Associate Director

Role overview

London Councils is looking for a senior leader to join its Policy Team as an Associate Director, with the main focus on local government finance and devolution. The position sits at the heart of work that helps London boroughs respond to severe funding pressures, rising service demand and the need to secure better outcomes for residents.

The post reports to the Strategy Director. The starting salary is £63,621 per year, and the role is based on 35 hours a week. It is a full-time Monday to Friday position, typically 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a hybrid arrangement that includes some compulsory office attendance.

What the role involves

You will provide strategic leadership on policy that supports London boroughs, particularly in relation to fairer funding, reform of local government finance and new ways of supporting services through fiscal devolution. The postholder will lead important projects, build policy positions backed by evidence, and help shape persuasive arguments that influence decision-makers in Whitehall, government, City Hall and other public sector settings.

The role also involves close working with senior officers and elected members across London local government, including the Chair and Vice Chairs of London Councils. Because of this, political awareness, sound judgement, discretion and the ability to manage confidential matters are essential.

Key duties

• Guide the creation, delivery and review of policies connected to London local government funding, devolution and wider strategic priorities.
• Represent the interests of London boroughs in discussions with government, the GLA and other major partners.
• Lead and support policy and project colleagues, helping to build a productive and collaborative team culture.
• Push forward reform work on local government finance and devolution so that London’s priorities are reflected in national policy debates.

Working style and structure

The post operates within a matrix working model. That means you will collaborate across functions and project teams, contributing wherever your expertise is needed and helping deliver shared goals. Flexibility across policy areas and priorities is expected.

This is a politically restricted role under Section 2 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

What the organisation is looking for

London Councils is seeking an experienced policy professional with strong knowledge of local government finance, governance and structures. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of delivering complex policy work in a politically sensitive setting, along with the ability to manage or commission detailed data and financial analysis.

You should be comfortable building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, influencing decisions, and working in a fast-moving, collaborative environment. Strong research, analytical and communication skills, together with a commitment to continuous improvement, are important for success in this role.

About London Councils

London Councils is the umbrella body for London local government, bringing together the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation to pursue shared ambitions for the capital and its residents.

Through lobbying, partnership working and collaboration, the organisation helps ensure the combined voice of London boroughs is heard at local, regional and national levels. It also delivers a number of services on behalf of boroughs, including the Freedom Pass, Taxicard, the Health Emergency Badge (HEB) and the London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS).

Recruitment process

The application process asks candidates to respond to a small set of questions linked to the essential criteria. Applications are reviewed through a blind sifting process, which removes personal identifying details so shortlisting can be fair and unbiased.

The panel will only see an anonymised CV generated by Tribepad from the Education and Employment History sections of the form. Uploading a personal CV is optional and only helps auto-fill those sections; it does not replace the need to complete them. If those sections are left blank, key information will not appear in the anonymised pack and fair review becomes more difficult.

Your full details and original CV are shared with the panel only after the shortlist has been agreed and you are invited to interview. Reasonable adjustments are available during recruitment, and the organisation encourages applications from people of all backgrounds.

Important dates

The application deadline is 11:59 pm on 13 July 2026. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 20 July 2026.

Additional information

The recruitment page also references guidance on the use of AI and guidance for politically restricted posts, along with a detailed job description and person specification document.