Associate Director of Strategy in London

Help make dementia impossible to ignore. Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. Nearly one million people are living with the condition today, yet too many people still face delayed diagnoses, unequal access to support and significant challenges navigating health and care systems. Despite its devastating impact, the opportunity to improve outcomes for people affected by dementia has never been greater. At Alzheimer's Society, we have a sharpened strategy, strong foundations, talented people and a growing platform for influence. Scientific progress is accelerating, understanding of dementia is evolving, and there is real momentum behind the changes needed to transform diagnosis, treatment, support and prevention.

We are entering a new phase of strategic ambition, with a unique opportunity to influence the systems, policies and decisions that shape the lives of people affected by dementia. This is an exciting moment to join us. We are looking for an exceptional strategic leader who can help shape our future direction, challenge our thinking and support the organisation to make confident, evidence-informed decisions that maximise our impact for people affected by dementia. This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future direction of one of the UK's most influential charities, working on one of the most urgent health and social challenges of our time.

The role As our Associate Director of Strategy, you will play a pivotal role at the heart of Alzheimer's Society. Reporting to the Chief Policy & Research Officer and working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Trustees and senior leaders across the organisation, you will help ensure we make the right choices about where we focus our energy, investment and influence. This is a highly collaborative role that combines insight, influential leadership and organisational impact. You will help develop options and recommendations for the Executive Leadership Team, CEO and Board. You will bring together evidence, data, external insight and lived experience, providing trusted advice to senior leaders. You will also strengthen strategic thinking across the organisation, supporting and constructively challenging leaders to develop robust strategies, navigate complexity and make confident, evidence-informed decisions.

Looking ahead, you will help us identify emerging opportunities, exploring bold new ideas and turning them into credible, evidence-informed propositions. You will help imagine what Alzheimer's Society could become and how we can deliver even greater impact. You will lead and develop a high-performing Strategy function, bringing together expertise across strategy, impact and evaluation, while building organisational capability and fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration and continuous improvement. Success in this role will come from combining strategic insight, intellectual curiosity and sound judgement with exceptional interpersonal skills. You'll be confident in shaping Board-level discussions, coaching senior leaders and bringing people together behind a shared direction.

About you You are a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills, intellectual curiosity and sound judgement. Comfortable operating in complex environments, you can see the bigger picture, spot emerging opportunities and turn insight into clear recommendations and practical action. You may have developed strategy at corporate, directorate or business-unit level. Most importantly, strategy will have been a significant part of your career and something you are passionate about. You bring creativity and imagination, helping organisations think differently about the future and where they can have the greatest impact. You are highly collaborative and skilled at influencing senior stakeholders, building relationships and bringing people together around shared goals. You are also an excellent communicator, able to translate complex information, evidence and data into compelling narratives, engaging presentations and high-quality papers that support effective decision-making.

You will bring experience of:

• Developing strategy within complex organisations.
• Using evidence, insight and analysis to inform decision-making.
• Influencing senior stakeholders and supporting executive-level discussions.
• Building organisational capability and improving ways of working.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Operating confidently in complex and evolving external environments.

We welcome applications from a range of sectors. While experience in health, social care, government or the voluntary sector may be beneficial, we are equally interested in candidates who can bring transferable strategic leadership experience, fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking. The ability to combine strategic rigour with pragmatism, adaptability and imagination will be key to success.

This role will be on a hybrid basis, with approximately 2 -3 days per week required at our London office or other Society Location. Interviews will be held at our London Crutched Friars office on 21st August. If you want to help shape the future of Alzheimer's Society and play a leading role in tackling one of the most significant challenges facing society today, we'd love to hear from you.

About Alzheimer's Society - who are we and what's our mission? Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding ground-breaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for. Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as part of a minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.

Our hiring process We want you to bring your whole self to the process. Applications are anonymised until interview stage, and we're happy to support any adjustments. Share your feedback via our candidate survey when applying to help us improve. We may close early if we receive high interest (with 48 hours notice). Some roles may require a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment commitment. Thinking about using AI during the recruitment process? We know this can be helpful in many ways but remember to include your personal and authentic self too. Your voice and experience are what really set you apart.

Giving back to you At Alzheimer's Society, we value our people and take a total reward approach to pay and benefits. You'll enjoy a generous double-matched pension scheme, 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and wellbeing days), and access to a free Health Shield Cash Plan, 24/7 EAP, Thrive mental wellbeing support, and virtual GP services. Our Society Plus platform offers exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources, and recognition schemes, while our flexible working, family-friendly policies, and life assurance provide peace of mind and work/life balance. We also offer a free Will-writing service and long service awards to recognise your ongoing commitment.