Senior Policy Advisers, Strategy Leads and Deputy Delivery Leads

Job summary

Do you bring strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise your work?Are you able to build strong relationships with stakeholders, enabling you to influence and challenge at all levels?If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and we'd love to hear from you!Nearly a third of England’s population, around 20 million people, live in areas with two-tier local government with services and functions split across county and district council. This slows down decision making and delivery, leads to fragmented public services, sees money wasted on duplication and makes it unclear who is responsible for what and where accountability lies.Our ambition is to simplify local government, by ending the two-tier system and establishing new single-tier unitary councils.
This is a once in a generation reform and our vision is clear: stronger local councils empowered across local services, equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services and empower their communities. This is an exciting time to join Local Government Reorganisation (‘LGR’) and be part of delivering that change.
The LGR team is responsible for leading outward-facing engagement with the areas developing proposals for new single-tier unitary authorities, advising Ministers on decisions regarding which reorganisation proposals to approve, engaging with the sector and key stakeholders, and supporting local government through transition planning to realise improvements in efficiency and effectiveness. It oversees the drafting of legislation that will give effect to those decisions, navigating complicated legal and parliamentary processes and ensuring Local Government Reorganisation strategically aligns with wider government dependencies.
This is a high-profile programme that has grown substantially over the course of 2025, offering the opportunity to work at the heart of government reform, influence national policy, and shape the future of Local Government.

Job description

We have 7 roles available:
PolicyThe policy team leads on the legislative and legal processes that need to be followed, the support being provided to councils and manages the preparation and response to potential judicial reviews. We have 2x Senior Policy Advisers available within our Policy team.These roles offer flexibility across a range of tasks, which include:

• Sector support Engage widely with stakeholders to understand the challenges for the sector and map existing support being provided to identify future opportunities. Support the delivery of sector engagement activities and events and lead on the planning and preparation. Assist in the development of tools, templates and guidance for councils, working closely with a wide range of government departments and sector bodies.
• Judicial review - response and preparation Prepare high-quality materials in advance of, and in response to a Judicial Review, working to tight timescales and drawing on lessons learned and legal advice. Embed robust decision-making and document management practices, including through the creation of training materials for the division. Work closely with Programme Delivery and Legal colleagues to mitigate the risk of legal challenge.
• LGR legislation/process Contribute and lead on aspects of drafting a series of products for secondary legislation (including draft instructions, parliamentary handling, submissions and so on) to enable successful establishment and implementation of the new unitary councils. Support additional legislative work as required, including areas such as local elections and council governance. Produce clear materials outlining LGR process steps, liaising with lawyers to interpret and disseminate advice, and feeding into communications on implementation issues.

Strategy
The strategy team considers how LGR interacts with wider MHCLG and Whitehall policy. This includes understanding impacts of LGR on key policies and services to ensure new unitaries work effectively and service delivery is not disrupted from vesting day and going forwards – as well as seeking opportunities for wider reform/transformation. Examples of this work includes considering the impact of reorganisation on delivery of 1.5 million homes this parliament, planning reforms, social care, fair funding review as well as the opportunity it presents for wider public service reform. We have 2x Strategy Leads available within our Strategy team.These roles offer flexibility across a range of tasks, which include:

• Leading LGR strategy development activity, including shaping the strategic narrative for LGR.
• Leading engagement across the department and government to build understanding and support of the programme.
• Building and maintaining relationships with colleagues in the department and across government to identify interdependencies, risks and opportunities.
• Working proactively to align strategy development with wider government priorities and influencing others as needed.
• Working across government to ensure that the transition period is used effectively to set up financially stable, safe and legal new unitary authorities that effectively deliver services for citizens from day 1.
• Working closely with the wider LGR team, including the delivery team, to ensure effective join-up.

Delivery
The delivery team plays a pivotal role in driving forward the programme, leading on the implementation of LGR. The team works directly with councils that will be unitarised, ensuring they are well-informed about key policy positions and fully understand the LGR process. We have 3x Delivery Deputy Leads available within our Delivery team.

These roles offer flexibility across a range of tasks, which include:

• Supporting Ministers to make decisions and implement the chosen new local authority structure, this will include the delivery of a consultation and working with legal and parliamentary colleagues to draft and lay the necessary legislation to establish new local government structures.
• Collaborating with communication colleagues to draft high-quality advice for ministers, prepare briefings for senior officials, and contribute to PQs where relevant.
• Working with, and deputising for where required, the Delivery Lead and senior team to lead on all engagement with councils, ensuring they are well-informed about the LGR process and their responsibilities within it.
• Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with colleagues across government and external stakeholders, drawing on their expertise to support the successful delivery of LGR.
• Contributing to the development of delivery plans, risk management strategies, and programme governance to ensure LGR is implemented effectively and sustainably.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong organisational skills with proven ability to coordinate across multiple workstreams, balance priorities, and adapt to evolving circumstances to successfully delivery outcomes in a fast-paced policy/strategy environment.
• Strategic and creative thinking skills to simplify complex policy and/or strategic challenges and design innovative solutions.
• Strong cross-government and/or external stakeholder working skills, with a clear understanding of how to engage and influence departments to deliver MHCLG objectives.
• Strong drafting and verbal briefing skills, with experience preparing advice for senior stakeholders.
• Enthusiasm for reform, change, and the delivery of key governmental objectives, particularly in the context of local government and public service transformation.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working on a policy or programme affecting local government. Awareness of key government priorities including LGR and Devolution.
• Experience drafting policy and/or aligning policy with broader strategic objectives within legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• A good understanding of how local government operates and of two-tier local government.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,890, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Experience

Stage 1: Sift

• Behaviour (Lead Behaviour): Communicating and Influencing
• Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture
• Behaviour: Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
• Experience: In no more than 250 words please outline how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

There is a 250-word limit per question.

When writing your application, remember:

• the assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially

• do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers

• if talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 23rd February 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 9th March 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

• Applying

• Sifting

• Interview

• Interview Results & Feedback

• Reserve List

• Near Miss

• Civil Service Grades

• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer

• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Artificial Intelligence

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Fixed Term Contracts

• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register

• Appeals and Complaints

• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office:

London Office: + CTC

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : PPO Team
• Email : ppoteam@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

1a. MHCLG Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 834kB)1b. Candidate Guidance Opens in new window (pdf, 355kB)1c. Success Profiles Candidate information Opens in new window (pdf, 936kB)Darlington Economic Campus Career Pathways Opens in new window (pdf, 452kB)