Head of Policy and Partnerships

Are you ready to take on a role making a significant impact within Medway Council? We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Policy and Partnerships to lead a team that will guide Medway Council through a pivotal period of transition under local government reorganisation.

About the role: This high-profile role will be reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. You will lead both a successful Local Government Reorganisation programme as well as a busy policy and partnerships department working with senior colleagues and members across the council.

The Policy and Partnerships team and your leadership will be crucial in shaping public sector reform in the best interests of residents.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead policy development: Manage complex policy and change initiatives (including LGR and Devolution), ensuring Medway Council's voice is heard at the government level. Provide expert advice to senior leaders and elected members.
• Project management: Oversee programmes and projects, ensuring timely delivery and achievement of objectives.
• Policy documentation: Produce comprehensive briefing papers and policy documents, facilitating the publication of guidance and reports.
• Stakeholder engagement: Collaborate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, including Members, Corporate Management Team, external partners, and residents.
• Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with external entities.

We are looking for a strategic thinker and leader who will thrive in the fast-paced and evolving environment and be able to work, lead and motivate a team successfully through periods of pressure. A first-rate communicator, highly organised and with a strong track record of delivering on key projects, implementing policies and change, a chance to establish a new, high-profile team means this post could be a career-defining role for the right candidate.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Carolyn Ruston, Head of Policy and Partnerships, [email removed] or through [email removed]

Interviews will be held week commencing 21 September 2026

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.

Important Information-

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
• Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
• For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, 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.
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

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.