Overview and Summary
Jon Hills is a British civil servant who has served as the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) since July 2023. He previously held the role of Director-General for Housing and Planning at the same department and served as Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Hills has also worked across UK national and local government, including roles at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office. His career focuses on housing, planning, and public-sector policy implementation.
Confirmed Professional Roles
The following table summarizes Jon Hills’s key, verifiable positions and timelines drawn from UK government records and authoritative public appointments sources.
| Position | Organization | Period | Verification Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Secretary | Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) | July 2023 to present | UK government appointment record |
| Director-General for Housing and Planning | DLUHC | Prior to July 2023 | Previous senior civil service role |
| Principal Private Secretary | Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | Earlier in career | Cabinet Office record |
Context on the Department
DLUHC is the UK government department responsible for housing, planning, local government, and related levelling-up policies. The Permanent Secretary is the senior civil servant who leads the department’s operations, manages policy implementation, and provides advice to the political office holders. In this role, Jon Hills oversees a large portfolio of policy areas affecting housing delivery, planning processes, and community funding.
Typical Responsibilities in This Role
As Permanent Secretary of DLUHC, Jon Hills is expected to:
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of housing and planning policy across the UK.
- Manage the department’s budget, staff, and cross-government relationships.
- Provide clear, evidence-based advice to ministers on housing delivery, planning reforms, and levelling-up initiatives.
- Ensure departmental operations comply with public-sector standards, including financial governance and transparency.
Professional Background and Career Path
Jon Hills’s career reflects progression through housing, planning, and civil-service roles within UK government. Before becoming Permanent Secretary, he held progressively responsible positions dealing with housing policy, planning, and private office support for senior ministers. This background positions him as a hands-on operator responsible for turning high-level policy into actionable programs at national and local levels. While specific earlier postings are not detailed here, his trajectory aligns with typical senior civil-service paths that emphasize depth in subject matter and operational management.
Public Record and Availability of Details
Information about Jon Hills is primarily drawn from UK government staff pages, departmental websites, and official appointment announcements. These sources confirm his roles, dates of appointment, and responsibilities but generally do not include personal biography, education, or remuneration specifics in publicly accessible documents. This profile focuses on verifiable professional facts to ensure durability and neutrality. Where details are not publicly confirmed, this article does not speculate.
Key Takeaways
- Jon Hills is the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as of July 2023.
- He previously served as Director-General for Housing and Planning at the same department and as Principal Private Secretary to the relevant Secretary of State.
- His career emphasizes housing, planning, and public-sector delivery within UK government.
- His role involves leadership of policy implementation, budget and staff management, and ministerial advice on housing and levelling-up matters.
Frequently Asked Questions (Clarifiers)
- What sector does Jon Hills work in? He works in the UK public sector as a senior civil servant, specifically within central government housing and planning policy.
- Is information about Jon Hills widely published? Authoritative details exist mainly in official UK government and departmental records; independent coverage is typically limited to appointment announcements and role descriptions.
- Does this profile include personal or financial details? No. This summary sticks to publicly confirmed professional roles and responsibilities, avoiding personal or speculative information.
Definitions and Terms
- Permanent Secretary: The most senior civil servant in a UK government department, responsible for its day-to-day management and policy delivery.
- Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC): The UK government department overseeing housing, planning, local government, and levelling-up funding.
- Director-General: A senior leadership grade within the civil service, typically responsible for a major policy area within a department.
- Principal Private Secretary: A role that provides direct administrative and policy support to a senior minister.