​

*** This role is offered either as a Secondment Opportunity or Fixed Term Appointment for 12 months ***

​

Location: Westminster, London - home based will be considered

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of our members to strengthen local government, so communities thrive. Our vision is to champion and be the voice of local government, ensuring it has the resources, powers and support to deliver the best possible outcomes.

We work at the heart of the major issues facing the country from adult social care to devolution and from net zero to housing and homelessness. We bring together the insight of local leaders with the influence to shape national decisions. That makes this moment—of major public sector reform—a defining one.

We have embarked on an ambitious programme of change to ensure our organisation is fit for whatever the future brings and to allow us to be as agile as possible to serve our members across the country. Led by our Chief Executive, Joanna Killian and our new Leadership team we are determined to ensure we deliver our new strategy and business plan.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

We are now looking for an Assistant Director of Policy to work at a national level, playing a leading role in shaping policy across health and care, children and young people, community cohesion, asylum and resettlement. This role is at the heart of our People work—driving meaningful change for the sector and the communities we serve.

This is a challenging time for our sector, but also one of significant change and momentum. From the NHS 10 Year Plan to the Casey Review, major reforms to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the coming wave of AI, the policy landscape is evolving rapidly—with major implications for councils and the communities they support.

In this role, you will be the principal point of contact for your policy areas, operating at the highest levels of national influence. You will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including Council Leaders and Chief Executives, Mayors and Combined Authorities, Ministers, senior civil servants, and sector partners.

You will work collaboratively not only with colleagues across the LGA, but also with our member authorities and a range of external partners—ensuring our policy work is shaped by real-world insight and grounded in the experience of those delivering services on the frontline. Drawing on data and evidence, and using your skills in influence, persuasion, and leadership, you will bring people with you—whether they sit within your team, across the organisation, or within the wider system.

About you

We are looking for a confident and strategic leader—someone who understands how policy operates in a complex and political public environment, but who does not need to be a subject matter specialist. You will lead our People policy area with a clear understanding of how your work connects with and influences the full breadth of the LGA’s policy agenda, contributing to our overarching vision for local government.

You will bring a strong track record of success in navigating complex political systems, alongside a well-developed understanding of the key national policy areas that matter most to councils and communities. Your credibility, political judgement, and ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups—including Council Leaders and Chief Executives, Mayors, Ministers and senior officials—will be critical to your impact in this role.

As someone who thrives on influence and collaboration, you’ll be able to translate complex policy and strategic thinking into clear, compelling messages. You will be comfortable communicating with authority and clarity across all levels—internally and externally—and skilled at fostering strong, lasting relationships.

Above all, you will be an experienced leader of people, capable of guiding high-performing teams through change with clarity, empathy and purpose. If you bring energy, ambition and a collaborative spirit, this is an exciting time to join the LGA and help strengthen the voice of local government at the national level.

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage. 

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

1. Proven track record of operating successfully at a senior, strategic level in a complex political environment, with a deep understanding of the roles and interrelationships of local and central government, including the wider public service landscape.

2. Demonstrable experience of leading policy development and strategic influence, including engaging with senior political leaders and public servants (Council Leaders, Mayors, Ministers, senior civil servants and council officers) and key national stakeholders to shape and deliver impactful policy outcomes.

3. Strong understanding of how health and care services are planned, commissioned and delivered, and the ability to apply that knowledge to policy, improvement and influencing work across the wider people agenda.

4. A confident and inclusive leader, with experience managing high-performing teams through change, fostering collaboration, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

5. Highly developed political awareness and personal credibility, with the ability to build trusted relationships and consensus across a wide range of senior stakeholders, including elected Members, government departments, and local leaders.

6. Excellent communication and analytical skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively, and to manage budgets, programmes and performance in a high-profile public or membership organisation.

Closing Date:        5pm Friday 20 June 2025

Interview Date:    TBC, interviews will be held in-person

Assistant Director of Policy - Job Description

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.  

The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”.  Please contact us via Recruitment@local.gov.uk if you require a reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).*

• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.

• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals

• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.

• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other

• how we work with our members and stakeholders

• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.

Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.

Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.

Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.