Strategic Director of Community Services
Your vision. Our community.
Salary: Grade 20, from £120,536 to £129,500 per annum
Relocation Allowance available of up to £8,000 (subject to criteria)
At the Isle of Wight Council, we’re passionate about creating thriving communities, protecting our unique environment, and driving sustainable growth.
We are a forward-thinking local authority, putting people first and championing innovation, collaboration, and excellence in everything we do.
We are now seeking a Strategic Director of Community Services to shape the future of our communities. Are you a visionary leader who is ready to join our team and lead with purpose?
This is a rare opportunity to inspire change, champion sustainability and make a lasting impact on the lives of thousands.
Our current Director is moving on from the position after seven years of dedicated service to our island community where his leadership has helped deliver major projects and strengthened services that make a real difference to people’s lives.
Colin Rowland – Strategic Director of Community Services
I’ve really enjoyed shaping and delivering place-based services that make life better for everyone on the Island. This role is demanding, but enjoyable and rewarding, as there is a broad range of activities and a large variety of services within the directorate. It is by its nature a strategic role but sometimes demands a focus on technical and operational aspects, which in itself can be very fulfilling.
Why we are different
This is a unique chance to take on a challenging leadership role, shaping the future of our island in a fantastic coastal location surrounded by beauty, in a warm and welcoming community.
Here on the Isle of Wight, although our teams must deliver a large and diverse range of different services, we share a common set of aims and objectives. We aim to enhance the quality of life for all residents by providing inclusive, accessible, and high-quality services.
We have a population of approximately 140,000 which increases significantly as visitors flock to our shores in the summer months.
More than 50 per cent of the Island is designated an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and the location boasts the highest number of award-winning beaches in England.
With 57 miles of coastline and ‘UNESCO Biosphere’ status, delivering services in a place so distinct brings unique and interesting challenges.
We are building upon our strong foundations and creating a set of services to be proud of always putting our communities at the heart of what we do.
The role
As Strategic Director, you’ll drive regeneration, transformation and economic growth, shape sustainable planning and environmental strategies, modernise services and oversee vital work that touches every part of island life, making a lasting impact for generations to come.
This is your chance to lead at a level where it truly matters.
As a key member of our corporate leadership team, you will:
- Lead a diverse portfolio including regeneration, economic development, environment, planning, highways, waste, commercial services, cultural heritage, leisure, coastal and public realm.
- Drive transformation and innovation, embedding customer-centric principles and delivering services that make a real difference to residents.
- Act as an ambassador for the Island, representing us at regional and national forums and building strategic partnerships that unlock growth and opportunity.
- Shape the Council’s vision, translating political priorities into actionable strategies that deliver best value and measurable outcomes.
The person
To truly embrace this role, you’ll need to be an exceptional leader, with superb communication skills, able to engage, inspire and influence as you build on relationships with our workforce, the public, media and partnership organisations.
If you have the drive, resilience, and strategic vision to lead one of the most diverse and impactful portfolios in local government, we want to hear from you.
You’ll need the following experience to be considered for this role:
- Significant senior strategic management experience, within a local authority.
- Experience of developing and effectively delivering an organisation’s vision, values and strategic objectives within a political environment.
- Proven record of delivering innovative solutions to complex community challenges, embedding common values and customer-centric approaches.
- Proven ability to lead organisational cultural transformation and deliver customer-focused services through inspirational leadership.
- Strong commercial acumen with evidence of developing strategies that increase income and ensure budget compliance.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of the major issues facing local government.
We want you to challenge traditional thinking and identify risk-aware, innovative solutions that enhance the potential for improvement.
Disability Confident Scheme
We are a Disability Confident Employer.
Along with a number of commitments, this means, providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled within your covering statement, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.
Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments that you may require to ensure you are comfortable and able to fully participate in the process from application to interview.
Application guidance
- download the Strategic Director of Community Services Job Summary
- discover more about our Community Services Teams
- download our current Corporate Plan
Ensure you have fully read the Job Summary for this post prior to application.
Please note: To apply for this position, you will need to provide us with:
Stage one application
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than 4 sides of A4
- Covering statement to be no more than 4 sides of A4
Clearly demonstrate in your CV and covering statement where you meet the essential and desirable requirements.
Please send the above application documents to careers@iow.gov.uk
Stage two application
These will be sent to you for completion once receive your initial CV and Cover Statement
- On receipt of your CV and covering statement our recruitment team will send you the following documents for completion Equality & Diversity Declaration, Criminal Convictions Declaration, Disability Declaration.
- We will also request the details for 2 references (let us know if these can be contacted prior to interview)
For an informal discussion about the position and for any queries, please contact careers@iow.gov.uk and we will arrange a virtual appointment.
Closing date: Sunday 11 January 2026
Interviews: We plan to interview 29 January 2026 with a view to the successful candidate starting in post on or before May 2026
Additional reading
- Leeson Road Ventnor landslip
- Ventnor Undercliff and Cowes to Gurnard
- Ventnor Eastern Cliffs Esplanade
- Isle of Wight Coastal Defence Schemes Information Page - Environment Agency - Citizen Space
- Coastal defence work 'will bring £550 million worth of economic benefits' to Bay area
- Popular Isle of Wight beach's coastal defence plan unveiled | Isle of Wight County Press
- New coordinator to help vulnerable communities affected by landslides
- Have your say on Island Planning Strategy changes
Island life
Working here is every bit as demanding as elsewhere in the UK, but due to our unique geography there are some ‘perks’ that are hard to beat!
Full of surprises and opportunity, the Isle of Wight is a beautiful place in which to live and work with wonderful work life balance opportunities.
Whether you choose to relocate here permanently or commute to our offices from the mainland, you’ll be able to take advantage of our wonderful island lifestyle while pursuing your own professional goals.
Discover more about living on the Isle of Wight
Relocate to the Isle of Wight!
Living and working on the Isle of Wight offers a unique work-life balance that is hard to beat.
If you choose to relocate here permanently, we offer a relocation scheme of up to £8,000 (subject to criteria) to support you.
Living on our beautiful Island is also rewarded by consistently lower housing costs than elsewhere in the Southeast of the UK!
In 2022, Rightmove identified that Isle of Wight properties cost 42.7% less than average house prices elsewhere in the Southeast of England.
In 2025 the Office for National Statistics found the average house price on the Isle of Wight to be £300,000 compared to £476,000 across the Southeast region as a whole!
Commute by boat
Our hybrid and flexible working options mean it’s possible to join our growing number of staff who commute to work on the Island some of the time, and work remotely on the mainland at other times.
Getting to work on the Isle of Wight is easier than you might think, with quick, easy connections by boat to Southampton, Portsmouth, Southsea and Lymington, making it a unique and simple commute.
Plus, with our generous staff travel discount on all ferry links, bus routes and a council run carpool scheme, a commute to the Island is plain sailing!
What a regular commuter says
I’ve commuted to and from the Island for years, it’s much nicer than sitting in motorway traffic or standing on a crowded train every day. My crossing only takes 25 minutes, and I use that time to enjoy my morning coffee or relax with the views on my way home.
Join #TeamIWC and you'll also receive our staff benefits package, including
- annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- discounted Solent ferry travel
- Island bus network discount
- cycle to work scheme
- staff parking permit scheme
- salary sacrifice scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- discounted island sports and leisure gym membership
- national and local discounts and benefits schemes
The Isle of Wight Council currently does not have a license to sponsor overseas workers.
The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination. This is supported by
We actively promote the diversity of our workforce, and we provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees.
The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms and Conditions of employment are available upon request. Contact our recruitment team if you would like to receive a copy - email adverts@iow.gov.uk
The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer. We are proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community.
Only applications submitted by the closing date will be accepted.
Contact the recruitment team
- email: careers@iow.gov.uk
- telephone: 01983 823113