Bristol's top two council officials – whose jobs might normally inspire the phrase "faceless bureaucrats" – are taking to the city's streets to meet the communities they serve.

With one appointment still to go, there is a new line-up of chief officers at Bristol City Council.

And their leader – chief executive Jan Ormondroyd, who took over in March at £180,000 a year – has decided to see for herself what goes on in key communities around the city.

She will be joined by former top policeman Jon House, who has been appointed her deputy, with a salary of between £130,000 and £140,000.

Mrs Ormondroyd is spearheading changes at all levels of the council – including the arrival of other new faces among the council's most senior officers, as well as several re-appointments.

But she knows that most members of the public will have little idea who she and her colleagues are or what they do.

She and Mr House are touring various parts of the city and will be introduced to local people by ward councillors.

One of the first visits Mrs Ormondroyd and Mr House are making is to Easton tomorrow with councillors Faruk Choudhury and Abdul Malik.

Mrs Ormondroyd will be happy to talk to people who approach her during the event.

But a council spokesman said the tours would be led by the councillors and were "designed to help her get to know their concerns, hear what they have to say and meet who they want her to meet".

Mrs Ormondroyd told the Bristol Evening Post: "I've met hundreds of local people since I started here in March and have been impressed by the warmth of the welcome I have received and how much people in Bristol care about their city.

"These visits will give me a chance to learn more about many areas of the city and meet more of the residents that, like all council officers, I'm here to serve."

The council's other chief officers, or "strategic directors", will not be joining Mrs Ormondroyd on the walkabouts. They are:

David Bishop (strategic director for city development, including regeneration).

Heather Tomlinson (children, young people and skills).

Annie Hudson (health and adult social care).

Graham Sims (neighbourhoods).

David Trussler (three-year contract, business transformation, a major shake-up of the way the council operates).

Hugh Annett (director of public health – this is a joint appointment with Bristol Primary Care Trust).

Only one position remains to be filled in the new line-up. It is that of strategic director of resources.

Current finance chief Carew Reynell will stay on as acting strategic director until a successor is named.

Bristol-born Mr Sims, 55, who was previously acting director of neighbourhood and housing services, is the latest new appointment. He has worked at the council for the whole of his 32-year career. He will be responsible for community cohesion, all areas of housing and benefits, homelessness, waste and streetscene services, parks and open spaces, trading standards, licensing and environmental health.

Born in Southville, Mr Sims grew up in Hengrove. He attended Petherton Infant and Tyning Junior schools, followed by Merrywood School, in Knowle.

Before the end of the year Mrs Ormondroyd plans to meet up with councillors in Knowle, Frome Vale, Southville, Bishopston and Hartcliffe.

Meanwhile, Mr House has already visited Ashley, Cotham and Avonmouth and is scheduled to be shown around Stockwood, Brislington East and Westbury- on-Trym over the coming weeks.

He hopes to be able to organise a similar visit to Lawrence Hill by the end of the year.

Further visits to other wards will be organised for both executives later this year or in 2009.