Job description

Are you a senior leader with the drive to influence partnerships, communications, and sustainability programmes across a complex multi-stakeholder environment? This is a rare opportunity to step into a strategic leadership role at the heart of public service innovation.
As Assistant Director, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership of partnerships and stakeholder engagement, ensuring collaboration across multiple boroughs and partner organisations.

• Lead the organisation's communications & PR strategy, overseeing media relations, reputation management, campaigns, and crisis communications.

• Drive the programme sustainability agenda, including policy horizon-scanning, funding opportunities, and benefits tracking aligned to Net Zero and Circular Economy goals.

• Design and oversee governance of working groups and steering groups, ensuring effective decision-making and accountability.

• Contribute to the senior leadership team, advising on strategy, performance, and risk management.

• Manage and develop a small team and delegated budgets, as well as commissioning and overseeing external agencies.

We are seeking a dynamic and credible professional with:

• Substantial leadership experience in communications, PR, stakeholder engagement and sustainability programmes.

• A proven record of building strong partnerships with senior stakeholders across public sector, local government, or complex organisations.

• Strong skills in governance, programme management and cross-organisational change.

• The ability to operate confidently at senior levels, balancing internal staff engagement with external communications and partnership needs.

• Professional qualifications (e.g. CIPR/PRCA, PRINCE2/MSP) would be advantageous.

This is a high-profile leadership role with real scope to shape partnerships, sustainability programmes, and communications strategy in a dynamic and collaborative environment. You'll have the chance to influence policy, deliver measurable outcomes for communities, and position the organisation as a trusted and innovative system partner.

About us: Allen & York have been matching purposeful people with purpose-led organisations for 30 years. We partner with our clients and candidates on roles that build an understanding of climate change, promote sustainability and create inclusive and responsible organisations, working towards a sustainable world for us all.

Committed to inclusiveness in the workplace, we aim to increase diversity across all areas and therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability.

Let's help build a better world, together.