Senior Strategy Lead

Why Southwark?

Southwark Council’s corporate strategy sets the long-term direction for the organisation and ensures that priorities are translated into delivery across services. The Strategy and Partnerships team, within Strategy, Insight and Performance, leads the development of the council’s corporate strategy and Delivery Plan, ensuring that strategic priorities are clearly defined and supported by evidence and insight. We are looking for a Senior Strategy Lead to support the development of the council’s strategic direction and strengthen the organisation’s ability to anticipate and respond to emerging challenges.

What You'll Be Doing

In this role you will: • Lead on the development and approaches to monitoring the implementation of the council’s corporate strategy, associated cross-cutting strategies, and the Council Delivery Plan. • Lead horizon scanning activity to identify emerging risks, opportunities and national policy developments. • Collaborate across the organisation, working with services, to translate strategic priorities into delivery plans. • Brief and support senior leaders with high-quality strategic analysis and advice. • Ensure that strategy development is informed by evidence, data and community insight. • Drive innovation and change, demonstrating how strategy development can be one of the tools to unlock new approaches and promote system-wide change.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who has: • Strong experience in strategy, policy or public sector analysis. • In-depth knowledge of strategy development, horizon scanning, policy analysis and options appraisal techniques, with strong understanding of local government and the wider political context • Strong understanding of co-production, resident engagement, and evidence-led strategy design and policy making • Strong analytical and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into clear strategic advice. • Experience working with senior stakeholders in complex organisations.

Additional Information

Recruitment Timeline

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 26th April 2026

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Benefits

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark

Attachments

• Senior Strategy Lead JD G12.pdf