Kate Josephs

Kate Josephs CB joined Sheffield City Council as Chief Executive in January 2021, having spent 20 years in national government in the UK and United States. As Chief Executive she leads a diverse organisation of over 8000 staff, supporting the cross-party political administration to deliver on their priorities for England’s fourth largest city. 

Kate has overseen a comprehensive programme to transform Sheffield City Council and focus action around the outcomes that matter most for residents.  She has championed the development and implementation of co-produced ten-year City Goals to support alignment of action across public, private, third and community sectors in the city.  Among a suite of key strategies now in place in Sheffield; last year Kate and her team worked with partners to develop and launch the city’s first ever inclusive growth plan.

Kate’s career as a senior leader in the UK civil service included positions in HM Treasury; the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit; and the Department for Education (DfE).  Kate joined Sheffield from the Cabinet Office’s COVID 19 Taskforce where she was Director General; in June 2021 she was awarded Companion status, The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, in HM the Queen’s birthday honours in recognition of exemplary public service during her civil service career.

Kate also spent time living in Washington D.C. working for the US Federal Government during the Obama Administration, including as Executive Director of the White House Performance Improvement Council.

Kate grew up in and went to comprehensive school in Doncaster, was educated at Oxford University and the London School of Economics, and lives in Sheffield with her husband and two children.