A leading official at Powys's troubled social services department has told the council she wants to stand down, BBC Wales has reported.
A senior councillor said discussions were taking place after Louise Barry "expressed her intention" to stand down as head of adult services.
It comes as Powys tries to turn around social services after a damning report found failings in children's services.
The council said it could not comment on individual employment contracts.
Powys has been warned its social services will be taken over by the Welsh Government if the department does not improve sufficiently by the end of the year.
Ministers threatened to intervene last week after the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) criticised its children's services.
An inspection carried out in July concluded that vulnerable children in the county were at risk.
CSSIW will return to Powys to examine adult services soon, but a date for the inspection has not been announced.
The authority's chief executive, Jeremy Patterson, is also away from his post, having gone off sick last week.
Stephen Hayes, the portfolio holder for adult social care, told the BBC he was told about Ms Barry's decision on Tuesday. "I can't confirm the finalised position," he said. "She has expressed her intention to do so.
"But there's further discussion going on with her. It would be premature to say she has resigned at this point."
Mr Hayes described Ms Barry as "very professional and very competent", and he was "very keen she should stay with us if at all possible".