At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Advice & Benefits Service to drive financial inclusion and support for residents.
- Company: Royal Borough of Greenwich, committed to diversity and community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on equitable services for diverse communities.
- Why this job: Shape policies that prevent financial hardship and improve residents' wellbeing.
- Qualifications: Experience in welfare roles and strategic leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 84042 - 89274 £ per year.
Role: Head of Advice & Benefits – maternity cover
Salary: PO10 - £84,042 - £89,274 (pay award for 26/27 pending)
Standard working week: 35 hours
Start date: 1st August 2026 – 12 month fixed term contract
Location: Hybrid Working, office at The Woolwich Centre, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ
Interviews: Expected to be scheduled Monday 22nd June
We are looking for an experienced and strategic leader to join us as Head of Advice & Benefits (maternity cover), leading our ambitious Advice & Benefits Service. This is a high‑impact senior role where you will drive our borough‑wide approach to financial inclusion, advice services and highly performing benefit assessment functions. You will play a key part in preventing financial hardship, reducing poverty, and ensuring residents can access the support and entitlements they need—before crises evolve. You’ll lead a large service with a strong senior management team in place, working across council teams and with partners including the NHS, DWP and the voluntary sector, to deliver a modern, integrated and resident‑focused system of support.
What you’ll be doing:
- Provide strategic leadership for advice, welfare rights and welfare policy across the borough
- Deliver the Greenwich Supports Strategy, driving early intervention and coordinated, multi‑agency support
- Shape and lead a borough‑wide financial inclusion model, maximising income and benefit uptake
- Oversee key services including:
- Welfare rights and money advice
- Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
- Discretionary and crisis funds
- Benefit assessment and recovery
- Lead on service modernisation and digital transformation, using data and insight to improve outcomes
- Manage significant budgets and ensure strong financial stewardship and value for money
- Build and maintain strong partnerships across health, housing, government and the voluntary sector
- Provide visible leadership to a workforce of up to 100 staff (including 6 direct reports)
About you:
- Significant experience in a welfare related role
- Strong understanding of social security legislation and/or policy
- A proven track record of strategic leadership and service transformation
- Experience managing resident‑facing services, large teams and substantial budgets
- The ability to build effective partnerships and influence across organisations
- A passion for reducing inequality and improving residents’ financial wellbeing
You’ll be collaborative, forward‑thinking and committed to delivering high‑quality, equitable services for diverse communities. This is a maternity cover position, looking to start from August 2026.
Diversity Statement: Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.
Head of Advice & Benefits employer: Royal Borough Of Greenwich
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees and the community. With a strong focus on professional development and strategic leadership, this role provides the opportunity to make a significant impact on financial inclusion and support services while working in a hybrid environment at The Woolwich Centre. Employees benefit from a supportive management team, competitive salary, and the chance to contribute to meaningful initiatives that directly improve residents' lives.
Contact Details:
Royal Borough Of Greenwich Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Advice & Benefits
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help land that dream job.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the company and the role inside out. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs and be ready to share specific examples. We want you to shine, so practice common interview questions and don’t forget to ask insightful questions of your own!
✨Showcase Your Skills
Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your achievements and skills relevant to the Head of Advice & Benefits role. This could be case studies, reports, or even testimonials from previous colleagues. We love seeing tangible evidence of your impact!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who are eager to make a difference in our community, so let’s get your application in!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Advice & Benefits
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in welfare-related roles. We want to see how your skills align with our mission to improve financial wellbeing for residents.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a strategic leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to manage large teams and budgets. Share specific examples of how you've led successful initiatives or transformed services in your previous roles.
Highlight Your Partnerships:We value collaboration! Be sure to mention any partnerships you've built across sectors, especially with health, housing, or voluntary organisations. This shows us you can work effectively in a multi-agency environment.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity as Head of Advice & Benefits.
How to prepare for a job interview at Royal Borough Of Greenwich
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of social security legislation and welfare policy. This role is all about strategic leadership in advice services, so be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the borough-wide financial inclusion model.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience managing large teams and budgets. Think about specific instances where you've led service transformation or built effective partnerships, as these will be key talking points during your interview.
✨Understand the Greenwich Supports Strategy
Familiarise yourself with the Greenwich Supports Strategy before the interview. Being able to discuss how you can contribute to this initiative will demonstrate your commitment to reducing inequality and improving residents' financial wellbeing.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific challenges related to financial inclusion and crisis support. Prepare to share your thought process and decision-making strategies, as this will show your ability to lead effectively in high-impact situations.
