Assistant Director of Strategy and Planning

Norfolk County Council; Norwich; On-site; GBP 77,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in the UK is seeking an Assistant Director – Strategy & Planning to lead the transformation of its adult social care services. This role requires strong leadership, strategic planning skills, and a commitment to stakeholder engagement. The position offers a competitive salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Health and Wellbeing services

Flexible working opportunities

‘Norfolk Rewards’ employee discounts

Local Government Pension Scheme

Tax-efficient car lease scheme

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience in social care or public sector transformation.
• Strong strategic planning and programme management skills.
• A deep understanding of social care reform and system-wide collaboration.
• Commitment to co-production and stakeholder engagement.
• The ability to lead change and inspire excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of the adult social care strategy.
• Oversee savings programmes and ensure services are co-designed.
• Foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Skills

Senior leadership experience in social care

Strategic planning and programme management

Understanding of social care reform

Co-production and stakeholder engagement

Ability to lead change

Job description

Assistant Director – Strategy & Planning | Permanent contract | £77,732 to £86,720 per annum (Scale O) | 37 hours per week| County Hall, Norwich (Hybrid)

We’re looking for a visionary Assistant Director of Strategy & Planning to lead the design and delivery of our adult social care strategy, planning, programme management, and engagement approach. This is a key leadership role driving transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement across the department.

You’ll work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to embed dynamic planning and delivery methods. You’ll be responsible for developing our departmental strategy, overseeing savings programmes, and ensuring our services are co‑designed with the people of Norfolk.

This role is central to our ambitious transformation programme, built on Human Learning Systems principles. You’ll foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and empowerment—creating a positive environment where people thrive and services continuously evolve based on what matters to residents.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience in social care or public sector transformation.
• Strong strategic planning and programme management skills.
• A deep understanding of social care reform and system‑wide collaboration.
• Commitment to co‑production and stakeholder engagement.
• The ability to lead change and inspire excellence.

Join us in delivering meaningful change and creating a sustainable, person‑centred adult social care system for Norfolk.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast‑track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi‑time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need
• ‘Norfolk Rewards’ – our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out
• A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
• Relocation expenses (where applicable)
• An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions
• Tax‑efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
• Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra‑low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
• A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard‑to‑fill job

Contact & Application Information

If you would like to know more about this role, please contact Nicholas Clinch (Director of Transformation, Partnerships and Place Commissioning) via email at [e-mail], or arrange a time for a further discussion.

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification here to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria. You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email.

We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.

Redeployment closing date: 2nd December 2025 at 23:55

Closing date: 7th December 2025 at 23:55