At South Tyneside Council we are PROUD:
We are proud to make a difference.
Find out more about our Council values.
PROUD to make a difference
South Tyneside CouncilHead of Operations
South Tyneside Council job vacancy
- 24th April 2025
- Closing Date
- £95,510
- Salary
About the Council
Located in the heart of North East England, South Tyneside is a unique mix of coastal beauty, urban development, and a rich sense of community spirit.
At South Tyneside Council, we’re passionate about creating a place where everyone can live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives. ‘Our council’ has a clear focus and belief that collectively people and organisations really can make a difference to people’s lives.
We’re looking for a forwarding thinking, innovative individual who can provide strategic leadership of key services within our Community Operations Directorate including Waste Operations, Grounds Maintenance, Street Cleansing, Town Centres and Coast, Estate Management and Bereavement Services.
About the role
This is a pivotal role in our senior team, reporting to the Director of Community Operations, providing strong leadership across the Operations Service as well as supporting our Elected Members.
You’ll have significant experience of managing and delivering an operational service, and the specific requirements to ensure that it operates in a safe, effective, and efficient manner in line to legislation and national guidance.
You’ll effectively lead from the front through personal example, open commitment and clear action, valuing diversity, celebrating equality, involving and empowering people, encouraging innovation and promoting a clear customer focus and performance culture.
You’ll contribute to the continuous improvement of the services across the Council and work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to drive effective and fully integrated operational services.
This is a pivotal time for positive change in South Tyneside. As we embark on the next exciting phase of the council’s transformation programme, we’re looking for someone who can lead and direct the activities of the service area to optimise the use of resources, respond effectively to current priorities and to plan to meet future requirements, reacting and adapting quickly to any changes required.
About You
We’re seeking a strategic thinker who has a successful and proven track record of managing and achieving positive change in a large organisation.
Your people skills will be key – you’ll be someone who can build strong relationships at all levels, from front-line staff to elected members and external partners. You’ll bring a positive, solutions-focused approach to the role, and be someone who thrives on change.
We aim to be an employer of choice, in a positive, and inclusive working environment. We want our people to feel valued, able to access support and development and perform at their best.
South Tyneside Council is a place where new ideas are welcomed, innovation is valued, and everyone has the chance to put their mark on the future. If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you!
Supporting documents
The vacancy
Why join South Tyneside Council?
It's a great time to join us at South Tyneside Council
We are implementing our ambitious ‘Our Council’ change and modernisation programme which will help us build on existing strengths and make some improvements so we can fulfil our bold ambitions for residents. We recently launched our 20-year ‘Vision’ for South Tyneside and developed new organisation ‘values’ which guide our ways of working.
Why work for us?
Benefits of working for South Tyneside Council
We can offer you fantastic benefits including:
- an attractive annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service
- automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
- access to occupational health services
- training and development opportunities
- hybrid working for better work/life balance
- flexible working from 6am - 10pm, Mon - Fri
- flexi leave
- childcare vouchers
- care lease scheme
- cycle to work scheme
- corporate leisure membership
- home electronics salary sacrifice
And more!
What makes South Tyneside unique?
South Tyneside has a fascinating past, inspirational present and an exciting future. Immersed in history and yet bursting with contemporary energy, South Tyneside offers a diversity of breathtakingly beautiful beaches, family fun, a heritage that is both ancient and deeply enriching, and a mix of bustling towns and villages. With cultural hotspots and a fabulous, year- round programme of events, South Tyneside has something for everyone.
Not everyone, when they think of South Tyneside, will think of sleepy country villages. But away from the town centres of South Shields, Jarrow and Hebburn, the villages of Boldon, Cleadon and Whitburn offer leafy lanes, cosy pubs, independent shops and historical connections.
South Tyneside has some of the most competitive housing prices in the UK, making the cost of living more affordable and a work / life balance more achievable.
Being on the outskirts of three big cities – Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and Durham – South Tyneside is ideally located within easy reach of the hustle and bustle of city life but with the serenity of wide-open spaces and award-winning beaches.
The beach life that South Shields provides enables workers and families to enjoy the sand or surf minutes after leaving the office or school playground.
Located in the heart of North East England, you can quickly access the A19 and the A1 which connects the area to Yorkshire, the Midlands, the South of England and Scotland to the North.
By train, you can be in London in less than 3 hours and Edinburgh in one and a half. Flights are available to over 80 destinations from the region’s International Airport, including London, Dubai and Amsterdam.
South Tyneside is on the Tyne and Wear Metro network, which delivers over 40 million passengers to their destination each year. A ferry which connects South Tyneside to North Tyneside and a regional bus network.
South Tyneside is warm and welcoming and we’d love for you to join our South Tyneside team!