Roger Stephan will make the jump from Maitland City Council's marketing and business strategy manager to the chief executive officer of Hunter Councils based at Thornton.

His new employer is a collaboration of 12 Hunter councils, including Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Port Stephens and Newcastle.

He will start his new role on August 11, after almost eight years as part of Maitland's executive team.

"It's a great career opportunity. Hunter Councils is a very exciting organisation," he said.

"It's at the forefront of local governments working together for greater efficiency and sharing of resources and strategies."

But what most excites Mr Stephan about the job is the opportunity to promote the success of Hunter councils.

"I think Hunter Councils has huge potential to perform an advocacy role.

"The scrutiny on local government is greater than in any other level of government and, as a whole, we undersell how good local government is."

Mr Stephan took on a permanent role in local government after working as a consultant during Maitland's period under an administrator.

He came on board in 2000, only a year after the elected council was appointed.

And he said he would leave with a sense of accomplishment.

"As a consultant, I was happy, but the opportunity to work at the council was irresistible.”