London Borough of Brent
Head of Employment and Opportunity
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Salary range: £90,865 - £111,270 per annum inclusive of London weighting
Contract: Fixed term (2 years)
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Civic Centre and other locations from time to time
Shape opportunities. Change lives. Transform Brent
Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, with communities, ideas and experiences from across the world helping to shape who we are. Working here means joining a council that is focused on fairness, open to new thinking and committed to improving life for local people.
Our values shape how we work and what people can expect from us. We collaborate proactively, lead inclusively, embrace change, are bold and curious, and celebrate and share our success. For people who care about public service and want their work to matter, Brent offers the chance to make a meaningful difference.
Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, with communities, ideas and experiences from across the world helping to shape who we are. Working here means joining a council that is focused on fairness, open to new thinking and committed to improving life for local people.
About the role
This is a unique opportunity to shape the Council’s strategic approach to employment, skills, migration and community opportunity, helping residents access quality jobs, lifelong learning and pathways to prosperity. As the Council’s principal adviser in this area, you will lead a high-profile service that works across departments and with regional and national partners to deliver meaningful change for Brent’s diverse communities.
Sitting within the Community Development and Employment & Opportunity service, this leadership role combines strategic influence, partnership development and service transformation. You will work closely with senior leaders, elected members, employers, education providers, funders and community organisations to drive innovation, secure investment and champion inclusive growth.
This role matters because it directly contributes to improving residents’ lives by raising skills, increasing employment opportunities, supporting disadvantaged communities and ensuring Brent remains a borough where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. For an experienced and ambitious leader, it offers the chance to make a lasting impact at both a local and regional level while leading a talented team committed to delivering excellent outcomes.
In this role, you will:
- Lead strategy and policy for employment, skills, migration and community opportunity, ensuring the Council delivers ambitious outcomes that improve residents’ lives.
- Build and influence partnerships with employers, education providers, community organisations, regional bodies and government to secure investment and create new opportunities for Brent residents.
- Drive service performance and innovation, ensuring services are responsive, financially sustainable and deliver high-quality employment, learning and support outcomes.
- Lead and inspire high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement while championing inclusion and opportunity across the borough.
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This is a high-profile leadership role with significant strategic influence across the Council and beyond. You will work with a wide range of partners to drive innovation, secure investment and deliver opportunities that improve employment, skills and life chances for Brent residents.
About you
We are looking for someone who:
- A track record of leading strategic employment, skills, education or community-based services, delivering measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
- Experience of developing and influencing policy and strategy, translating ambitious priorities into successful operational delivery and lasting impact.
- Strong partnership-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, elected members, employers, funders and community organisations.
- Experience of managing complex budgets and securing external funding, ensuring services are financially sustainable and deliver value for money.
- An excellent understanding of employment, skills, adult learning and social inclusion agendas, including the challenges and opportunities facing diverse and disadvantaged communities.
- Inspirational leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, develop and empower teams to deliver outstanding services and achieve ambitious goals.
Why join us?
We know people do their best work when they feel valued, supported and able to grow. At Brent, you will benefit from:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising with length of service, plus bank holidays
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
- hybrid and flexible working options for most roles
- supportive family-friendly policies
- health and wellbeing support, including eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- financial wellbeing support, including education sessions, childcare deposit loans, and season ticket loans
- travel support, including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme, and onsite facilities
- learning and development opportunities to support your career
- access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment
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How to apply
Interested in applying? Click "Apply Now" to begin your application. You will need to submit a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria in the job description. This is a key part of the selection process, and applications without a supporting statement may not be considered. You may also upload a CV to support your application, but it cannot replace the supporting statement.
Closing date: 27 August 2026 (23:59)
Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects the people we serve. We welcome all applications from all sections of the community and encourage applicants to complete the diversity survey section of the application.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness. We expect all employees to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promote inclusive, non-discriminatory practices in their work. This commitment forms part of our recruitment process, and candidates may be assessed on their understanding of and ability to contribute to an inclusive working environment.
The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas, who will use it to help prevent fraud and other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details on how your information will be used by Brent and Cifas, and your data protection rights can be found here https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. This includes people with hidden disabilities, long term health conditions, diagnosis, and mental health conditions. We also guarantee an interview to care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria. Information shared for this purpose will be treated fairly and used only to confirm eligibility under these schemes.
If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@brent.gov.uk.
Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.
Job Description [https://lbb-rg-hub-prod-brentweb-002-cd.azurewebsites.net/-/media/files/brent-job-descriptions/2026/3121-head-of-employment-and-opportunity-jd.pdf?rev=-1]
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