At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to enhance financial inclusion and support services across the borough.
- Company: Royal Borough of Greenwich, committed to community diversity and support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Maternity cover position starting August 2026 with opportunities for community engagement.
- Why this job: Drive impactful change and improve residents' financial wellbeing in a strategic leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in welfare roles, strong leadership skills, and a passion for reducing inequality.
The predicted salary is between 84042 - 89274 £ per year.
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 escalate.
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.
Head of Advice & Benefits in London employer: Royal Greenwich
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises collaboration and community impact. With a strong commitment to employee development and a focus on financial inclusion, staff are empowered to make meaningful contributions while enjoying the benefits of hybrid working arrangements. The borough's diverse culture and emphasis on reducing inequality create a rewarding atmosphere for those passionate about public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Advice & Benefits in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the welfare and advice sectors. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of Advice & Benefits role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its current initiatives. Understand their approach to financial inclusion and how you can contribute. Tailor your responses to highlight your strategic leadership experience and passion for improving residents’ financial wellbeing.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When discussing your past roles, focus on specific outcomes you've driven, especially in service transformation and partnership building. Use data and examples to illustrate how you've made a difference in previous positions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission to support the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Advice & Benefits in London
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 inclusion and support for residents.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a strategic leader, it’s crucial to demonstrate your experience in managing large teams and budgets. Share specific examples of how you've driven service transformation and built effective partnerships in your previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and experiences stand out without unnecessary fluff. This helps us see your potential impact quickly!
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 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 prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with the borough-wide financial inclusion model.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led large teams and managed substantial budgets in the past. Highlight your ability to build partnerships across various sectors, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
Familiarise yourself with the Greenwich Supports Strategy and think about how you can contribute to early intervention and multi-agency support. Showing that you understand the local context will impress the interviewers.
✨Passion for Change
Demonstrate your commitment to reducing inequality and improving financial wellbeing for residents. Share your vision for how you would lead the Advice & Benefits Service and make a positive impact in the community.
