Associate Director in London

4th Floor, 12 Arthur Street, London, EC4R 9AB

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Starting salary - £63,621 per annum

Contract details: Full time, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5 pm. Hybrid working, some mandatory office days required.

Matrix Working

These roles operate within a matrix working structure in our wider Policy team, collaborating across functional and project-based teams to achieve shared goals and deliver results that support our Shared Ambitions for London and Londoners. Team members are expected to work flexibly across functions and policy areas, contributing their expertise where needed and supporting policy and project related priorities in a collaborative and responsive way.

Application deadline: 11:59pm on 13 July 2026

Interviews: Anticipated to take place during the week commencing 20 July 2026

London Councils is seeking an exceptional individual to join our team, working predominantly on local government finance and devolution. London boroughs face a challenging financial outlook. Rising costs and increasing demand for key services - like homelessness, adult and children’s social care - together with a constrained funding settlement, mean they have to innovate and adapt like never before to balance their books.

As an Associate Director, you will play a strategic leadership role in shaping and delivering policy that supports London boroughs to improve outcomes for residents. This role will focus on ensuring London boroughs are appropriately resourced by lobbying for a fair share of funding, reforming the local government finance system and seeking new and innovative ways to fund local services including through fiscal devolution.

You will lead high-profile projects, engage with senior stakeholders across government and the public sector, develop innovative, evidence-based policy solutions and persuasive arguments to influence decision makers in government, Whitehall and City Hall. You will work with senior officers and members in London local government, including the Chair and Vice Chairs of London Councils, so it is important that you are politically aware with the ability to exercise judgement, discretion and confidentiality when dealing with politicians and officers at all levels.

Why Join Us?

At London Councils, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking organisation that champions innovation and improvement across London’s local government. You’ll have the opportunity to shape policy at a city-wide level and make a real difference to the lives of Londoners. This is an exciting time to join London Councils. Following the local elections in May 2026, we are formulating new cross-party priorities for the next four years, and seeking new and innovative ways to solve complex policy challenges. Policy agendas at all levels of government are aligning around shared priorities on public service reform, mission and outcomes driven government, use of technology and AI, and devolution and local government reorganisation.

Main Responsibilities

• Working within London Councils’ Policy Team, you will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies aligned with London local government funding, devolution and wider policy priorities.
• Represent London boroughs in strategic discussions with government, the GLA, and other key partners.
• Lead and mentor policy and project staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Drive forward reform agendas in local government finance and devolution, ensuring London’s voice is heard in national debates.

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

The Ideal Candidate

We’re seeking an experienced policy professional who:

• Has a thorough knowledge of local government finance, structures and governance.
• Has a strong track record of leading complex policy initiatives in a political environment.
• Is able to undertake and commission complex data and financial analysis.
• Can build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and influence decision-making.
• Is a strategic thinker with excellent analytical, research, and communication skills.
• Thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment and are committed to continuous improvement.

About The Company

London Councils is the collective of London local government, the 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation. They come together through London Councils to work in collaboration to deliver their shared ambitions for London and Londoners. Through lobbying, collaboration and partnership, we ensure the voice of the London boroughs are united, and heard at a local, regional and national level. We also run a number of services on behalf of the boroughs including the Freedom Pass, Taxicard and Health Emergency Badge (HEB) and London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS). We are committed to equal opportunities and encourage applications from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be made to support candidates during the recruitment process.