Assistant Director of Affordable Workspace

Penna Executive Search; City Of London; On-site; GBP 89,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government body in London is seeking an Assistant Director for Affordable Workspace to lead its commercial strategy and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have strong corporate leadership skills and a proven track record in partnership delivery, aiming for inclusive growth and community impact. This role offers a competitive salary and an opportunity to shape a thriving workspace ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Strong corporate leadership skills to improve outcomes for all residents.
• Proven track record of delivering results through partnership.
• Experience in governance and ensuring robust organizational performance.
• Solutions-focused with a commitment to driving inclusive growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Affordable Workspace programme.
• Negotiate and secure partnerships with developers and landlords.
• Oversee projects ensuring commercial viability and sustainability.
• Design and implement a borough-wide Social Impact Strategy.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Collaboration

Governance

Innovation

Commitment to equality

Job description

Join us and help build a thriving borough!

Assistant Director – Affordable Workspace

Salary up to £105,113

Islington is a vibrant and wonderfully diverse inner London borough, home to over 215,000 residents. We are determined to create a more equal Islington – a place where everyone has an equal chance to thrive.

We are seeking bold, innovative leaders to help us deliver a more inclusive economy, redirecting wealth into the local economy and back into the hands of our people and businesses. Following a recent service reorganisation, we have created a new Assistant Director role to shape our Affordable Workspace offering to support economic policy and practice in one of London’s most dynamic boroughs.

There has never been a better time to join us.

You will provide strategic leadership to drive the commercial strategy and operational excellence for our high‑profile Affordable Workspace programme. Your work will blend commercial success with community impact, by enabling local small businesses to access high‑quality spaces, and supporting residents to start and grow their own businesses. You will play a key role in:

• Negotiating and securing high‑value partnerships with leading developers, landlords, and operators to shape a thriving workspace ecosystem.
• Overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects from inception to delivery, ensuring commercial viability and long‑term sustainability.
• Designing and implementing a borough‑wide Social Impact Strategy that sets new standards for inclusive growth and innovation.

What we are looking for

We want leaders who are:

• Strategic and visionary, with strong corporate leadership skills to improve outcomes for all residents.
• Collaborative, with a proven track record of delivering results through partnership.
• Governance‑savvy, ensuring robust organisational performance.
• Innovative and solutions‑focused, driving inclusive growth and economic transformation.
• Empowering, creating a culture where everyone can thrive.
• Committed to equality, delivering first‑class services and ready to champion a more equal Islington.

Join us and help shape a borough where opportunity is shared, and everyone can prosper.

For a confidential discussion contact Bruna Varante, [e-mail], at 07858 306725 or Pete John, [e-mail], at 07701 305617, or Mark Baldwinson, [e-mail] at 07764 698139.

Role Closing Date: Sunday 11th January 2026