Chief Executive

Association of Directors of Public Health

About the Organisation

Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) is the membership body for Directors of Public Health (DPHs) in the UK. It represents the professional views of all DsPH as the local leaders for the nation’s health. The Association has a heritage dating back over 160 years and is a collaborative organisation, working in partnership with others to strengthen the voice for public health. It seeks to improve and protect the health of the population through collating and presenting the views of DsPH; advising on public health policy and legislation at a local, regional, national, and international level; facilitating a support network for DsPH; and providing opportunities for DsPH to develop professional practice.

About the role

We are seeking a new Chief Executive to lead the organisation through the next phase of its evolution, maintaining and building upon its established reputation and influence. The role requires a wide-ranging set of skills, capabilities and experience, proven leadership and credibility at the highest level. The successful candidate will have strong negotiating and influencing skills, and the ability to work independently, with board-level accountability, and be expected to develop and sustain extensive national networks across local authorities, the NHS, the voluntary sector and central Government.

Possessing an adaptability in working practice together with a self-motivated, proactive approach that performs well under pressure, the successful candidate will be educated to Master's level with ongoing study in public health. In addition, they should have senior management training or equivalent experience and a clear record of continuing professional development. Experience should include at least five years in the public health environment, including in policy development, plus a minimum of three years in operational, financial and resource management.

Accountable to our Board of Trustees and the wider membership, the new Chief Executive will develop the strategic direction of the Association and lead the organisation to deliver a rolling medium-term Strategic Business Plan, balanced budgets and effective governance in compliance with company and charity law. An ability to prioritise planned and reactive work programmes to meet the needs of our membership is required, alongside the sourcing and delivery of timely bids for external funding, together with the management of staff and resources to ensure value for money and staff wellbeing.

The post holder will support the President, Vice‑President, Board and ADPH Council by applying public health knowledge through teaching, coaching, publishing and presenting as appropriate, maintaining a personal programme of continuing professional development, and be expected to uphold the Association’s values of members first, excellence, collaboration, inclusion and professionalism.

Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Develop the strategic direction for the Association together with the Board, and lead the organisation to ensure that the following functions are undertaken, overseeing their delivery:
  • Horizon scanning, taking account of the complex national political and policy context, to ensure that ADPH remains relevant and useful to Directors of Public Health and stakeholders across the UK.
  • Championing ADPH, raising its profile and voice and promoting its objectives in order to create the environment in which to secure credibility, financial stability and goodwill.
  • Understanding the demography, needs and concerns of Directors of Public Health across the UK to ensure relevant and timely ADPH work programmes.
  • Championing the role and work of Directors of Public Health in order to develop an external understanding of the complexity of the role and support members and their needs.
  • Continuity of the Association’s work programmes and relationships across electoral changes and varying voluntary input.

Management:

• Lead the organisation to ensure key aspects of management internally and externally are delivered, including:
  • Production and continuous review of a rolling medium-term Strategic Business Plan and delivery of its objectives.
  • Prioritising both planned and reactive work programmes to ensure effective outcomes and a reasonable workload for staff.
  • Sourcing and delivery of appropriate and timely bids for external funding to deliver additional relevant projects.
  • Successful management of the Association’s financial and operational affairs with probity and efficiency, and delivery of a balanced budget.
  • Effective management of staff and resources to ensure value for money and staff wellbeing.
  • Development and maintenance of fit-for-purpose communication, engagement and information systems and policies for both internal and external use, including appropriate archiving and reporting.
  • Maintenance of a robust and relevant governance framework (including a written Constitution) and support of its use at all times, promoting a culture of quality and risk assessment and ensuring compliance with company and charity law.

Deliverables:

• Lead and oversee the delivery of the following outcomes:
  • Strong membership engagement and executive commitment through personal credibility and delivery.
  • An impactful public health policy and advocacy programme balancing national public health promotion with support for Directors of Public Health locally, managing conflicts of interest and opinion.
  • A robust programme for public health practice improvement, ensuring good practice is shared across the membership and stakeholders.
  • A valued programme of development for Directors of Public Health, based on members’ needs, taking into account different priorities across the UK.
  • Complex projects, including research and evaluation to support ADPH work and the Director of Public Health role.
  • Robust professional relationships with Government departments, local authority organisations and the NHS, to ensure ADPH is a trusted and respected voice for public health.
  • Professional links with other national public health organisations in order to maximise the voice for public health on a variety of issues and avoid duplication of effort.
  • Robust links with the voluntary sector in order to collaborate on relevant advocacy and campaigns and support their public health work.
  • Other appropriate collaborations and partnerships contribute professionally to external initiatives to provide added value to the Association’s work.

Professional:

• Use public health knowledge and competencies to support the President, Vice-President, Board and Council in their ADPH work to maximise outcomes.
• Undertake teaching, coaching, publishing and presenting as appropriate.
• Contribute own public health knowledge and abilities to wider public health work as appropriate within the constraints of the role.
• Maintain and record a personal programme of continuing professional development.
• Adhere to ADPH values: members first; excellence; collaboration; inclusion and professionalism.

Key Relationships:

• Directors of Public Health across the UK.
• Chief Executives and Chairs of other national organisations with public health links, NHS, LGA, think tanks and single topic charities.
• UK Government departments with public health remits, DHSC, PHW, UKHSA

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Education & Qualifications:

• Evidence of continuing study in public health.
• Senior management training or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience:

• At least five years of experience working in public health, including policy development.
• At least three years in operational, financial and resource management.
• Close working with local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary sector.
• Working at the national level across sectors and professions.
• Working at the Board level with proven strategic management.
• Line management and recruitment.
• Complex programme and project management.

Skills, Ability & Knowledge:

• Proven leadership skills.
• Ability to work independently with Board-level accountability.
• Ability to develop strong networks.
• Proven knowledge of the public health agenda and its local and national political context.
• Proven negotiating and influencing skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.

Qualities & Attributes:

• Professional and personal credibility at the highest level.
• Understanding of political and cultural issues and the ability to adapt working practice to suit.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and proactive with an innovative and flexible approach to work and the ability to work well under pressure.

Desirable Criteria:

• Advocacy and campaigns. Public speaking.
• Knowledge of charity law and governance.
• Knowledge of governance in the public sector.
• Knowledge of corporate issues in local authorities and the NHS. Core public health competencies.

Required Qualifications

• Educated to Master's level.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
• Travel throughout the UK will be expected, and access to transport is essential. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

How to apply

• To apply, submit a CV and a covering letter outlining your leadership experience, strategic achievements and vision for supporting Directors of Public Health across the UK to Mark Hamblett, Head of Corporate Affairs, at [email protected] by 17:00 on Thursday, 30th April 2026. 
• We are also able to offer the opportunity for an informal chat with Nicola Close MBE, current ADPH Chief Executive and Greg Fell, ADPH President.

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