Welcome to Thurrock Council

Everything is changing for the better at Thurrock Council. Let’s face it: given the scale of the financial, governance and leadership challenges Thurrock faced in 2022 when the Council went into intervention, it had to. It’s been a hard, but ultimately rewarding journey for the Council since those dark days, and the Council is much stronger, healthier and more confident as a consequence of its improvement journey.

Don’t get me wrong, there is more to do to consolidate the improvements in leadership and governance, and to address the ongoing challenges in finance. But the council has a transformation plan, embedded and implemented in the organisation and supported by a strong, confident and committed cohort of senior managers. With it in place, we can deliver more change and address the new challenges of local government reorganisation.

The council needs a chief executive who has the right blend of leadership qualities. This is a role for someone who works at their best in a change environment. Someone who can work with a strong and experienced senior leadership team, commissioners and with a political administration formed post-election to continue the transformation journey.

Between now and 2028 Thurrock transitions into a new Authority – South West Essex Council. To achieve this successfully, Thurrock needs a chief executive who can lead, enable and support the organisation to achieve its transformation objectives, be fit for the merger, and work well with Basildon Council and Essex County Council in forming the new Council.

For an incoming chief executive, it’s an opportunity to help Thurrock Council end well and an opportunity for those who are seeking roles beyond Thurrock to demonstrate the depth and breadth of their leadership in a complex change environment.

The council will look to its new chief executive to work alongside its managerial and political leadership and commissioners to continue this change journey. If this leadership prospect interests and excites you, don’t miss it. This is a rare chance to lead an organisation that knows where it’s going, and has the courage and determination to get there. If that excites you, we want to hear from you.

Dave Smith,
Managing Director Commissioner