How to become a chief executive or senior official
Official title: Chief executives and senior officials
Also called: Chief of staff, Chief executive, Executive chairman, Chief executive officer, Band 0, Band 1b, Band 1c, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5
Chief executives and senior officials head large enterprises and organisations. They plan, direct and co-ordinate, with directors and managers, the resources necessary for the various functions and specialist activities of these enterprises and organisations. The chief executives of hospitals will be classified in this unit group. Senior officials in national government direct the operations of government departments. Senior officials in local government participate in the implementation of local government policies and ensure that legal, statutory and other provisions concerning the running of a local authority are observed. Senior officials of special interest organisations ensure that legal, statutory and other regulations concerning the running of trade associations, employers’ associations, learned societies, trades unions, charitable organisations and similar bodies are observed. Chief executives and senior officials also act as representatives of the organisations concerned for the purposes of high-level consultation and negotiation.
Main tasks
- Analyses economic, social, legal and other data, and plans, formulates and directs at strategic level the operation of a company or organisation
- Consults with subordinates to formulate, implement and review company/organisation policy, authorises funding for policy implementation programmes and institutes reporting, auditing and control systems
- Prepares, or arranges for the preparation of, reports, budgets, forecasts or other information
- Plans and controls the allocation of resources and the selection of senior staff
- Evaluates government/local authority departmental activities, discusses problems with government/local authority officials and administrators and formulates departmental policy
- Negotiates and monitors contracted out services provided to the local authority by the private sector
- Studies and acts upon any legislation that may affect the local authority
- Stimulates public interest by providing publicity, giving lectures and interviews and organising appeals for a variety of causes
How to become one
Entry may be by appointment or internal promotion, as appropriate, and is usually based on relevant experience although candidates may also require academic or professional qualifications for some posts.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Senior leader (level 7). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0480.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £99,944 a year The middle half earn £63,161 to £151,903.
- About 148,300 people work in this job now, and about 162,500 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a chief executive or senior official?
Entry may be by appointment or internal promotion, as appropriate, and is usually based on relevant experience although candidates may also require academic or professional qualifications for some posts.
How much does a chief executive or senior official earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £99,944 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £63,161 to £151,903.
Is a chief executive or senior official a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 148,300 to about 162,500 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a chief executive or senior official?
Usually. 73% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03