Assistant Director of Communications

Assistant Director of Communications
Location: Newham, East London
Salary: £77,610 - £98,436 | Permanent | Full-time
Closing date: 15th October 2025

About the Role

The London Borough of Newham is seeking an exceptional communications leader to join us as our Assistant Director of Communications. This pivotal role will lead and enhance the council’s communications to support resident-focused policy and service delivery, strengthen transparency and accountability, and manage our reputation locally and nationally.

This is an exciting and challenging time to join us. Following the Best Value Notice issued in May 2025, we are accelerating our improvement journey, ensuring we deliver value for money and high-quality services in a borough of great need but even greater potential. Effective, modern communications are central to this mission – helping us to engage with residents, support culture change, and tell Newham’s story in ways that inspire confidence and pride.

What we’re looking for:

You'll be an experienced, strategic communicator with a proven record of leading high-performing teams in complex organisations, ideally within the public sector. You will have:

• Strong knowledge of local government, its governance and political context.
• A track record of delivering impactful communications, marketing and digital strategies that support service improvement and efficiency, and build trust.
• Excellent influencing skills, with the credibility to advise the Mayor, Chief Executive and senior leaders.
• A collaborative, people-centred leadership style that champions our HEART values (Honesty, Equality, Ambition, Respect, Together).

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading a £1.2m communications, marketing and design function with seven direct reports.
• Developing and delivering our corporate Communications Strategy and integrated campaigns.
• Shaping our digital and media presence, ensuring engaging, resident-focused content across all platforms.
• Driving internal communications that connect and inspire our 5,000 staff.
• Protecting and promoting Newham’s reputation with residents, partners, London and national government.

Why Newham?

Newham is one of London’s most diverse and fastest-growing boroughs. We are proud of our communities and ambitious for their future. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in shaping how we engage, listen, and respond to residents – and in telling the story of a council that is committed to improving lives and opportunities.

We offer a dynamic working environment, hybrid working arrangements (minimum three days per week in the office), and a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Ready to join us?

If you’re ready to bring your expertise, energy and vision to Newham, we want to hear from you.

Apply now by providing your CV and supporting statement (max. 2 pages) via the link on this page.   

Recruitment timeline:

Closing date for applications: 15th October 2025

interview to be held 24th October 2025

Please view JD here

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Sarah Sturrock, Interim Director of Strategy & Communications at sarah.sturrock@newham.gov.uk.

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.