Service Director for Growth, Highways and Infrastructure
| Posting date: | 20 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £110,100 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 April 2026 |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX |
| Company: | Suffolk County Council |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 22821 |
Summary
- Suffolk County Council
- Salary: £110,100 - £121,785 per annum
- Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX (with regular travel across Suffolk and the wider region)
- Contract status: Fixed Term until 31 March 2028 (Secondment applications welcomed)
- Working style: Hybrid working, with an expectation of a minimum of three days per week in Suffolk across our offices and sites, as a visible, senior leader
Help drive a Suffolk that works for everyone - shaping our economy, environment, and communities.
This is a rare opportunity to join Suffolk County Council as our next Service Director of Growth, Highways and Infrastructure – a role that will shape the county’s long term prosperity, sustainability and connectivity. You’ll play a central part in delivering a strong economy, leading nationally and internationally significant infrastructure programmes that unlock wider benefits so local people and places thrive.
You will join at a crucial point as Suffolk prepares for Local Government Reorganisation and the creation of the Mayoral County Combined Authority, providing a unique chance to influence policy, strategic direction and how services are delivered for our residents.
About the role
You will lead a broad and high-profile portfolio of services including:
- Highways operations and contracts, ensuring a safe, reliable network and high public trust.
- Major infrastructure planning and delivery, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
- Housing, growth and planning, delivering on economic growth, inward investment, spatial frameworks and evidence led place shaping.
- Suffolk Archives including The Hold, our flagship heritage centre, on the waterfront in Ipswich, run in partnership with the University of Suffolk
- Waste disposal, providing services that meet the needs of residents and businesses while minimising the cost and environmental impact
- Environmental strategy, flood and water management and enhancing Suffolk’s natural and historic environment
- Passenger transport services, delivering home to school, local bus and concessionary fare
- Transport Strategy, developing the transport network in Suffolk, and ensuring people have the options to travel safely and sustainably
You’ll work closely with Elected Members, our Joint Chief Executives, districts and boroughs, government departments, businesses, and regional partners - ensuring Suffolk’s voice is heard locally, regionally and nationally and that we deliver on our ambitions for the county.
About you
We are looking for an exceptional leader who brings:
- Significant senior leadership experience in a large, complex and politically sensitive environment.
- Strong operational leadership and the ability to oversee a wide range of services.
- Confidence navigating change and uncertainty, with the emotional intelligence to support teams through transition
- A proven record of delivering large programmes, transforming services and securing successful outcomes for residents and businesses.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience with major contracts and capital investment.
- Excellent ability to build trusted relationships, influence across systems and bring partners together around shared goals.
- A passion for Suffolk’s people, places and environment and a commitment to our WE ASPIRE values.
Most importantly, you will be a collaborative, empowering leader who inspires high performance and fosters a culture where staff can thrive and deliver successful outcomes for our communities.
If you believe you have the skills, experience, and mindset to succeed in this complex and rewarding role, even if you don’t meet every single criterion, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Why join us?
You’ll be leading a stable, high‑performing directorate with experienced senior managers and major programmes already underway. This role offers significant visibility and a genuine opportunity to shape Suffolk’s future.
Key programmes progressing during this period include:
- The A12 Major Road Network project, offering upgrades between Ipswich and Woodbridge
- New waste infrastructure projects moving into delivery as part of national system improvements
- Multiple private housing developments breaking ground across Suffolk as part of our Joint Venture
- Nationally significant energy and offshore wind projects, including Europe’s largest construction site at Sizewell C
You’ll play a central role in preparing the organisation and its people for Local Government Reorganisation - a once‑in‑a‑generation transition.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
We offer guaranteed interviews for eligible candidates under our disability and care leaver schemes, and we are committed to making reasonable adjustments.
For more information
To arrange a conversation about the role, please contact Emma Cook by calling 01473 265083 or emailing Emma.Cook@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a CV and a supporting statement explaining your reasons for applying, the experience and skills you can bring, and how these make you well‑suited to the role. Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of one side of A4.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 6 April 2026.
Interview date: Week commencing 20 April.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
- Salary: £110,100 - £121,785 per annum
- Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, IP1 2BX (with regular travel across Suffolk and the wider region)
- Contract status: Fixed Term until 31 March 2028 (Secondment applications welcomed)
- Working style: Hybrid working, with an expectation of a minimum of three days per week in Suffolk across our offices and sites, as a visible, senior leader
Help drive a Suffolk that works for everyone - shaping our economy, environment, and communities.
This is a rare opportunity to join Suffolk County Council as our next Service Director of Growth, Highways and Infrastructure – a role that will shape the county’s long term prosperity, sustainability and connectivity. You’ll play a central part in delivering a strong economy, leading nationally and internationally significant infrastructure programmes that unlock wider benefits so local people and places thrive.
You will join at a crucial point as Suffolk prepares for Local Government Reorganisation and the creation of the Mayoral County Combined Authority, providing a unique chance to influence policy, strategic direction and how services are delivered for our residents.
About the role
You will lead a broad and high-profile portfolio of services including:
- Highways operations and contracts, ensuring a safe, reliable network and high public trust.
- Major infrastructure planning and delivery, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
- Housing, growth and planning, delivering on economic growth, inward investment, spatial frameworks and evidence led place shaping.
- Suffolk Archives including The Hold, our flagship heritage centre, on the waterfront in Ipswich, run in partnership with the University of Suffolk
- Waste disposal, providing services that meet the needs of residents and businesses while minimising the cost and environmental impact
- Environmental strategy, flood and water management and enhancing Suffolk’s natural and historic environment
- Passenger transport services, delivering home to school, local bus and concessionary fare
- Transport Strategy, developing the transport network in Suffolk, and ensuring people have the options to travel safely and sustainably
You’ll work closely with Elected Members, our Joint Chief Executives, districts and boroughs, government departments, businesses, and regional partners - ensuring Suffolk’s voice is heard locally, regionally and nationally and that we deliver on our ambitions for the county.
About you
We are looking for an exceptional leader who brings:
- Significant senior leadership experience in a large, complex and politically sensitive environment.
- Strong operational leadership and the ability to oversee a wide range of services.
- Confidence navigating change and uncertainty, with the emotional intelligence to support teams through transition
- A proven record of delivering large programmes, transforming services and securing successful outcomes for residents and businesses.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including experience with major contracts and capital investment.
- Excellent ability to build trusted relationships, influence across systems and bring partners together around shared goals.
- A passion for Suffolk’s people, places and environment and a commitment to our WE ASPIRE values.
Most importantly, you will be a collaborative, empowering leader who inspires high performance and fosters a culture where staff can thrive and deliver successful outcomes for our communities.
If you believe you have the skills, experience, and mindset to succeed in this complex and rewarding role, even if you don’t meet every single criterion, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Why join us?
You’ll be leading a stable, high‑performing directorate with experienced senior managers and major programmes already underway. This role offers significant visibility and a genuine opportunity to shape Suffolk’s future.
Key programmes progressing during this period include:
- The A12 Major Road Network project, offering upgrades between Ipswich and Woodbridge
- New waste infrastructure projects moving into delivery as part of national system improvements
- Multiple private housing developments breaking ground across Suffolk as part of our Joint Venture
- Nationally significant energy and offshore wind projects, including Europe’s largest construction site at Sizewell C
You’ll play a central role in preparing the organisation and its people for Local Government Reorganisation - a once‑in‑a‑generation transition.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.
We offer guaranteed interviews for eligible candidates under our disability and care leaver schemes, and we are committed to making reasonable adjustments.
For more information
To arrange a conversation about the role, please contact Emma Cook by calling 01473 265083 or emailing Emma.Cook@suffolk.gov.uk.
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a CV and a supporting statement explaining your reasons for applying, the experience and skills you can bring, and how these make you well‑suited to the role. Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of one side of A4.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences, so we encourage you to present your own work and ideas throughout the process. You can also read our Using AI in Your Application and Interview guidance to understand acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. If AI is used inappropriately, your application may not be progressed.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages. If you're invited to the next stage, you’ll have another chance to request adjustments.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 6 April 2026.
Interview date: Week commencing 20 April.
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
diverse and active staff networks
flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
Plus lots more!
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.