Halton Borough Council - Chief Executive

Salary: £172,900 – £186,038

Inspire our vision. Drive our future. Make Halton thrive.

Halton is a place of ambition and energy – a borough defined by innovation, proud communities, and strong partnerships. With the River Mersey at our heart and two iconic bridges connecting us, we sit at the centre of the North West’s growth corridor, with unrivalled links to Liverpool, Manchester and beyond.

This is an exciting moment for Halton. We are driving forward a bold community strategy, reshaping how services are delivered, and investing in regeneration that brings real and lasting benefits to our residents. Our workforce tell us the very best thing about working here is ‘our colleagues’ – and as our next Chief Executive, you will harness that spirit to take us further, faster.

Your impact:

As our Chief Executive, you will be the driving force behind our future – ensuring Halton continues to be a place where people want to live, work, invest and visit. You will:

• Inspire and lead a talented workforce with strategic direction, clarity, ambition and purpose.

·      Advise and support the Leader of the Council, Executive Board, and Members with clarity and purpose.

• Champion innovation and collaboration, building on strong partnerships across the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire & Warrington, and national government.
• Deliver transformation and foster a high-performing organisational culture that is aligned with the Council’s vision, values, and corporate priorities.

Who we’re looking for:

A leader with vision, resilience and proven senior experience. Someone who can bring people together, navigate complexity, and turn ambition into delivery. You’ll be as comfortable building trusted relationships with regional leaders as you are motivating frontline colleagues.

Above all, you’ll share our passion for making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

If you are ready to take on one of the most rewarding leadership roles in local government – and to help shape the next chapter of Halton’s story – we’d love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion with a Penna consultant please contact:

• Pete John on 07701 305617 or Pete.john@penna.com
• Julie Towers on 07764 791736 or Julie.towers@penna.com

For further information about the role please visit: Candidate pack

Closing date: Sunday 5^th October 2025

Assessment Centre: Thursday 23^rd and Friday 24^th October 2025

Appointments Committee Final Interviews: Thursday 27^th November 2025

How to Apply

1. Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
2. Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
3. Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
4. Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.