Director, Young Tower Hamlets
Salary: Director Grade 1
Location: Tower Hamlets, London
Directorate: Children's Services
Shape the future for thousands of young people
Tower Hamlets is one of London's most vibrant, ambitious and diverse boroughs. We are investing in our young people and creating opportunities that help them thrive, succeed and reach their full potential.
We are seeking an exceptional leader to become our new Director, Young Tower Hamlets, a pivotal role at the heart of our Children's Services leadership team.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development and delivery of an ambitious youth offer that supports children and young people to be safe, engaged, successful and connected to their communities. You will drive strategic transformation, champion participation and co-production, and work with partners across the borough to improve outcomes for young people and tackle inequality.
About the role
Reporting directly to the Corporate Director of Children's Services, you will provide strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of services including:
- Young Tower Hamlets
- Youth Services Commissioning
- Young Futures Hub
- Young Community Languages
- Tower Hamlets Attendance and Welfare Service
- Young Careers Workpath
You will lead the continued development of our enhanced youth offer, ensuring services are innovative, accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of local communities.
Working across organisational and partnership boundaries, you will help shape borough-wide priorities, secure external investment, and ensure our services deliver excellent outcomes and outstanding value for money.
What you'll be responsible for
As Director, Young Tower Hamlets, you will:
- Provide strategic leadership for youth services across the borough.
- Develop and implement a compelling vision for services that support children, young people and families.
- Lead transformational change and service improvement programmes.
- Drive participation and co-production with young people and communities.
- Ensure excellent safeguarding practice across all services.
- Lead commissioning, contract management and partnership working.
- Oversee substantial budgets and ensure financial sustainability.
- Secure external funding and develop successful funding partnerships.
- Promote social cohesion, equality of opportunity and inclusion.
- Work closely with elected members, senior leaders and key stakeholders.
- Deputise for the Corporate Director of Children's Services when required.
About you
We're looking for a strategic, influential and inspirational leader with a proven track record of delivering meaningful change in complex public sector environments.
You will bring:
Essential experience
- Significant senior leadership experience in services supporting children, young people and families.
- A strong record of improving outcomes through service transformation and innovation.
- Experience of leading large-scale operational services and multidisciplinary teams.
- Expertise in commissioning, contract management and performance improvement.
- Strong financial management skills, including responsibility for substantial budgets.
- Experience of working effectively with elected members, senior leaders and external partners.
- Extensive safeguarding knowledge and experience of meeting statutory responsibilities.
Essential knowledge and skills
- Deep understanding of the national and local landscape for youth services, children's services, education, attendance, careers and participation.
- Excellent knowledge of commissioning, procurement and partnership governance.
- Strong political awareness and sound judgement.
- Outstanding communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Ability to build trust and inspire confidence across diverse stakeholder groups.
- A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and social mobility.
Why join Tower Hamlets?
This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference in one of the most dynamic boroughs in the country.
You'll be joining a council that is ambitious for its residents, committed to innovation and determined to create better opportunities for every child and young person.
Our TOWER values underpin everything we do:
- Together – working across boundaries to achieve the best outcomes.
- Open – transparent, accountable and approachable.
- Willing – embracing challenge, innovation and responsibility.
- Excellent – striving for the highest standards.
- Respectful – putting our communities at the heart of decision-making.
If you share our passion for improving lives, building opportunity and creating brighter futures for young people, we'd love to hear from you.
Additional information
- Enhanced DBS check required.
- Politically restricted post.
- Flexibility to attend evening and weekend commitments when required.
- Deputy responsibilities for the Corporate Director, Children's Services.
Join us and help shape the future of Young Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets is a truly unique borough at the heart of London – a place where history and innovation sit side by side. From the docks and markets that shaped the East End to the global business hub of Canary Wharf, we are proud to be one of the most dynamic, diverse, and ambitious communities in the UK. We are also one of the fastest growing and youngest boroughs in the country, offering unrivalled opportunities to make a real difference to people’s lives. Our residents are energetic, creative, and resilient, and our council is committed to delivering the best possible services and opportunities for them.
Our award-winning new Town Hall in Whitechapel provides a modern, flexible workplace for our staff, right at the heart of the borough and directly opposite Whitechapel Tube and Elizabeth line station. It is more than just a workplace – it’s a hub for collaboration, innovation and community, designed to bring out the best in our people.
As an employer, we put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our active Employee Network Groups celebrate and champion our workforce, helping to ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging. Guided by our TOWER values – Together, Open, Willing, Excellent and Respect – we are building a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.
At Tower Hamlets Council, you’ll find exciting challenges, supportive colleagues, and the chance to shape one of London’s most important and vibrant places. If you’re looking for a role where you can see the impact of your work every day, then Tower Hamlets is the place for you.
