Director of Housing & Environment - West Lancashire Borough Council

Salary £85,658–£89,154 per annum (pay award pending) | Location: Ormskirk / Hybrid, with travel to other locations required | Contract: Fixed Term - 2 years

Thank you for taking the time to consider this opportunity with West Lancashire Borough Council.

We are entering a defining period for our Council. With Local Government Reorganisation on the horizon and a significant transformation programme already underway, the coming years will shape not only how our services operate, but how we plan, invest and think strategically about place, sustainability and community outcomes. It is within this context that we are seeking an exceptional Director of Housing & Environment to join our Executive Management Team on 2-year fixed term contract.

This role brings together strong strategic leadership and executive-level oversight, with a particular emphasis on environmental services. You will be supported by 2 direct reports and their respective teams: Assistant Director of Housing and Assistant Director of Environment.

We are looking for a leader with deep experience in environmental services at a strategic level within local government – someone who can work confidently with Members, partners and trade unions, translate political ambition into deliverable strategies, and provide clear, authoritative advice at the highest level. You will be expected to think beyond day-to-day delivery, taking a whole-system view of environmental services, resources, infrastructure and workforce planning.Our environmental portfolio is at a critical point of transition and requires  you, along with the Assistant Director of Envrionment,  to set a clear long-term direction, align services to future organisational models, and lead complex transformation while maintaining operational performance. This includes shaping service redesign in preparation for LGR, strengthening governance and performance frameworks, and ensuring our environmental services are resilient, modern and fit for the future.

Alongside this, together with the Assistant Director of Housing, you will lead housing services, with a current C1 regulatory rating, ensuring stability and continuity while the organisation navigates wider change. While housing remains an important part of the portfolio, this role offers the opportunity to focus your leadership on the strategic transformation of environmental services and their role in shaping the future of the borough.

As a member of the Executive Management Team, you will play a central role in setting organisational direction, contributing to corporate strategy, and helping to shape the council we become through and beyond LGR. Cultural leadership, political acumen and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguity will be essential.

West Lancashire is a council that values openness, collaboration and trust. We support flexible and hybrid working, invest in leadership capability, and empower our senior leaders to make meaningful, lasting change.

If you are an accomplished environmental services leader with a strong strategic mindset, motivated by transformation and excited by the opportunity to shape the future during LGR, I encourage you to explore this role further. This is a rare opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at a pivotal moment in our organisation’s journey.

Following an initial conversation with the Resourcing Solution team, I would also be very happy to arrange an informal conversation to discuss our ambitions and future plans.

As I transition from this role into the position of Acting Deputy Chief Executive, I can provide full support ahead of your application and in your future career as Director of Housing & Environment.

Alan Leicester
Acting Deputy Chief Executive

About the role

Shape the Future of West Lancashire

We are seeking an exceptional, values‑driven leader to join our Executive Management Team as Director of Housing and Environment. This is a pivotal role with corporate responsibility for shaping and delivering high‑quality housing, environmental and asset management services that make a real difference to our communities.

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership across housing and environmental services, playing a central role in driving the Council’s corporate objectives and embedding a One Council approach.

About West Lancashire Borough Council

West Lancashire together; the place of choice to live, work, visit and invest.

West Lancashire Borough Council (“the Council”) serves around 122,000 residents across a diverse Borough that blends vibrant town centres with extensive rural communities.

We are a forward‑looking, ambitious Council operating at the heart of the North West, with strong connections to wider Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Our work directly shapes the places people live, work, and thrive in every day.

At the Council, every role contributes to improving quality of life for local residents. Whether someone works in housing, planning, finance, environmental services, leisure, governance, or corporate services, their impact is visible, meaningful, and close to the community.

The Council’s stated priorities focus on:

  • Creating a clean and environmentally sustainable Borough
  • Supporting inclusive and healthy communities
  • Enhancing the built environment
  • Driving economic growth and regeneration
  • Maintaining a financially resilient and well‑governed organisation

The Council delivers a broad and diverse portfolio of services, including:

  • Housing services (landlord services, homelessness, housing strategy)
  • Planning, regeneration, and building control
  • Refuse and recycling services
  • Environmental health and regulatory services
  • Leisure, wellbeing, and parks services
  • Customer services, benefits, and revenues
  • Corporate services (HR, finance, legal, democratic services, ICT)

About West Lancashire

Living and working in West Lancashire

West Lancashire is located in the heart of the North West, and the region combines easy access to areas including Liverpool, Preston, Southport, and Manchester - with the benefits of space, calm, and countryside living. Well connected by road and rail, commuting is straightforward while avoiding the congestion and living costs associated with larger cities.

The area includes popular market towns and villages such as Ormskirk, Burscough, Aughton, Croston, and Tarleton, each offering a strong sense of community, local amenities, and access to green spaces. All this means that you can enjoy a work–life balance, with opportunities for walking, cycling, and outdoor activities, alongside independent shops, cafes, and traditional pubs. The coast and countryside are equally accessible and make the area a very appealing place to live for families and professionals alike. The area is renowned for its good schools, lower crime rates, and affordable housing, offering more space for your budget than some of the more expensive neighbouring urban areas, and housing ranges from modern developments to characterful village homes, supporting both renters and buyers at different life stages.

Visit the Visit Lancashire (external link) website for more tourist information including restaurant recommendations, places to stay and attractions to visit.

Contact us and Apply

If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity or would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Katherine Brioude Katherine.Brioude@northyorks.gov.uk

Key dates:
Closing date: Tuesday 19 May
Longlisting: Thursday 21 May
Stage One Assessment Event: w/c 25 May or 1 June
Final Assessment Event: w/c 1 June or 8 June

Apply:

To apply please provide us with your CV including a supporting statement in one Microsoft Word document. Your supporting statement should outline your motivation for applying and how you meet the criteria for the role. Please also complete and email the following questionnaire to accompany your application.

Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk. Please do not send PDFs.

It is important that your CV includes: your full contact details (telephone, email, address), full employment history (name of employer, job titles, dates of employment and salary), full education history (qualification, grade, dates and place of study), explanation of any gaps in employment and the contact details of at least two referees including your current / most recent employer indicating whether you consent to us contacting each referee prior to interview. Please also provide details of your current salary and notice period.

We will not accept applications from agencies.


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