Each is run by a Director, and they in turn are responsible to the Chief Executive of the council, David Jenkins.

Chief Executive's Office is a small multi-disciplinary team, which carries out policy and performance roles across the county council and across the Dorset Strategic Partnership. The office lies outside the directorate structure, and publishes its own office plan. The four directorates are:

Corporate Resources (led by director and deputy Chief Executive Elaine Taylor), includes the Financial Services, Legal & Democratic Services, Communications, Human Resources and the IT section.

Children's Services (led by director John Nash), includes early years, schools, child care, child protection, fostering and adoption, children with disabilities and special needs, student support, youth offending and youth and community.

Environment Directorate (led by director Miles Butler), includes Building Management, Planning, Transportation, Dorset Highways, Valuation and Estates, and Economic Development

Adult and Community Services (led by director Debbie Ward),includes all care services for adults, community safety, health partnerships, Trading Standards, Registration Service, Library Service and adult education

The council is run by a council of elected members and details of the Councillors and their role can be found on the A to Z of county councillors (opens in a new window) .

The county council produces a forward plan of key decisions. This plan contains information about the topics on which a key decision will need to be made by the council's cabinet. The decisions will relate to areas where there is likely to be a significant budgetary implication or a significant effect on communities in Dorset.