Leadership Support Manager, Leader's Office

CHERWELL DISTRICT COUNCIL; Banbury; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Council, Banbury, is seeking a Leadership Support Manager to lead the Leader's Office and provide high-quality support to the Leader of the Council. Based at Castle Quay, this 6-month fixed-term role requires strong organisation, confidentiality and political neutrality.

You will coordinate priorities, prepare briefings, manage engagements and work closely with the Chief Executive, senior officers and elected members to ensure timely and effective decision-making.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting senior leaders or high-profile stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.
• Excellent written communication for briefings, reports and speeches.
• Strong judgement and discretion in handling sensitive issues.
• Ability to build relationships across teams and with external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Leader's Office to deliver effective, resilient support.
• Coordinate the Leader's priorities, commitments, correspondence and actions.
• Draft and quality-check briefings, speeches and other materials for the Leader.
• Support preparation for meetings, visits, events and engagements.
• Collaborate with the Chief Executive, senior officers and elected members.

Skills

Senior leadership support

Stakeholder liaison

Written communication

Organisational skills

Policy governance

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job profile for Leadership Support Manager, Leader's Office

Leadership Support Manager, Leader's Office

Castle Quay, Banbury 23/11/2026

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary Grade I : £50,407.50 Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Date posted 13/10/2026 Job reference CDC000484R Attachments Leadership Support Manager Job Description.docx Role Profile - Team Member.pdf

Job description

Leadership Support Manager (Leader's Office)

Chief Executives Officer

Grade I : £50,407.50

Fixed term for 6 months/secondment opportunity for 6 months

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised professional to lead the Council's Leader's Office and provide high-quality support to the Leader of the Council.

Working within the Chief Executive's Office and reporting to the Head of Chief Executive's Office, you will ensure the Leader's priorities, commitments, correspondence, briefings and engagements are effectively coordinated and supported. You will act as a key point of contact between the Leader, senior officers, elected members, residents, partners and external stakeholders, helping ensure matters are appropriately prepared, progressed and followed through.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Leader's Office, ensuring the delivery of an effective and resilient support service.
• Coordinate and monitor the Leader's priorities, commitments, correspondence and actions.
• Research, draft, commission and quality assure briefings, speeches, correspondence and other materials on behalf of the Leader.
• Support the Leader's preparation for meetings, visits, events and engagements.
• Work closely with the Chief Executive, senior officers and elected members to ensure issues are appropriately coordinated and progressed.
• Monitor developments across Government, local government and partner organisations, ensuring the Leader receives timely intelligence and briefing on matters relevant to the Council.
• Maintain effective systems for tracking enquiries, decisions, commitments and follow-up actions.
• Build effective relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, discretion and sound judgement.

About you

You will have experience supporting senior leaders, elected members or other high-profile stakeholders within a complex organisation.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent written communication skills, including drafting briefings, reports, speeches and correspondence.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Sound judgement and the ability to deal confidently with complex and sensitive issues.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify emerging issues, risks and opportunities.
• The ability to build effective working relationships and coordinate activity across teams.
• An understanding of the respective roles of elected members and officers.
• A commitment to professionalism, integrity and political neutrality.

What we offer

This is an opportunity to work at the centre of the organisation, supporting the Leader and contributing to the effective operation of the Council's leadership arrangements.

If you have excellent communication, organisational and relationship-management skills, and are looking for a varied and challenging role within a high-performing Chief Executive's Office, we would welcome your application.

Closing Date: 23 November 2026

Interview Date: TBC