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Job Description

As Assistant Director of Strategy you will lead a high performing and high profile team which plays an essential role in Newham’s continuing improvement journey. This is a demanding and rewarding post, embedded in the wider Strategy, Policy and Communications Department, working closely with teams and colleagues across the whole Council and with external partners.

We are looking for an experienced strategist, who can keep the focus on long-term objectives while working at pace in a complex and political environment. You will bring a track record of supporting senior leaders and politicians with setting priorities, using data, evidence and insight, and leading aligning corporate priorities and performance frameworks to drive improvement for residents.

The ability to build trust with a wide range of teams and partners is essential to success in the role and you’ll be able to demonstrate influencing and relationship-building skills at senior levels.

You will be committed to inclusion, co-production and evidence-based policy as well as the ability to manage sensitive issues and high-profile challenges. As an active and visible leader in the department and wider council leadership you will role-model Newham’s HEART values.

About the role

Grade SMRC: £77,610 - £98,436 pa

This is a high-profile leadership role responsible for shaping and driving the Council’s strategic vision and priorities. Working closely with elected Members, senior leaders, partners, residents and communities, you will ensure that borough ambitions are translated into clear, deliverable plans that achieve meaningful outcomes for Newham.

You will lead the development of the Council’s corporate planning, performance frameworks, ensuring robust governance, data-driven decision making and a strong focus on continuous improvement, Best Value and service excellence. Through effective performance management and insight, you will help ensure that resources are targeted where they can have the greatest impact for residents.

Championing inclusive and evidence-based policy development, you will ensure that resident voice, equality considerations, performance intelligence and lived experience are at the heart of decision making and service design.

To be successful in this role you must have:

• A degree level qualification or equivalent qualification and /or knowledge and experience.
• Extensive experience in leading corporate strategy, policy development and cross-cutting initiatives within a complex public sector environment.

• Proven track record of delivering organisational transformation and service improvement through strategic planning and performance management.

• Strong understanding of local government operations, governance and the political landscape, with experience of working with elected members, senior officers and external partners to shape and deliver priorities.

• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex data and insight into actionable strategies and plans.

• Ability to drive innovation, challenge the status quo, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to bring clarity and impetus to complex and sensitive issues, foster collaborative working with purpose for impact, and engage effectively with diverse stakeholders including residents, partners, and government bodies.

If you would like to hear more about the role from the hiring manager, please use this link to sign up for a webinar on Thursday 30th July 2026 at 9.15am, which will be held via Teams. We regret that we are unable to offer individual conversations about the role.

The closing date for applications is 10th August 2026 @11:55pm

If you are successful at shortlisting, Interviews will take place the week commencing 17th August 2026.

Please see job description for more information

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

About us

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east. It is well connected by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.