Assistant Director of Transformation & Change in Oldham

Help us change how the council works not just what it does. Oldham is a borough with strong communities, big ambition and no shortage of challenges. Like councils across the country, we are under pressure to deliver better outcomes with fewer resources. That means doing things differently, not just doing more of the same. We are looking for an Assistant Director of Transformation & Change to lead that shift. This is a senior leadership role with real influence. You will shape how the council designs services, makes decisions and delivers change, always with residents, communities and outcomes at the centre.

About the role

As Assistant Director of Transformation & Change, you will be the council’s senior lead for designing and delivering meaningful, outcome-focused transformation. This role exists to help Oldham Council change how it works, not just what it does. You will create and lead a modern transformation function that works alongside services, not over them, to redesign systems, services and ways of working around people and place. You will act as a trusted adviser to senior officers and elected members, championing user-centred design, evidence-led decision making and practical delivery. You will ensure our transformation activity is focused on what matters most, delivers measurable improvements and supports the council’s long-term financial sustainability. You will also lead the Transformation Programme Office and provide system leadership for public service reform, place-based working and integration, working closely with health partners, Greater Manchester colleagues, the voluntary sector and others.

What you will do

• Set direction and lead change
• Provide visible, credible leadership for the council’s transformation agenda.
• Champion user-centred design, service redesign and modern change practice across the organisation.
• Work with senior leaders and members to turn political priorities into clear, deliverable transformation activity.

Put residents and place first

• Lead work to redesign services and systems around the needs of residents, families and communities.
• Embed place-based working, prevention and early intervention.
• Champion co-production and meaningful engagement with residents, staff and partners.

Deliver real outcomes

• Lead a Transformation Programme Office that enables delivery without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Oversee a clear, prioritised portfolio of transformation activity.
• Ensure strong business cases, clear benefits and a line of sight to outcomes and financial impact.
• Track progress, manage risk and adapt where things are not delivering the impact needed.

Build capability and confidence

• Work alongside services to build ownership of change.
• Identify gaps in skills or capacity and help address them with People, Digital and Finance colleagues.
• Commission and manage external support where needed, ensuring value for money and skills transfer.

Support good governance and decision making

• Provide clear, honest advice to members and senior leaders on complex change.
• Build strong, transparent relationships with Cabinet Members and Scrutiny.
• Ensure staff and partners understand the purpose, progress and impact of transformation.

Play a wider leadership role

• Contribute to the overall leadership of the council.
• Model our values and support a culture of learning, accountability and improvement.
• Deputise for the Director and Deputy Chief Executive (Health and Care) when required.

About you

You will be a confident, credible leader with a strong track record of delivering complex change in local government or a similarly challenging public service environment. You will bring significant experience of leading outcome-focused transformation that improves services and delivers measurable benefits. Experience of working with senior leaders on sensitive and high-profile change. A strong understanding of how to design services around people, place and outcomes. The ability to use data, insight and lived experience to inform decisions. Excellent communication skills and the confidence to challenge constructively. Resilience, adaptability and the ability to work at pace in a complex political environment.

You will be educated to degree level (or equivalent experience) and committed to ongoing professional development. Experience of place-based working, public service reform, health and care integration or Greater Manchester would be an advantage, but is not essential.

Why join Oldham?

This is a chance to shape real change in a borough that is serious about improvement. You will have the backing to do transformation properly, the space to work differently, and the opportunity to make a visible difference to people’s lives. If you care about outcomes, believe in user-centred change and want to work somewhere that values honesty, learning and impact, we would love to hear from you.

Applying for the role

We would like you to submit an up-to-date CV & Cover Letter. Your cover letter is to be no more than 4 sides of A4 pages. Please structure your cover letter around the three questions below. There is no expectation that you address every part of the person specification. We are interested in the depth of your experience, your judgement and the impact of your work.

• Leading transformation that delivers outcomes and sticks
• Designing change around people and place
• Working with politics, leadership and challenge

If you would like an informal chat about this role, please make contact with Mike.Barker@oldham.gov.uk

About us

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact: A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing. We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions.

Our values and behaviours

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

Our benefits package

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following: 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10-years’ service, the option to purchase additional annual leave, an attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme, discounted gym membership with Oldham Active, staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating-out, eating-in, travel, motoring and more, salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work, wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support, staff recognition and celebration events, peer support groups.

Inclusive recruitment

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace. If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer or someone who has served in the Armed Forces and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Data and privacy

For details of how we use your data please see our privacy notice.