The Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider the appointment of a new Director of Young People and Opportunities. The meeting's agenda also included procedural items such as apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Appointment of Director of Young People and Opportunities

The Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee was scheduled to interview candidates for the position of Director of Young People and Opportunities. This role is a senior leadership position, reporting to the Corporate Director of Children and Young People, Laura Eden¹. The Director of Young People and Opportunities would be responsible for providing leadership across a range of areas including targeted youth support, youth justice, youth services, NEET reduction, and post-16 education.

The recruitment process, overseen by Laura Eden and Caroline Bloch², Strategic HR Business Partner, began in August 2026. An external recruitment agency, Gatenby Sanderson, was engaged to assist with the search and selection. Advertisements for the vacancy were placed in publications such as the Municipal Journal, The Guardian Online, and Jobs Go Public, as well as on the Council's website. A total of ninety-three applications were received.

Following an initial longlisting process, nine candidates were invited to complete a technical assessment. Four candidates were then selected to proceed to a Selection Assessment Centre, which was scheduled to take place before the final interviews. This assessment centre was designed to include input from a Partner Stakeholder Panel and a Young People's Panel, allowing candidates to demonstrate their suitability for the role through engagement with key stakeholders from health, policing, education, and the voluntary sector.

The report pack indicated that the sub-committee was to consider recommending a successful applicant for appointment, subject to consultation with Cabinet members. The exempt information regarding the candidates, including interview schedules, job descriptions, candidate applications, and assessment sheets, was contained within Appendix A of the public reports pack³. The financial implications of the appointment were noted as being within the Council's established budget and in line with the Council's Pay Policy for 2026/2027.