Oxfordshire County Council

Deputy Director of Public Health

The closing date is 22 February 2026

Job summary

  • Salary range: £105,215.00 to £116,838.00 (plus 5% on call supplement)
  • Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 22nd February
  • Final Panel/AAC Interview: W/C 16th March (TBC)
  • Working hours: 37
  • Contract type: Permanent
  • Location: County Hall, Oxfordshire

Main duties of the job

Join us at Oxfordshire County Council as we build a Greener, Fairer and Healthier future. As Deputy Director and Consultant in Public Health, youll play a pivotal leadership role in a newly designated Marmot Place, driving our ambition to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for every resident. Working in partnership with NHS organisations, district councils, universities and the voluntary sector, youll co lead a talented team of around 50 specialists delivering our life course Health and Wellbeing Strategy. This is your opportunity to shape system wide change, champion preventative approaches and influence strategic boards across the county. Reporting to the Director of Public Health & Communities, youll join a forward thinking, values driven organisation where new ideas thrive, diversity is celebrated and innovation is our norm. If youre a courageous, knowledgeable and compassionate public health leader who wants to make a real and lasting impact, we want to hear from you.

About us

Deputy Director of Public HealthandConsultant in Public Health.

Together, were doing work that has a huge impact in Oxfordshire and beyond

Together, were shaping public health for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire by helping them to live healthier lives.

This is an excellent opportunity to advance your career under the supportive mentorship of Ansaf Azhar. Join our leadership team, collaborating with our current Deputy Director in a job share arrangement (18.5 hours per week)andserving as a Consultant in Public Health (18.5 hours per week). This unique role offers variety and ensures the continuous development of your skills across all areas of public health, with the support and guidance of your leadership team.

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£105,215 to £116,838 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VP94869194

Job locations

Oxford

OX1 1ND


Job description

Job responsibilities

A role with a difference

Oxfordshire is now a Marmot Place, recognising the work we are doing with our partners to reduce inequalities in health.

As Deputy Director, you will work with your job share to lead approximately 50 employees across seven expert and progressive teams, with direct line management responsibility of 2 consultants in public health and our business and planning manager. Our team is structured around the life course approach, to help implement our ambitious Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

As Deputy Director, you will act as a change agent, improving health outcomes in Oxfordshire through systems and partnership working. You will be a credible and high-profile system leader across our organisation, our district councils, NHS organisations, universities and voluntary & community sector, and accountable for delivery, effectiveness, corporate support and public health outcomes. This role is critical to the achievement of change and performance by translating strategy into successful service delivery, ensuring excellence for the residents of Oxfordshire.

As Consultant in Public Health, you will also be responsible for leading on improving the health and wellbeing of residents through the delivery of set strategic objectives. To achieve this, you will use your leadership and partnership skills to influence colleagues across the council and wider system to improve public health outcomes. All our public health consultants are part of the Directorate Leadership Team that provides the overall public leadership to our team of 50 staff.

As Consultant in Public Health, you will also play a vital system leadership role in ensuring Oxfordshire realises its ambition as a Marmot place. You will influence partnership boards to maximise health opportunities and the reduction of inequalities in health outcomes amongst residents. This role will be critical in leading on improving health and social outcomes for a particular client group including early years, children, working adults, older adults, learning disabilities and mental health.

Reporting to our Director of Public Health & Communities, Ansaf Azhar, this broad, exciting and innovative role sits at the corporate heart of the Council and will offer an ambitious Public Health professional the opportunity to make a real impact.

We're striving to do things differently

Together, were focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, youll look around and say, I make a difference. Because were all creating lasting change to peoples lives in Oxfordshire.

Everyday you'll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We're not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.

We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself while raising the bar for the future of public health.

You will be joining us at a time of transformation to develop Oxfordshire as a healthy place and support all parts of the council to prioritise preventative approaches and address health inequalities in our communities.

With a nationally recognised drug and alcohol service, new research partnerships with our local universities, our whole systems approach to healthy weight and a commitment to becoming a smoke free county our leadership team are consistently embracing our value of daring to do it differently.

Our work is central to the councils strategic plan and aim that Oxfordshire becomes Greener, Fairer and Healthier. Learn more.

Are you in?

About you

You are innovative and courageous, qualities that distinguish you as a leader. You will provide unwavering support and enthusiasm, always challenging the status quo to find better solutions through exploration and bravery. Equally important, you will exemplify our core values in all you do.

  • Always learning: You will have inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview). If UK trained in Public Health, you must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. If non-UK trained, you must have evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
  • Be Kind and Care: You will be a natural leader who understands and respects the unique qualities, abilities, strengths, and diverse backgrounds of individuals.
  • Equality and integrity in all you do: You will possess an in-depth understanding of legislation and best practices within your area of expertise and the wider sector, along with a good grasp of national and local government developments, policies, and emerging trends.
  • Taking responsibility: You will take responsibility for your team to deliver on the vision of Oxfordshire County Council, driving continual improvements and ensuring financial stability in terms of budget.
  • Daring to do it differently: You will have significant experience leading diverse and multifaceted teams at a senior level, uniting activities to achieve aligned objectives.

Fundamentally, you'll be passionate about delivering stand-out public services, because we're here to make every moment the best it can be for the residents of Oxfordshire.

Rewards and benefits

  • Culture of flexible working
  • Technology to support agile working where role permits
  • Up to 33 days holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
  • Option to buy additional holiday
  • Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
  • Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employers contribution of up to 19.9%
  • Enhanced family friendly policies
  • Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
  • Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

To find out more, please contact our retained consultants at Penna: Nick Raper on 07715 690463, or Tom Niven 07860 657044

Closing date: 11:59PM on Sunday 22nd February

Final Panel/AAC Interview: W/C 16th March (TBC)

Job description

Job responsibilities

A role with a difference

Oxfordshire is now a Marmot Place, recognising the work we are doing with our partners to reduce inequalities in health.

As Deputy Director, you will work with your job share to lead approximately 50 employees across seven expert and progressive teams, with direct line management responsibility of 2 consultants in public health and our business and planning manager. Our team is structured around the life course approach, to help implement our ambitious Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

As Deputy Director, you will act as a change agent, improving health outcomes in Oxfordshire through systems and partnership working. You will be a credible and high-profile system leader across our organisation, our district councils, NHS organisations, universities and voluntary & community sector, and accountable for delivery, effectiveness, corporate support and public health outcomes. This role is critical to the achievement of change and performance by translating strategy into successful service delivery, ensuring excellence for the residents of Oxfordshire.

As Consultant in Public Health, you will also be responsible for leading on improving the health and wellbeing of residents through the delivery of set strategic objectives. To achieve this, you will use your leadership and partnership skills to influence colleagues across the council and wider system to improve public health outcomes. All our public health consultants are part of the Directorate Leadership Team that provides the overall public leadership to our team of 50 staff.

As Consultant in Public Health, you will also play a vital system leadership role in ensuring Oxfordshire realises its ambition as a Marmot place. You will influence partnership boards to maximise health opportunities and the reduction of inequalities in health outcomes amongst residents. This role will be critical in leading on improving health and social outcomes for a particular client group including early years, children, working adults, older adults, learning disabilities and mental health.

Reporting to our Director of Public Health & Communities, Ansaf Azhar, this broad, exciting and innovative role sits at the corporate heart of the Council and will offer an ambitious Public Health professional the opportunity to make a real impact.

We're striving to do things differently

Together, were focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, youll look around and say, I make a difference. Because were all creating lasting change to peoples lives in Oxfordshire.

Everyday you'll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We're not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.

We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself while raising the bar for the future of public health.

You will be joining us at a time of transformation to develop Oxfordshire as a healthy place and support all parts of the council to prioritise preventative approaches and address health inequalities in our communities.

With a nationally recognised drug and alcohol service, new research partnerships with our local universities, our whole systems approach to healthy weight and a commitment to becoming a smoke free county our leadership team are consistently embracing our value of daring to do it differently.

Our work is central to the councils strategic plan and aim that Oxfordshire becomes Greener, Fairer and Healthier. Learn more.

Are you in?

About you

You are innovative and courageous, qualities that distinguish you as a leader. You will provide unwavering support and enthusiasm, always challenging the status quo to find better solutions through exploration and bravery. Equally important, you will exemplify our core values in all you do.

  • Always learning: You will have inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview). If UK trained in Public Health, you must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. If non-UK trained, you must have evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
  • Be Kind and Care: You will be a natural leader who understands and respects the unique qualities, abilities, strengths, and diverse backgrounds of individuals.
  • Equality and integrity in all you do: You will possess an in-depth understanding of legislation and best practices within your area of expertise and the wider sector, along with a good grasp of national and local government developments, policies, and emerging trends.
  • Taking responsibility: You will take responsibility for your team to deliver on the vision of Oxfordshire County Council, driving continual improvements and ensuring financial stability in terms of budget.
  • Daring to do it differently: You will have significant experience leading diverse and multifaceted teams at a senior level, uniting activities to achieve aligned objectives.

Fundamentally, you'll be passionate about delivering stand-out public services, because we're here to make every moment the best it can be for the residents of Oxfordshire.

Rewards and benefits

  • Culture of flexible working
  • Technology to support agile working where role permits
  • Up to 33 days holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
  • Option to buy additional holiday
  • Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
  • Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employers contribution of up to 19.9%
  • Enhanced family friendly policies
  • Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
  • Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.

To find out more, please contact our retained consultants at Penna: Nick Raper on 07715 690463, or Tom Niven 07860 657044

Closing date: 11:59PM on Sunday 22nd February

Final Panel/AAC Interview: W/C 16th March (TBC)

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

  • Please refer to job description above

Desirable

  • Please refer to job description above
Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

  • Please refer to job description above

Desirable

  • Please refer to job description above

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxfordshire County Council

Address

Oxford

OX1 1ND


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxfordshire County Council

Address

Oxford

OX1 1ND


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruiter

Nick Raper

execapplications@penna.com

07715690463

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£105,215 to £116,838 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VP94869194

Job locations

Oxford

OX1 1ND


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