Head of Street Scene Operations (Internal Candidates Only)

This position is open to internal candidates only. Any applications received from external candidates will not be considered and will be automatically rejected. Important Information for Current Barnet Council Employees Where possible, employees who have access to Oracle are encouraged to apply via the Opportunity Marketplace (Internal Career Site). This helps to ensure applications are correctly identified as internal and avoids potential delays during the recruitment process.
About Barnet Council Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do.
About the role
The Head of Street Scene Operations leads the delivery and tactical management of Barnet’s frontline environmental services, including Recycling and Waste and Grounds Maintenance. The role bridges operational performance and strategic objectives, ensuring services are efficient, resilient, responsive and aligned with Council priorities. Key responsibilities include developing practical solutions to complex operational and policy challenges, driving innovation, and improving outcomes for residents. The post holder acts as the senior client-side lead for external Street Scene contractors, ensuring effective service delivery and performance management. They also deputise for the Assistant Director, support the development of service standards, and help shape strategic and operational direction. The role manages an annual revenue budget of approximately £15 million and has leadership responsibility for around 300 permanent and agency staff.
Please click here (https://lbbpublic001.blob.core.windows.net/jobdesc/261008-HeadofStreetSceneOperations-JobDescription.pdf) to download the Job description for this role. (Right-click and select “Open in new tab” so you can keep the job description open while completing your application)

About you

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate most of the following:

- Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience) with significant expertise in leading large-scale environmental, Street Scene, public realm, or operational services.
- Proven experience operating at a senior management level within a complex organisation, delivering high-quality, customer-focused services and driving continuous improvement.
- Strong knowledge of Waste Management, Street Cleansing, Grounds Maintenance, Commercial Services, or similar operational environments, including relevant legislation and policy frameworks.
- Experienced in managing budgets, contracts, delivery partners, and multidisciplinary teams to achieve performance, financial, and service objectives.
- Demonstrable ability to lead change, deliver capital projects, implement innovative solutions, and build effective relationships with elected Members, stakeholders, and partners.
- Committed to continuous professional development, with Project Management and Management qualifications desirable.

What we offer
- 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme , which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents
- A comprehensive Flexible Working Policy which supports work-life balance by empowering staff and management to make decisions around when, where, and how work is done
- A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
- Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance
How to apply Read the job description and person specification before clicking ‘Apply’ to commence the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact Vishal Thaker, Assistant Director on 0208 359 5109.
Proposed Interview Date(s): Week commencing 23rd Nov 2026 Please note that interview arrangements are provisional and may be subject to change. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so early submission is encouraged.
System notice: Some dates shown on our online application system (such as “Apply Before”) appear in US date format (MM/DD/YYYY) due to Oracle system settings.
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool to support your application as a reasonable adjustment, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn, escalated to counter Fraud for further investigation and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Barnet Council 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. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures, this may include AI Detection Screening, Biometric ID/Right to Work Checks, Qualification and Registration Checks, Up to 6 years of Employment Data and Insights to Accelerate Screening (Konfir), Up to 5 years of Employment History References, DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) Checks, Credit Checks and Social Media, Sanctions and Occupational Health Screening.
To deliver Barnet Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and hybrid working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.
Barnet Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply
All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of four months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient number of applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.
Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.