Executive Director - Health and Social Care

KNOWSLEY METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL; Greater London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Greater London is seeking an Executive Director for Health and Social Care. The successful candidate will provide leadership across various departments, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services while driving transformation in complex health systems. This role requires strategic insight, partnership skills, and the ability to influence on numerous levels. Applications are encouraged from diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Excellent benefits

Qualifications

• Proven track record of transformation across complex health and care systems.
• Readiness to step into the statutory DASS role.
• Experience in delivering high-quality, person-centred services.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Adult Social Care and Public Health.
• Discharge duties of Director of Adult Social Services.
• Lead priority initiatives and deputise for the Chief Executive when needed.

Skills

Partnership skills

Strategic insight

Decision-making

Transformational leadership

Collaborative skills

Education

Statutory DASS (Director of Adult Social Services) qualification

Job description

Executive Director - Health and Social Care

Executive Director / SCP 301-304

Plus Excellent Benefits

£125,712 - £137,831 per annum

Ref : CVP 0501

Knowsley is ambitious for its people. Fresh from a really positive CQC outcome (Good in all areas and in the top 4 in the country), we’re building on strong foundations to deliver the best possible health and adult social care for our communities. As our new Executive Director (Health & Social Care), you’ll provide inspirational, system wide leadership—setting strategic direction, championing prevention and integration, and turning vision into impact.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide clear, decisive leadership across Adult Social Care, Public Health and Whole Life Commissioning, ensuring the planning, design and delivery of high-quality, person-centred services for the people of Knowsley. You’ll be empowered and fully accountable for outcomes within your remit, making decisions that improve lives every day.

You will discharge the statutory duties of the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS), offering expert strategic advice on statutory functions and professional practice. You will be a key member of the Executive Management Team—working corporately to deliver our Council Plan 2025–2030 and Borough wide priorities.

About you

We are looking for an accomplished senior leader with a track record of delivering transformation at scale across complex health and care systems. You will bring credibility as a statutory DASS (or readiness to step into the role), exceptional partnership skills, and the confidence to influence at local, regional and national levels. You will combine strategic insight with practical delivery—aligning performance, people and resources to achieve better outcomes and value for money. You will need to be collaborative, partnership focussed, politically astute, and inspired by our Knowsley Better Together approach.>

This role carries corporate responsibilities across the Council—supporting members as community leaders, leading priority initiatives and, when needed, deputising for the Chief Executive.

Why Knowsley?

We are a values driven authority with a clear plan, strong partnerships and a shared ambition to improve lives. You’ll find a committed team, an inclusive culture, and the freedom to innovate.

At Knowsley Council, we will consider requests for flexible working. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible : flexible hours, working from home, compressed hours, and part-time.

We welcome applications from residents and beyond, regardless of background, belief, or identity, recognising the value that diversity brings to our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and candidates with disabilities as we acknowledge their underrepresentation in our workforce.

See the benefits of working for Knowsley MBC on our website.

How to apply

For further details, please visit our website via the apply button shown.

Key Dates

1. Closing Date - 1 February 2026.
2. Technical Longlist Interview – 5 February 2026.
3. Assessment Centre (In Person) – 26 February 2026.
4. Employment and Appointments Committee (In Person) – 27 February 2026.

At Knowsley, we value our applicants and want them to feel well-informed and welcomed. If you have any questions about this specific job role or what it is like to work at Knowsley, please contact James Duncan, Chief Executive.

If you are interested in this vacancy, please upload your CV along with a supporting statement as one document in PDF or Word format. Your CV and supporting statement should be tailored to reflect the competencies within the person specification.

Please note, if a CV and supporting statement does not reflect the person specification it is unlikely to be shortlisted.