Interim Executive Director – Place

Interim Executive Director – Place

Location: North East England (Hybrid)
Contract: Interim (initial 6 months, with strong potential extension)
Day Rate: £1,000 per day (Inside IR35)

We are seeking an experienced and credible Executive‑level Place leader to join a large local authority in the North East of England as their Interim Executive Director – Place. This is a high‑profile, corporate role providing strategic and operational leadership across regeneration, planning, housing, economic growth, infrastructure and wider place‑based services.

This opportunity requires an established Executive Director or Corporate Director who can operate confidently at the top of the organisation and make an immediate impact.

About the Interim Executive Director – Place role:

• Provide Executive‑level leadership as a member of the council’s Executive / Corporate Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive.
• Lead the Place portfolio, covering regeneration, planning, housing, economic development, transport, infrastructure and related services.
• Drive the development and delivery of a place‑based spatial and growth framework to support sustainable communities and economic growth.
• Oversee the delivery of major regeneration, investment and infrastructure programmes at scale.
• Work closely with elected Members, senior officers, developers, partners and government bodies to deliver strategic priorities.
• Ensure statutory compliance across planning, housing and related functions, maintaining strong governance and risk management.
• Lead large, multi‑disciplinary teams, promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Provide strong financial oversight across significant revenue and capital budgets, including commercial and income‑generation activity.
• Act as a key corporate leader, contributing to wider organisational strategy, transformation and public service reform.

Your previous experience as an Interim Executive Director – Place:

• Proven experience operating at Executive Director / Corporate Director / Strategic Director level within local government.
• Extensive background across Place‑based services, including regeneration, planning, housing, growth and infrastructure.
• Strong track record of delivering large‑scale regeneration and capital programmes in complex environments.
• Demonstrable experience working effectively with Chief Executives, Members and external partners.
• Experience managing complex budgets, commercial activity and transformation programmes.
• Politically astute, credible and outcomes‑focused, with the ability to add value immediately.

This is not a step‑up opportunity. The authority is seeking an experienced, trusted Executive who is comfortable operating at corporate level and can hit the ground running.

If this Interim Executive Director – Place role sounds like a good fit for you, please send your CV to George – g.batson@baltimoreconsultingltd.com.

(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation, so please get in touch if you know someone suitable.)

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