Programme Lead - Substance Misuse

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in improving outcomes for people affected by drug and alcohol harms in Tower Hamlets, at an important time. This is a fixed term 18 month role with likelihood of extension.

This is a senior, strategic, commissioning and public health role at a crucial time. We are entering a pivotal phase in our local substance misuse journey: having made exciting progress on improving treatment, recovery and harm reduction outcomes in recent years. We are now in a place to build on these improvements via re-design to our substance misuse system, and to set the priorities for our partnerships work from 2027 onwards.

As Programme Lead for Substance Misuse, you will take on a senior strategic and commissioning leadership role within the Public Health division. You will help drive transformation across treatment, recovery, harm reduction and partnership working, ensuring that our services remain high‑quality, inclusive and responsive to the needs of our residents.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for people affected by drug and alcohol harm; you thrive in diverse, dynamic and complex areas; and you bring experience in commissioning and strategic leadership, we would love to hear from you.

In this role, you will:

• Provide strategic public health leadership, setting direction and driving transformational change to reduce drug- and alcohol‑related harm.
  
• Oversee a large and complex commissioning portfolio, including primary care, treatment, recovery, outreach and engagement services.
  
• Deliver system and pathway improvements that strengthen outcomes and reduce harms for people affected by substance misuse.
  
• Lead a team of commissioners and public health strategists, enabling high‑quality delivery across a complex programme.
  
• Shape and strengthen local partnerships, providing leadership and expertise to the Combatting Drugs Partnership and wider system.

This is a fixed term 18 month role with likelihood of extension.

About You

You will be passionate about improving outcomes for people affected by substance misuse; and you'll feel rewarded working with services and programmes to ensure high quality, inclusive and user-led services meet the needs of Tower Hamlets residents. You will have:

• skills and experience in using public health approaches to improve health, wellbeing, recovery outcomes and reducing harms.
• excellent strategic and analytical skills in navigating complex systems to identify areas for improvement.
• significant experience of strategic review and commissioning of services, with knowledge of substance misuse services or related fields.
• a track record of collaborative partnership working, influencing a wide range of stakeholders and driving progress in a fast-paced environment.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary starting at £73,266

• Local Government Pension Scheme membership.

• Generous annual leave: 29 days, rising to 33 with 5+ years’ service, plus bank holidays and 3 additional days at Christmas.

• Flexible and agile working to support work–life balance.

• Staff money-saving schemes (e.g., rent deposit loans, season ticket loans).

• Learning and development opportunities, with clear career development and leadership pathways.

Benefits

Tower Hamlets is a truly unique borough at the heart of London – a place where history and innovation sit side by side. From the docks and markets that shaped the East End to the global business hub of Canary Wharf, we are proud to be one of the most dynamic, diverse, and ambitious communities in the UK. We are also one of the fastest growing and youngest boroughs in the country, offering unrivalled opportunities to make a real difference to people’s lives. Our residents are energetic, creative, and resilient, and our council is committed to delivering the best possible services and opportunities for them.

Our award-winning new Town Hall in Whitechapel provides a modern, flexible workplace for our staff, right at the heart of the borough and directly opposite Whitechapel Tube and Elizabeth line station. It is more than just a workplace – it’s a hub for collaboration, innovation and community, designed to bring out the best in our people.

As an employer, we put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our active Employee Network Groups celebrate and champion our workforce, helping to ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging. Guided by our TOWER values – Together, Open, Willing, Excellent and Respect – we are building a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.

At Tower Hamlets Council, you’ll find exciting challenges, supportive colleagues, and the chance to shape one of London’s most important and vibrant places. If you’re looking for a role where you can see the impact of your work every day, then Tower Hamlets is the place for you.