Careers
#WeAreCumberland

Senior Leadership Recruitment

Join our leadership team and showcase your talent, creativity and determination to deliver excellent public services for the diverse communities we serve.

Interim Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service)

A career-defining leadership role | £138,960 to £155,382 full time salary

This is a unique opportunity to become the inaugural Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service of the Cumbria Combined Authority.

The creation of the Cumbria Combined Authority (CA) marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock the full potential of one of England’s most distinctive places. With devolution bringing new powers, new investment and a directly elected Mayor from May 2027, the Authority will play a central role in driving inclusive growth, improving public services and championing the needs of communities across Cumbria.

  • Location: Penrith (including agile working and working from home)
  • Contract Type: Temporary (18 months)
  • Closing Date: 18th January 2026

  Find Out More & Apply

Interim Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Shape the Future of Cumbria | £81,049 - £83,933 full time salary

As Monitoring Officer, you will play a critical role in shaping the integrity, culture and governance of the new Authority.

Providing senior leadership and statutory oversight, you will ensure that decision-making is lawful, transparent and robust, supporting high standards of conduct and public accountability. You will lead the development and maintenance of the CA’s Constitution and guide Members and officers through the Authority’s formation and early operation.

In addition, the role leads HR and Organisational Development, helping to build an inclusive, diverse and values-led workforce that reflects the communities the CA serves.

  • Location: Penrith (including agile working and working from home)
  • Contract Type: Temporary (18 months)
  • Closing Date: 18th January 2026

  Find Out More & Apply

Interim Director of Finance (Section 73 Officer)

Shape the Future of Cumbria | £81,049 - £83,933 full time salary

As a member of the Cumbria Combined Authority’s Senior Leadership Team, the Interim Director of Finance will be at the heart of establishing a financially resilient and well-governed organisation.

You will act as the Authority’s principal financial adviser, ensuring sound financial stewardship, strong governance and full compliance with all legislative and regulatory requirements. Working closely with the Mayor, elected Members and senior colleagues, you will help shape the CA’s operating model, corporate strategy and delivery of mayoral priorities from May 2027.

  • Location: Penrith (including agile working and working from home)
  • Contract Type: Temporary (18 months)
  • Closing Date: 18th January 2026

  Find Out More & Apply

About Our Council

Cumberland Council is an ambitious unitary authority, founded in 2023, serving the region of Cumberland in the northwest of England.

We're a values-driven organisation with a strong focus on health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to putting people first means we're dedicated to helping our employees reach their full potential while delivering inclusive public services that create positive outcomes for our residents.

We have some fantastic opportunities for innovative and forward-thinking leaders to join our leadership team and drive our exciting agenda forward, working together, fighting for a better future for Cumberland.

Woman with arm around young child looking out to mountains

About Cumberland

Cumberland is a historic region in northwest England renowned for its stunning natural beauty including parts of the Lake District National Park, its rugged mountains, and picturesque valleys, making it a highly desirable area to live and work.

  • Our community has 274,000 residents across 125,500 households, with a quarter of our population over 65.
  • There are 11,500 businesses in the region, with 9 in 10 being microbusinesses.
  • The region's largest city is Carlisle with a population of 110,000
  • Cumberland has a 79.6% employment rate with 134,000 people aged 16 or older in employment.
  • Our local economy is estimated to be worth £7 billion with around £1.5 billion coming from welcoming 18 million tourists each year.
  • Cumberland is home to Scafell Pike - the highest mountain in England with a summit height of 3,208 feet (978 m).

Our values

Cumberland Council Values Graphic with text in everything we do we aim to: be compassionate, be innovative, be empowering, be ambitious, be collaborative.

Be ambitious

We proactively improve and change the way we do things. We embrace and drive forward change, taking account of the impact on self and others. We utilise the energy, skills and resources of our teams to deliver the best results for our customers.

Be collaborative

We connect with individuals, teams and other stakeholders to build relationships based on trust to achieve our common goals. We understand the needs of our local communities/internal customers to co-design and deliver services and solutions at the earliest opportunity, with a focus on health and wellbeing.

Be compassionate

We create a safe environment for people to learn and thrive in their role. We adopt a culture of transparency, fairness and respect for all. We consider the wellbeing of self and team when making decisions

Be empowering

We understand the skills, talents and diversity of people in order to develop and support them effectively. We delegate appropriate responsibility to team members allowing time, space and support to deliver. We hold constructive, strength-based conversations to motivate and increase performance.

Be innovative

We are curious about different viewpoints. We use coaching techniques to encourage problem-solving. We encourage a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Our vision

Our vision for Cumberland is to take a fresh approach to the delivery of inclusive services that are shaped by our residents and communities and enable positive outcomes for health and wellbeing, prosperity and the environment to fulfil the potential of our people and our area.

We believe passionately in the delivery of excellent public services. To do that we need to be clear about the values and behaviours that we need to drive change and achieve our high standards.

Read our Council Plan
Hawker Festival Cumberland
location map of cumberland region with town names including longtown brampton carlisle dalston wigton silloth aspatria maryport cockermouth workington keswick whitehaven cleator moor egremont millom

Our location

Cumberland Council serves the people of Allerdale, Copeland, and Carlisle.

Cumberland inspires pride of place, but it is also an area of stark contrast. We are home to some of the world’s most stunning rural and coastal landscapes, but we also have areas in our city and towns in need of renewal. We are an economy of small businesses, but we also host the largest nuclear site in Europe.

Household earnings in some areas are amongst the highest in the northwest, but we have pockets of real deprivation and have more households living in fuel poverty than the national average.

We are one of the best places to visit, boasting two world heritage sites, an area of outstanding natural beauty and world class attractions that draw in millions of visitors. We are one of the safest places to live, but our increasingly diverse population is aging and declining.

Our Staff Benefits

As a member of our leadership team, you'll enjoy great rewards and work in a vibrant setting that fosters collaboration and community engagement. 

Some of our benefits vary depending on the needs of the role, but generally you'll enjoy:

  • Competitive compensation for your role
  • Generous annual leave
  • Defined benefit pension
  • Further learning & development
  • A range of wellbeing support services if you need them.
More on our Staff Benefits
Cumberland Staff

Senior Leadership Vacancies

Interim Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service)

£138,960 to £155,382

Penrith

Apply by 18th January 2026.

Find Out More

£81,049 - £83,933

Penrith

Apply by 18th January 2026.

Find Out More

Interim Director of Finance (Section 73 Officer)

£81,049 - £83,933

Penrith

Apply by 18th January 2026.

Find Out More