Head of Advice

Role: Head of Advice & Benefits – maternity cover

Salary: PO10 – £84,042 – £89,274 (pay award for 26/27 pending)

Start date: 1st August 2026 – 12 month fixed term contract

Location: Hybrid Working, with office location being The Woolwich Centre, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ

Closing date: Monday 15th June

Interviews: Expected to be scheduled Monday 22nd June

We are looking for an experienced and strategic leader to join us as Head of Advice & Benefits (maternity cover), leading our ambitious Advice & Benefits Service. This high-impact senior role will drive our borough-wide approach to financial inclusion, advice services and highly performing benefit assessment functions. You will play a key part in preventing financial hardship, reducing poverty, and ensuring residents can access the support and entitlements they need before crises escalates.

You’ll lead a large service with a strong senior management team in place, working across council teams, the NHS, DWP and the voluntary sector to deliver a modern, integrated and resident-focused system of support.

• Provide strategic leadership for advice, welfare rights and welfare policy across the borough
• Deliver the Greenwich Supports Strategy, driving early intervention and coordinated, multi-agency support
• Shape and lead a borough-wide financial inclusion model, maximizing income and benefit uptake
• Oversee key services including:
  • Welfare rights and money advice
  • Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
  • Discretionary and crisis funds
  • Benefit assessment and recovery
• Lead on service modernisation and digital transformation, using data and insight to improve outcomes
• Manage significant budgets and ensure strong financial stewardship and value for money
• Build and maintain strong partnerships across health, housing, government and the voluntary sector
• Provide visible leadership to a workforce of up to 100 staff (including 6 direct reports)

We are looking for a confident, credible leader with a strong understanding of social security legislation and a proven track record of strategic leadership and service transformation.

• Significant experience in a welfare related role
• Strong understanding of social security legislation and/or policy
• A proven track record of strategic leadership and service transformation
• Experience managing resident facing services, large teams and substantial budgets
• The ability to build effective partnerships and influence across organisations
• A passion for reducing inequality and improving residents’ financial wellbeing

You’ll be collaborative, forward-thinking and committed to delivering high-quality, equitable services for diverse communities. This is a maternity cover position, looking to start from August 2026.

Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.