Assistant Director Culture & Community

Do you have a passion to create a sense of community for everyone?

If so, apply for this exciting role at a progressive Local Authority with the opportunity to shape our place at a critical time for the long-term future of our wider are.

You will lead the establishment of Medway’s Local Plan, designing the future for our communities across our area.

This role is also key to supporting our residents with providing high quality housing and the management of our housing stock.

You will also be the lead for Medway’s cultural offer, incorporating refreshed work on tourism and stewardship of our unique heritage assets. This role will also champion increased engagement with our fantastic sports and leisure facilities, as well as embed climate response into everything we do across Medway.

You will report to the Director of Place, ensuring there is a clear strategic vision for the services across your division. We are looking for a versatile, enthusiastic, committed and upbeat Assistant Director to join us, someone who can bring a wealth of experience and new ideas to support Medway’s future.

We are ambitious for the people and place of Medway. Medway is a great place to live, work, learn and visit and we are keen to share our story with you.

Member Interview panel will be held on 12 December 2025

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency. Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change.

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

If you would like an informal discussion with the Director of Place or the existing Assistant Director, Culture and Community please contact Emma Dartnell, Executive Assistant to Director of Place (emma.dartnell@medway.gov.uk)

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction.

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.