POWYS County Council has announced additions and changes to its top roles – with one secondary school headteacher leaving his role to join the local authority.

Dr Richard Jones will become director of education for Powys County Council (PCC), having been head of Ysgol Calon Cymru – which joined Builth Wells High School and Llandrindod Wells High School as one school in September 2018 – for the last four years.

Dr Jones is one of five new appointments to the corporate leadership team alongside new chief office for place Matt Perry; Jane Thomas as director of corporate services; Diane Reynolds as director of economic development and growth; and Nina Davies as director of social services and wellbeing.

The local authority said a recruitment campaign for five roles ran at the end of last year following a period of interim appointments.

The council held interviews for five roles with salaries of over £100,000 last month.

“An open and rigorous recruitment process has followed for permanent positions that will each lead and manage a portfolio of services,” said a spokesperson.

Mr Perry has worked in local government for 26 years and held senior positions in both Powys and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Councils.

He joined Powys as head of highways, transport and recycling in September 2020 and has been interim director of environment since October.

Ms Thomas is an experienced local government financial professional with over 30 years in the public sector.

She was appointed head of finance (Section 151 officer) in Powys in 2019 and was head of finance and deputy 151 officer for two years prior.

Having worked in the public, private and third sector, Ms Reynolds joined PCC in 2006 and has held a number of positions including deputy head of transformation and communication.

She was appointed head of economy and digital services in 2019 and has been interim director of economy and community since October.

Dr Jones, who has been headteacher of Ysgol Calon Cymru since 2019, started his career in 2004 as an English teacher. He has held a wide range of leadership positions across three contrasting secondary schools in South Wales.

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Before his current role, he undertook a secondment as a senior education adviser to the Welsh Government, where he worked with a range of partners across education and other sectors, leading and contributing to a number of national work streams.

Ms Davies, who has been acting up as interim director of social services and housing since July 2022, has worked for the council since 2003 and started her local government career as a rights of way maintenance officer.

Her previous roles with the council include professional lead – countryside access, and she was appointed head of housing and community development in 2019.

She is also an associate member of Powys Teaching Health Board.