About us

A unique mix of vibrant urban communities, stunning natural landscapes with a breathtaking range of wildlife and a wealth of historic culture, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is a fantastic place to live, work, visit and invest in.

With over 400,000 residents, three universities, two hospitals, a castle and priory, international conference centre, an airport and a commercial port, it’s an area brimming with prospects and potential. 

Businesses recognise this and are investing – from premium restaurants opening in Bournemouth to fintech firms expanding in Poole, we are home to over 15,500 businesses.

Our town centres and local high streets are a mix of market town community feel to busy urban hub. And we have several sites ripe for regeneration, including a former power station site in Poole and key locations in Bournemouth.

We’re also proud of our natural spaces – from 15 miles of south-facing sandy beach and the second largest natural harbour in the world, to 19 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and 2,500 hectares of greenspace. We’re working with partners to support nature recovery, reduce our carbon emissions and create spaces where nature and people can thrive.

And at BCP Council we want to make the most of these natural assets and committed communities of residents and businesses to create a place where people, nature, coast and towns come together in sustainable, safe and healthy communities.

Six years after the most complicated local government reorganisation in 40 years, BCP Council is a modern, forward-thinking, ambitious council. We’ve overcome financial and political instability, improved core services, established a clear Corporate Strategy and led the way in digital transformation.

 and led the way in digital transformation.

Our Children’s Services has just been awarded a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted – one of only a few to make this leap directly from ‘inadequate’, our transformation-programme is sector-leading and we’ve achieved a balanced medium financial plan for the next three years.

Our ‘Vision for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’ sets out our plans for the next few years and we’re determined to deliver value for money for those that depend on us whilst respecting the identities and heritage of our three towns that make up the urban conurbation.

Working with our public sector partners, businesses, charities and community groups is key to this success.

We’re a council ready to make the most of our own and our area’s potential by putting people at the heart of what we do and driving forward our ambitions for the three towns. We want a visible, energetic Chief Executive to drive that agenda with residents, businesses and partners alike.

Who we’re looking for

Having established strong foundations post-LGR, we are now looking for a leader to:

  • Take forward our sustainable growth agenda to influence regional and national decisions and secure investment
  • Continue to establish relationships and work with key partners across the region, acting as an ambassador for BCP Council
  • Prioritise building relationships with resident and communities
  • Have the financial expertise and agility to navigate the challenging economic environment
  • Navigate a complex political environment with agility, political acumen and diplomacy
  • Continue to drive innovation and take a data-led approach
  • Be the driving force BCP Council’s strategic vision, working with the political and officer leadership teams
  • Lead and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary corporate leadership team
  • Be able to identify blind spots and address them effectively
  • Have energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the Council, places and the communities we serve
  • Be a visible and personable leader, across the detail, and with the high standards that drive a culture of continuous improvement
  • Be as comfortable talking to residents, members and senior stakeholders as they are the local media.