Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£81,207 per annum

About the Role
Do you want to lead work that genuinely changes lives and shapes a fairer local economy? 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 offers real influence—working across the council, with employers, schools, and partners—to design and deliver employment services that open doors for those facing the greatest barriers.
You will provide 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.
In this role, you will:
- 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.
You will 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. Together, we work with employers, communities, and partners to create pathways into good work and ensure economic growth benefits everyone.
This role sits at the heart of the council’s mission to create a more equal Islington and contributes to corporate leadership across the organisation.

Experience
- 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.
- Experience of financial management, funding development, and delivering value for money in the public sector.

About you
Excellent communication skills with confidence to represent the service internally and externally. Collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering in line with organisational values. Committed to advancing equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and community.

Qualifications
Relevant senior leadership experience and demonstrable success in employment or related sectors are essential. Specific qualifications are not stated but a strong professional background in employment services or local government is required.