About the role
As Head of Employment, you will play a pivotal role in driving Islington's ambition to reduce poverty, tackle inequality, and ensure residents can access good work and meaningful career progression. This senior leadership role involves strategic leadership across employment and youth progression services, ensuring residents are supported from education through to sustained employment, while embedding inclusive growth and community wealth‑building principles into everything we do.
Responsibilities
- Lead a borough‑wide employment service focused on improving access to work, progression, and in‑work retention, particularly for marginalised residents.
- Shape and deliver strategies that address systemic employment barriers and strengthen Islington's inclusive local economy.
- Oversee youth employment and progression activity, working closely with schools, colleges, and youth services to prevent young people from becoming NEET.
- Build strong, trusted partnerships with employers across priority sectors, promoting good work, local recruitment, and long‑term career pathways.
- Drive innovation by developing new employment pathways, securing external funding, and aligning local delivery with national policy.
- Use insight and data to manage performance, demonstrate impact, and continuously improve services.
What we're looking for
- Extensive senior leadership experience within employment services, education, or local government.
- A strong track record of designing and delivering complex, outcome‑focused programmes at scale.
- Deep understanding of youth employment, post‑16 education, and inclusive labour market approaches.
- Proven ability to lead multi‑disciplinary teams and influence senior stakeholders, elected members, and partners.
- Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to represent the service internally and externally.
- Experience of financial management, funding development, and delivering value for money in the public sector.
About the team
You’ll be part of the Inclusive Economy department within Community Wealth Building, reporting to the Assistant Director of Inclusive Growth. The team is ambitious, collaborative, and deeply committed to improving life chances for Islington residents.
Benefits
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service.
- A flexible 35‑hour working week and a range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work‑life balance.
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential.
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum.
- Excellent local government pension scheme.
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships.
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more.
Equal Opportunities Statement
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We maintain a zero‑tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act.
Pre‑Employment Checks
- Proof of address
- Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
- Right to work in the UK
- Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
- Satisfactory references
- Occupational Health clearance
- Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
- DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Disability Confident Scheme
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
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