About Us

Head of the Leader’s Office (Wandsworth)

MG2 

Fixed Term – Fixed Term Contract 12 Months
Full Time

Wandsworth Town Hall

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work at the heart of the council as Head of the Leader’s Office at Wandsworth Council. In this post you’ll head up a team providing support strategic advice and leadership to the Leader and Cabinet. You will be joining us at an exciting time of change, working with an administration who are transforming the way the council works, delivers and listens to its residents 

In this role you will have oversight of the day-to-day support to the Leader and Cabinet to ensure they are able to make effective decisions, communicate their work, and able to work in partnership with residents, businesses, stakeholders, and communities. You will sit within the Chief Executive’s Directorate and have a seat on the Assistant Chief Executive’s senior management team where you will be perfectly placed to work collaboratively with our policy, comms, community safety, and brand-new delivery unit to influence policy and projects important to the Leader and Cabinet.This post is a 12 month fixed term contract or internal secondment.

About the role:

• Lead the work of the Leader’s Office in providing an outstanding service that meets the needs. This will include administrative and case work needs of the Leader and Cabinet in fulfilling their executive and community leadership roles.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Communications, lead on an engagement and communications plan for the Leader and to oversee the Leader and Cabinet’s role in public affairs and stakeholder management.

Essential Skills Qualification Experience:

• You will have experience of leading teams and working with senior leaders and stakeholders and be passionate about growing and developing staff. You will also have a problem-solving mindset and be able to lead complex programmes of work.
• You will have a deep understanding of the challenges facing local government and be proactive in scanning and identifying challenges and opportunities facing Wandsworth.  You will be a visible manager and leader, confident in communicating to a wide variety of audiences, in writing and in person.
• You will have a strong understanding of the political environment, and the role of the Leader’s Office in supporting the Leader and Cabinet as non-political staff. Act as senior adviser to the Leader of the Council on contentious and complex issues, providing briefing material and ensuring follow up action is taken as needed. 

You will be based in Wandsworth Town Hall and whilst agile and flexible working is supported, the nature of the role means that you will be expected to maintain a high degree of visible presence in the office. There will also be the requirement to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date:  28th June 2025

Shortlisting Date: w/c 30th June 2025

Interview Dates w/c 6th July 2025

 For an informal conversation please contact Jon Evans Assistant Chief Executive (Policy and Performance) via 

jon.evans@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. 

Secondment Policy:

All internal applicants for this secondment must seek permission from their current line manager before applying. Failure to do so may result in the secondment not being authorised.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This campaign is anonymised.

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils