Council leaders from Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council will meet in Kendal next week for a high-stakes decision that will shape Cumbria for years to come – the appointment of the Interim Chief Executive of the new Cumbria Combined Authority.
The role, carrying a six-figure salary of up to £155,382 will be one of the most powerful public sector jobs in the county, with responsibility for steering Cumbria through devolution and towards the election of its first-ever Mayor in 2027.
The Cumbria Combined Authority is being created as part of a major devolution deal, bringing new powers, new money and new influence for the county. The interim Chief Executive will act as Head of Paid Service, effectively becoming the organisation’s most senior officer during its critical first 18 months.
The role was advertised as been based in Penrith, the successful candidate will be tasked with building the authority from scratch – designing and scaling the new authorities teams, setting governance rules, and managing major programmes covering Transport, Housing, Skills and jobs, Regeneration, Health and wellbeing, Environment and net zero
From May 2027, Cumbria will see its firs Mayor elected when the interim chief executive role could be made permanent or readvertised.
The current interim post is full-time (37 hours a week), applications closed on the 18th January 2026, with final interviews held yesterday (Monday 2nd February).
Council insiders say the Kendal meeting will be a pivotal moment, as leaders look for someone with the political savvy and leadership clout to balance competing local interests while delivering results for the new authority that will sit across both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness with the first meeting of the new authority expected to take place in March.
Supporters of the Cumbria Devolution deal say the new authority could finally give Cumbria the tools it needs to punch its weight nationally. Critics, however, will be watching closely to see whether the promises of devolution translate into real benefits for towns like Penrith, not just bigger bureaucracy.
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