Head of Commercial and Regulatory

Job Reference: HCC623416
Salary Range: £82,339 - £92,410 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 8 March 2026
Interview Dates: 20 March 2026

Make your next career move with Hampshire

At Hampshire County Council, we serve the people of Hampshire "with purpose and pride to improve lives, today and for tomorrow." Nationally recognised as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK, we're known for innovating and finding better ways to deliver, even in challenging times, with learning and development opportunities to match your ambition.

This is a rare opportunity to lead services with national visibility, rich heritage and strong public impact. You will play a central role in modernising and transforming services that thousands of residents rely on every day, while helping steer the wider Directorate's direction, culture and strategic priorities.

We are seeking a strategic, politically astute leader to head our Commercial & Regulatory Services, providing visible leadership, direction and operational management across the Registration, Coroner, Archives & Records Services, and Hampshire Outdoor Centres. This role offers substantial leadership challenge and development, working across high profile and commercially significant service areas.

You'll ensure these high profile, statutory services deliver excellent outcomes, remain fully compliant, and continually improve through innovation and digital modernisation. As a key member of the Branch Management Board, you'll help shape long term strategy and embed a high performing, customer focused culture.

• Provide strong, visible leadership across Outdoor Centres, Registration, Coroner and Archives & Records Services, aligning strategies with corporate priorities and statutory requirements.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the team during a period of substantial change, as the organisation transitions through Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation.
• As a member of the Branch Management Board, lead on commercial and customer facing activity, contribute to strategic planning, policy development, and the delivery of major service objectives.
• Lead innovation, digital modernisation and commercial development across the services, ensuring they remain financially sustainable and accessible to the public.
• Oversee planning, delivery and performance management, ensuring statutory obligations are met and risks well managed.
• Drive continuous improvement with partners to secure efficiency, improved customer experience and staff wellbeing.
• Champion integration and collaboration across services and directorates.
• Lead robust financial planning, monitoring and reporting across operational budgets typically between £15m-£25m.
• Motivate and develop a diverse workforce, promoting excellence, wellbeing, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Provide clear operational oversight of facilities, digital systems and support functions.
• Support the Assistant Director with strategic relationships across the system (e.g., health trusts, ICB, other local authorities, Coroners, community organisations and central government) and act as the primary political interface, advising Members.
• Ensure legal compliance across all services and implement policies and frameworks that reflect evolving statutory requirements and national standards.

This is a high profile role and plays a key part in leading and directing the future service in the Natural Environment, Commercial and Regulatory Branch within the Directorate.

You are an experienced senior leader from a regulatory or statutory public service environment, with a track record of delivering complex transformation and operational excellence.

You bring:

• Significant leadership in statutory services and complex service delivery; degree level qualification or equivalent; and evidence of CPD.
• The ability to inspire and lead diverse professional teams through change; strong risk management and political awareness; and readiness to deputise for senior leaders.
• Strength in translating strategy into delivery, using robust planning, analysis and performance management - harnessing digital innovation to improve services.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, partnership building and influencing skills at senior level.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to modernise services and maximise value.

As well as a role with genuine scale and impact, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and a culture that supports you to thrive.

Our competitive benefits package includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information about this and other benefits such as travel loans and staff discounts here .

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.