Assistant Director of Transformation

Position: Assistant Director of Transformation & Change

Assistant Director of Transformation & Change

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Transformation
Assistant director of Transformation & Change

: 001223

Contract : Permanent

Salary : £83,210 - £92,939 per annum

Hours : 36.66 per week

Based : Spindles

Closing Date : Wednesday 28th January 2026

Help us change how the council works not just what it does.

Oldham is a borough with strong communities, big ambition and no shortage of challenges. Like councils across the country, we are under pressure to deliver better outcomes with fewer resources. That means doing things differently, not just doing more of the same.

We are looking for an Assistant Director of Transformation & Change to lead that shift.

This is a senior leadership role with real influence. You will shape how the council designs services, makes decisions and delivers change, always with residents, communities and outcomes at the centre.

About the role

As Assistant Director of Transformation & Change, you will be the council’s senior lead for designing and delivering meaningful, outcome-focused transformation.

This role exists to help Oldham Council change how it works , not just what it does. You will create and lead a modern transformation function that works alongside services, not over them, to redesign systems, services and ways of working around people and place.

You will act as a trusted adviser to senior officers and elected members, championing user-centred design, evidence-led decision making and practical delivery. You will ensure our transformation activity is focused on what matters most, delivers measurable improvements and supports the council’s long-term financial sustainability.

You will also lead the Transformation Programme Office and provide system leadership for public service reform, place-based working and integration, working closely with health partners, Greater Manchester colleagues, the voluntary sector and others.

What you will do Set direction and lead change

• Provide visible, credible leadership for the council’s transformation agenda.
• Champion user-centred design, service redesign and modern change practice across the organisation.
• Work with senior leaders and members to turn political priorities into clear, deliverable transformation activity.

Put residents and place first

• Lead work to redesign services and systems around the needs of residents, families and communities.
• Embed place-based working, prevention and early intervention.
• Champion co-production and meaningful engagement with residents, staff and partners.

Deliver real outcomes

• Lead a Transformation Programme Office that enables delivery without unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Oversee a clear, prioritised portfolio of transformation activity.
• Ensure strong business cases, clear benefits and a line of sight to outcomes and financial impact.
• Track progress, manage risk and adapt where things are not delivering the impact needed.

Build capability and confidence

• Work alongside services to build ownership of change.
• Identify gaps in skills or capacity and help address them with People, Digital and Finance colleagues.
• Commission and manage external support where needed, ensuring value for money and skills transfer.

Support good governance and decision making

• Provide clear, honest advice to members and senior leaders on complex change.
• Build strong, transparent relationships with Cabinet Members and Scrutiny.
• Ensure staff and partners understand the purpose, progress and impact of transformation.

Play a wider leadership role

• Contribute to the overall leadership of the council.
• Model our values and support a culture of learning, accountability and improvement.
• Deputise for the Director and Deputy Chief Executive (Health and Care) when required.

About you

You will be a confident, credible leader with a strong track record of delivering complex change in local government or a similarly challenging public service environment.

You will bring

• Significant experience of leading outcome-focused transformation that improves services and delivers measurable benefits.
• Experience of working with senior leaders on sensitive and high-profile change.
• A strong understanding of how to design services around people, place and outcomes.
• The ability…