Sandwell Council
Operations Manager - Public Protection and Community Safety
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Operations Manager – Public Protection and Community Safety
Grade/Salary: Grade J - £60,194 - £63,832
Contract Type: 12 Months Fixed Term / Secondment
Hours: 37 Hours
Location: Borough-wide
Operations Manager – Public Protection and Community Safety
Lead high-performing regulatory services. Drive improvement. Help keep Sandwell communities safe, healthy and protected.
Sandwell Council is seeking an experienced and dynamic Operations Manager to lead key services within our Public Protection portfolio. This is a senior leadership role responsible for managing, developing, and continuously improving a range of critical frontline and regulatory services that support residents, businesses, and communities across the borough. Working at the heart of Public Protection, you will lead operational teams, drive service excellence, and ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities while delivering positive outcomes for local people.
As part of our leadership team, you will play a key role in strengthening services, delivering transformation, and supporting the council's wider ambitions for safer, healthier, and more resilient communities.
The Opportunity
As Operations Manager – Public Protection and Community Safety, you will take responsibility for the operational management and continuous improvement of key Public Protection services, including:
- Licensing – ensuring effective regulation and compliance across a range of licensed activities
- Regulatory services – protecting consumers and businesses through enforcement, education, and partnership working
- Environmental Health – delivering services that safeguard public health, environmental quality, and community wellbeing
Working across multiple service areas, you will ensure services remain customer-focused, efficient, compliant, and responsive to emerging challenges, while supporting strategic priorities and organizational objectives.
This role is about leadership, improvement, and delivery.
What You'll Be Accountable For
You will:
- Lead and manage operational Public Protection services, ensuring high levels of performance and customer satisfaction
- Develop and implement service strategies, business plans, and performance frameworks that drive continuous improvement
- Deliver service transformation programs and organizational change initiatives that improve outcomes and efficiency
- Manage service budgets effectively, identifying opportunities for efficiencies and income generation
- Lead the development and implementation of innovative and digital solutions to modernize service delivery
- Build strong relationships with partners, stakeholders, elected members, and senior leaders across the organization
- Ensure services operate in compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks, and council policies
- Provide visible and effective leadership to teams, creating a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous development
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You will be instrumental in ensuring that Public Protection services continue to evolve and respond effectively to the needs of residents, businesses, and communities.
Why This Role Is Different
- You'll lead services that make a tangible difference to public safety, health, and community wellbeing
- You'll have the opportunity to shape service delivery and influence strategic direction across a broad portfolio
- You'll play a key role in service transformation and the development of innovative approaches to regulation and enforcement
- You'll join a collaborative and forward-thinking leadership team committed to continuous improvement and excellent public services
- If you're motivated by leadership, improvement, and making a positive impact, this role offers the opportunity to drive meaningful change at scale.
Who We're Looking For
You'll bring:
- A relevant degree or management qualification
- Regulatory services experience
- Significant senior management experience, including leadership of teams, budgets, strategic projects, and service transformation
- Experience of working within a complex public sector environment and an understanding of local government governance and decision-making processes
- Strong partnership-working skills and the ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and performance management skills
- A track record of delivering high-quality services, managing change, and achieving positive outcomes
- Most importantly, you'll combine strategic thinking with operational delivery and bring the leadership skills required to inspire teams and drive performance.
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Why Sandwell Council?
At Sandwell Council, our work has a real impact. We are proud to be a values-led organization that supports its employees with excellent benefits, a competitive remuneration package, and a strong focus on development. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in delivering services that make a real and lasting difference to thousands of people across the borough.
To find out more, please visit our careers page: We Are Sandwell – We Are Sandwell
Please submit a CV and supporting statement to Sheona Grey on sheona_grey@sandwell.gov.uk
Click here to find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a high number of applications be received. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. If you are an internal candidate and currently at risk, please let the recruiting manager know.
We place equality, diversity, and inclusion at the core of who we are and how we lead, where every voice matters. At Sandwell, we recognize and value the richness that comes from diverse lived experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and identities. This diversity makes us a stronger and more effective council.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are treated fairly, and have the opportunity to thrive. Creating an environment where colleagues feel respected, supported, and able to contribute fully is central to our culture and the way we work. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants and employees have equitable access to opportunities. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and within the workplace so that everyone has the support they need to perform at their best and succeed in their role.
If you have any questions relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion, you can contact the EDI Team at EDI_Team@sandwell.gov.uk.
If you wish to apply as Care Leaver or a Disability Confident candidate, please make sure to state this when submitting your CV.
If you have a disability and require assistance in submitting your CV, please contact sheona_grey@sandwell.gov.uk.
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