Strategic Lead Making Manchester Fairer and Age Friendly Manchester

inploi; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Manchester is seeking a passionate leader to drive public health initiatives aimed at addressing health inequalities and community engagement. The ideal candidate will have experience in strategic planning and the ability to foster strong relationships with stakeholders. This full-time role offers a collaborative work environment focused on improving the health of our communities.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced family leave options

Learning and development opportunities

Access to discounts and perks

Volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Passionate about addressing health inequalities and effective programme delivery.
• Ability to inspire and foster relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in health or public service sectors preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight for the implementation of health strategies.
• Collaborate with various departments on public health initiatives.
• Lead and develop projects centered on community health improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Community Engagement

Health Inequality Understanding

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Working Hours: 35 Hours per Week

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Closing Date: 14 August 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

Interviews will take place on Tuesday 16th September – please hold this date in your calendar as we will not be able to change this date. We will contact you about whether you have an interview the week prior.

Here at Manchester City Council we are committed to tackling the unfair inequalities in health between different communities. Making Manchester Fairer (MMF) aims to address the difference in good health through taking action on the root causes of poor health, in areas such as education, housing, employment and transport.

One of the most significant themes is to reduce poverty and debt, which is a major driver of poor health, and for this reason the Anti-Poverty Strategy for Manchester is an integral programme to the work of MMF. MMF also specifically looks at how we tackle racism as a significant factor in people’s health and life chances, and how we involve local people and communities in the MMF approach and programme.

Manchester City Council is committed to tackling ageism, as well as promoting the importance of ageing well and the skills and contributions of older people. Our Age Friendly Manchester approach continues to work to make Manchester a better place to grow older.

Working within Public Health and in collaboration with colleagues across the organisation, the role-holder will provide oversight and leadership for the implementation of the Making Manchester Fairer Action Plan, the Making Manchester Fairer Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Age Friendly Manchester Strategy.

The thematic areas that this role will cover include health and socio-economic inequalities, systemic and structural racism and discrimination, and empowering people and communities.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about addressing health inequalities and can provide the leadership needed to meet this challenge
• Can translate strategic vision into effective programmes of delivery
• Can inspire and develop strong working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve our aims, driving real change in our city

You will be joining an established team that is passionate about addressing the inequalities exposed and amplified by the Covid pandemic. You will be working closely with the Assistant Director of Public Health for Health Improvement and Health Creation to implement the Making Manchester Fairer Action Plan, the Making Manchester Fairer Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Age Friendly Manchester Strategy.
We welcome and encourage job applications from all walks of life - from different backgrounds, nationalities, ages and experience of work. We want to attract people from ethnically diverse communities and disabled people, who are currently under-represented in our workforce.
Want to find out more?
Please see the role profile for more information. If you'd like to have an informal chat about the role and working for Public Health, please get in touch.
You can book a time to talk to us by emailing: [e-mail]

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached. Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

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