Director, Community Safety and Integrated Enforcement

Why Southwark?

Southwark is one of London’s most ambitious and diverse boroughs. We are home to vibrant communities, world-class cultural destinations, and some of the capital’s most iconic places. We are also a council with a strong social purpose, committed to tackling inequality, keeping people safe, and working with our communities to build a fairer, greener Southwark. We are proud of our values and our ambition to be an inclusive, anti-racist organisation, where difference is valued and leadership is accountable, visible and values driven.

What You'll Be Doing

This is a critical senior leadership role at the heart of Southwark’s work to keep residents, businesses and visitors safe.

As Director of Community Safety and Integrated Enforcement, you will provide strategic leadership across a wide and complex portfolio, including:

• Community safety and anti-social behaviour
• Integrated enforcement and neighbourhood safety
• Counter-terrorism (Prevent, Prepare and Protect)
• Emergency planning and business continuity
• CCTV operations
• Licensing and regulatory services
• Trading standards, food safety and health & safety enforcement

You will lead the continued development of Southwark’s Integrated Community Safety Enforcement model, ensuring enforcement is intelligence-led, preventative, proportionate and fair, and that it works together with safeguarding, prevention and community resilience.

Reporting to the Strategic Director for Environment, Sustainability and Leisure, you will work closely with the Leader, Chief Executive, Cabinet Members, senior officers and partners across policing, health, government and the voluntary sector.

Southwark is a high-profile, high-risk borough for public safety and counterterrorism. You will be a calm, authoritative and trusted presence able to lead during major incidents, advise at the highest levels, and represent the council confidently in Gold Command and other strategic forums.

What We're Looking For

What you’ll be responsible for

• Providing strategic leadership and expert advice on community safety, enforcement, public protection and regulatory services.
• Leading Southwark’s statutory Community Safety Partnership, ensuring strong governance, delivery and accountability.
• Acting as the council’s lead officer for counterterrorism and extremism, briefing senior political and corporate leaders on risks and mitigations.
• Ensuring effective emergency planning, civil contingencies and business continuity arrangements are in place and regularly tested.
• Overseeing a wide range of regulatory and licensing services, ensuring statutory compliance and alignment with Southwark’s wider priorities.
• Leading and evolving an integrated enforcement approach that improves collaboration across council services and partners.
• Managing large and complex budgets, delivering efficiencies, and securing external funding where appropriate.
• Building strong relationships with communities, partners and government to deliver safer, more resilient neighbourhoods.
• Providing visible, inclusive leadership to a diverse, multi-disciplinary workforce.

About you

You will be a senior leader with credibility, presence and purpose, bringing:

• Significant experience at Director / Assistant Director or equivalent senior level in a large, complex public sector organisation.
• A strong track record of leading community safety, enforcement and/or regulatory services.
• Demonstrable experience of designing and delivering integrated enforcement models, working across organisational and partnership boundaries.
• Deep understanding of statutory powers, governance, training and assurance in enforcement and public protection.
• Experience of emergency response and critical incident management, including working within gold or silver command structures.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience managing multi-million-pound budgets and delivering value for money.
• The ability to work confidently with elected members, senior leaders, communities and external partners.
• A leadership style that is collaborative, inclusive and values-led, with a clear commitment to fairness and equity.

How to apply

Please submit:

• Your CV, and
• Respond to the three-application questions outlining how you meet the requirements of the role.

Additional Information

Recruitment Timeline

Closing date: Sunday 1 March 2026

Interview and assessment: w/c 23 March 2026

Useful Documentation

• Southwark 2030 Strategy

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Benefits

Salary: Up to £150,333 pa, plus JNC benefit package to the value of £3,503pa

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark

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Attachments

• Click here to view the Job description and Person specification