Head of Programmes

Posted on 25 March 2026
Applications close on 14 April 2026

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All Locations:

Dorset

Salary Details:

£65,068 - £73,206

Vacancy Type:

Permanent

Function:

Public Health

Employer:

Dorset Council

Job Working Pattern:

Full time

Closing time of advert

23:59

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Head of Programmes

About the role

We’re looking for an inspiring, strategic and delivery‑focused public health leader to join our high‑performing team and help shape healthier futures for communities across Dorset.

Is this you?

You will bring a strong track record in designing, commissioning and leading impactful public health programmes or analogous system‑wide initiatives.
You excel at building trusted relationships with a broad range of partners and stakeholders across complex systems.
You are confident driving change in fast‑moving, multi‑agency environments and understand how to influence across organisational boundaries.
You’re passionate about reducing health inequalities, improving wellbeing and creating the conditions where communities can thrive.
You bring energy, adaptability and self‑motivation, and you thrive in roles where no two days look the same.

The Role

As our Head of Programmes, you will lead Dorset Council’s drug and alcohol programme, working closely with the Consultant in Public Health and our experienced commissioning team.
This is an exciting moment to join: significant additional investment in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery has been secured for the next three years, enabling us to build on recent improvements and accelerate long‑term system change.

You will also have the opportunity to shape and lead other areas of work, depending on your professional expertise and interests.
This is a senior leadership role with scope to influence strategy, drive innovation and strengthen our commissioning approach across key public health priorities.

The Team

The Public Health team at Dorset Council is a supportive, ambitious and collaborative place to build your career.
Our work is fast‑paced and complex, reflecting the real challenges and opportunities that come with improving health outcomes at scale—but that’s also what makes the role rewarding.

We commission essential public health services including:

children’s nursing,
sexual health services,
drug and alcohol treatment,
health improvement services,
community‑based wellbeing programmes, and
health protection.

We work closely with partners across the system to deliver meaningful population‑level improvements in health and wellbeing for Dorset residents.

Please read the CONTEXT STATEMENT which best describes this specific role.

Further Information

Working Pattern

Flexible working hours Monday to Friday

Hours: 37 hours per week

You will need to spend part of the working week in our office in Dorchester and this commitment will vary from week to week depending on business need. You will need a valid UK driver’s license as occasional visits to providers/partners in locations across Dorset will be required.

Interviews will be held on 21/22 April in person.

Contact

For further information please contact Dr Nicky Cleave (Consultant in Public Health): [email protected] or 01305 224400

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
work in partnership to make a real difference
value every role and the impact it has on our communities
support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
have access to a range of benefits and support
receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.

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