Job Description
Join us and help build a thriving borough!
Assistant Director – Affordable Workspace
Salary up to £105,113
Islington is a vibrant and wonderfully diverse inner London borough, home to over 215,000 residents. We are determined to create a more equal Islington – a place where everyone has an equal chance to thrive.
We are seeking bold, innovative leaders to help us deliver a more inclusive economy, redirecting wealth into the local economy and back into the hands of our people and businesses. Following a recent service reorganisation, we have created a new Assistant Director role to shape our Affordable Workspace offering to support economic policy and practice in one of London’s most dynamic boroughs.
There has never been a better time to join us.
Role
You will provide strategic leadership to drive the commercial strategy and operational excellence for our high-profile Affordable Workspace programme. Your work will blend commercial success with community impact, by enabling local small businesses to access high-quality spaces, and supporting residents to start and grow their own businesses. You will play a key role in:
* Negotiating and securing high-value partnerships with leading developers, landlords, and operators to shape a thriving workspace ecosystem.
* Overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects from inception to delivery, ensuring commercial viability and long-term sustainability.
* Designing and implementing a borough-wide Social Impact Strategy that sets new standards for inclusive growth and innovation.
What We Are Looking For
We want leaders who are:
* Strategic and visionary, with strong corporate leadership skills to improve outcomes for all residents.
* Collaborative, with a proven track record of delivering results through partnership.
* Governance-savvy, ensuring robust organisational performance.
* Innovative and solutions-focused, driving inclusive growth and economic transformation.
* Empowering, creating a culture where everyone can thrive.
* Committed to equality, delivering first-class services and ready to champion a more equal Islington.
Join us and help shape a borough where opportunity is shared, and everyone can prosper.
For a confidential discussion contact Bruna Varante, bruna.varante@penna.com, at 07858 306725 or Pete John, pete.john@penna.com, at 07701 305617, or Mark Baldwinson, mark.baldwinson@penna.com at 07764 698139.
Role Closing Date: Sunday 11th January 2026