and customer experience
• Develop and deliver strategic and business plans aligned to council priorities and customer needs
• Ensure effective governance, financial control and income generation across Culture and Leisure services and associated contracts
• Securing external funding and government investment to support cultural and leisure programmes and capital ambitions

Requirements

• Extensive senior leadership and management experience within a complex organisation
• Proven experience of managing significant budgets and delivering cost-effective services
• Extensive knowledge of Culture and Leisure services and the wider policy and funding landscape
• Strong partnership-working experience at senior level across public, private and third sector organisations
• Experience of operating within a local authority or comparable public sector environment

If you are interested in this role, please send through an up-to-date CV to [e-mail] or apply online and a member of the team will call you to discuss further. We endeavour to respond to all applications

Due to the volume of applications, if you have not heard from us within 48 hours, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion