Executive Director – Place

Salary: £135,407 – £153,585

Location: Crewe / Macclesfield (hybrid, with borough‑wide travel)

The Organisation

Cheshire East Council is transforming, embarking on a programme of organisational change aimed at strengthening delivery, strategic direction, modernising services and ensuring long-term financial resilience. At the same time, Cheshire East is working closely with the new and emerging Combined Authority, creating real opportunities to shape regional growth and collaboration.

The council is committed to building a cohesive and resilient senior leadership team capable of delivering sustainable improvement and delivering lasting impact for residents, communities and businesses across the borough.

The Opportunity

This is a highly influential role at the heart of Cheshire East’s Place and future. As Executive Director – Place, you will provide strategic leadership across a broad and critical portfolio, including planning, housing, regeneration, infrastructure, transport and environmental services. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting to the Chief Executive, you will play a central role in shaping the council’s direction and delivering its ambitions for sustainable growth and improved outcomes for residents and businesses alike.

This is a role defined by place-shaping and delivery. You will lead the development of a coherent spatial vision for Cheshire East – bringing together planning, infrastructure, housing and economic development to define and create a new legacy for the borough. Working closely with Members, partners and the Combined Authority, you will translate ambition into delivery – unlocking growth, addressing inequalities and ensuring that investment delivers community growth tangible benefits. For an experienced leader, this is a career-defining opportunity to shape a place of significant scale and potential.

Candidates

We are seeking an outstanding senior leader with a strong track record of delivering growth, regeneration and service transformation within a large and complex organisation. You will bring significant experience across one or more place-based disciplines – such as planning, housing, infrastructure or economic development – alongside the ability to lead large, multi-disciplinary services and deliver outcomes at scale.

You will be a visible and motivational leader, with a collaborative and inclusive approach to inspiring a large and diverse directorate while building strong relationships with Members, partners and stakeholders. Political nous, resilience and commercial acumen will be essential, as will the ability to collaborate effectively across stakeholder and organisational boundaries. Above all, you will bring the vision, credibility and leadership required to define and deliver a compelling future for Cheshire East as a place.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our retained consultants at Penna

Closing date: 23:59pm on Sunday 24th May 2026.

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