Strategic Lead – Asylum Seekers and Displaced People in Croydon Grade 16

The Strategic Lead, Asylum Seekers and Displaced People in Croydon will be responsible for leading and managing significant work streams to ensure the Council and its partners provide a coordinated response to displaced adults and children living in the borough.

They will be the Council’s lead on the strategic, policy and operational response to displaced people in Croydon including asylum seekers, Ukrainian nationals and refugees and provide expert advice to the Executive Mayor, the Chief Executive, Corporate Directors and elected members.

They will act as the single point of contact for the Home Office and its contracted providers, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), the London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP), London Councils and other pan-London and national networks focused on Homes for Ukraine (HfU) and asylum seekers. They will represent Croydon in a range of national and regional forums and lobby on behalf of the council to influence policy and funding decisions that reflect the position of the elected Mayor and senior officers.

Why Join Us

• A pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 20%
• 31 days’ annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays
• Investment into your staff well-being
• Good management support for colleagues and regular supervision
• Fantastic team spirit
• The ethos at Croydon is very much about working together to make positive change

• You will join an established team who can help you settle in and offer their expertise
• Will have the opportunity to work from home and work flexibly which provides you with more of a work-life balance.

About You

The suitable candidate will have the following skills, abilities and knowledge;

• Educated to degree level or demonstrable equivalent experience
• A professional or management qualification relevant to the role
• Experience of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder programmes using proven programme management techniques.
• Proven track record of formulating and leading plans that cross service and professional boundaries, which lead to improved outcomes for residents.
• Demonstrable experience of initiating and managing change in the pursuit of strategic objectives.
• Experience of directly contributing to policy formulation, implementation and review.
• Experience of dealing with elected Members and acting with political sensitivity.
• Ability to take a solutions focused approach, take the initiative, lead by example.
• Strong analytical skills and lateral thinking, often utilising imperfect or incomplete data, to develop creative and innovative solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and partnership skills leading to the ability to build effective relationships and gain buy-in both inside and outside the organisation.
• Ability to produce written material to a high standard which is suitable for a range of different audiences