Directors Office Specialist Advisor

Birmingham City Council; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking a Director's Office Specialist Advisor to support the Director of Commercial and Procurement. You will translate strategic priorities into plans, coordinate governance, and ensure quality reports and briefings for executive decision-making.

In this role you will manage budgets and programmes, build high level relationships across the Council and partner organisations, and drive delivery of complex priorities with discretion and integrity.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior advisory or executive support role.
• Experience translating strategic priorities into deliverable plans and outcomes.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent written reports, briefings, and executive correspondence.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic priorities into clear business plans and measurable objectives.
• Coordinate day-to-day operation of the Director's Office and governance activities.
• Review Cabinet papers, briefings and presentations for executive decision-making.
• Support budgets, resources and organisational priorities aligned with commercial objectives.
• Lead or coordinate high-profile initiatives and transformation programmes for the Director.

Skills

Senior advisory experience

Stakeholder management

Written communications

Organisation and planning

Political awareness

Education

Degree in Business Administration/Public Policy/Procurement

Job description

Grade 6 - £54,495- £64,811

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Equal Pay Programme

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Help shape the future of commercial and procurement at Birmingham City Council

Are you a highly organised strategic adviser with experience supporting senior leaders in complex organisations? Birmingham City Council is looking for a Director's Office Specialist Advisor to work alongside the Director of Commercial and Procurement, providing trusted advice, driving strategic priorities and ensuring the effective operation of one of the Council's most important services.

Director's Office Specialist Advisor

Permanent

Grade 6 - £54,495- £64,811

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Equal Pay Programme

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Help shape the future of commercial and procurement at Birmingham City Council

Are you a highly organised strategic adviser with experience supporting senior leaders in complex organisations? Birmingham City Council is looking for a Director's Office Specialist Advisor to work alongside the Director of Commercial and Procurement, providing trusted advice, driving strategic priorities and ensuring the effective operation of one of the Council's most important services.

About The Role

As the Director's Office Specialist Advisor, you'll provide strategic and operational support by:

• Working closely with the Director to translate strategic priorities into clear business plans, delivery programmes and measurable objectives.
• Coordinating the day‑to‑day operation of the Director's Office, ensuring strategic priorities, governance and business planning activities are effectively managed.
• Reviewing reports, Cabinet papers, briefings and presentations, ensuring they are high quality, strategically aligned and ready for executive decision‑making.
• Supporting the management of budgets, resources and organisational priorities, helping ensure investment is aligned with the Council's commercial objectives.
• Leading or coordinating high‑profile corporate initiatives and transformation programmes on behalf of the Director, monitoring delivery and resolving issues where required.
• Acting as a trusted adviser and representative for the Director, building strong relationships across the Council, partner organisations and senior leadership teams.
• Producing high‑quality communications for a wide range of audiences, including elected members, senior leaders, partners and employees.
• Providing strategic oversight of the Director's priorities, ensuring time, resources and organisational focus remain aligned to the most important business objectives.

About You

We're looking for an experienced strategic adviser who combines exceptional organisational skills with sound judgement, political awareness and the ability to influence at senior levels. You'll bring:

• Significant experience in a senior advisory, business management, programme management or executive support role within a complex organisation.
• Experience working closely with senior executives, translating strategic priorities into deliverable plans and organisational outcomes.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to quickly establish credibility and influence across a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent written communication skills, producing high‑quality reports, briefings, presentations and executive correspondence.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, balancing competing priorities while maintaining focus on strategic outcomes.
• The ability to exercise sound judgement, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• A high level of resilience, adaptability and political awareness, thriving in a fast‑paced environment where priorities can change quickly.
• A degree or relevant professional qualification (or equivalent professional experience) in a related discipline such as Business Administration, Public Policy, Procurement, Law or a similar field.

Why Join Us?

At Birmingham City Council, You'll Work At The Heart Of One Of The UK's Largest Commercial And Procurement Services, Helping Shape Strategic Decisions That Impact Services Across The City. In Return, We Offer

• A unique opportunity to work directly with the Director of Commercial and Procurement on high‑profile strategic priorities and transformation programmes.
• A varied and influential role where you'll help drive organisational performance and support executive decision‑making.
• Opportunities to develop your strategic leadership, programme management and organisational development expertise.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities where service needs allow.
• A competitive Local Government Pension Scheme and generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to a wide range of employee wellbeing initiatives and staff benefits.
• A rewarding career where your expertise will help shape the future of commercial and procurement, supporting better public services and delivering lasting benefits for the people of Birmingham.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists. This may mean that recruitment times are a little longer, but we think this is worth it to achieve our aim.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquires please contact: [e-mail]

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Job Description and Person Specification - RM-00137181-Director's Office Specialist Advisor-Job Description.pdf