Haringey Council is recruiting a Strategic Lead for Tackling Poverty to run one of London's most ambitious local anti-poverty programmes. The post pays £66,078 to £69,807 a year and applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday, 22 November 2026.

The role is based at Alexandra House, 10 Station Road, Wood Green, London N22 7TR. It is a 36-hour-a-week post on a fixed-term contract of 24 months, with hybrid working of four days on site and one day working from home. Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning 30 November 2026.

What the job involves

The successful candidate will lead delivery of Haringey's Anti-Poverty Strategy and oversee the council's £18 million Crisis and Resilience Fund programme. The council describes the postholder as its strategic convenor and catalyst for action, bringing together council services, the voluntary and community sector, public-sector partners and local communities so that support for residents facing hardship is coordinated rather than fragmented.

Day-to-day responsibilities include leading the strategy and its associated programmes, overseeing governance, performance and financial stewardship of the £18 million investment, building partnerships across the council, the NHS, schools and community organisations, and developing the evidence base used to judge what works. The postholder will also commission and oversee projects and services that support residents in hardship, and advise senior officers and Cabinet Members on policy and investment decisions.

Who the council is looking for

Haringey says it wants an experienced strategic leader who combines intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence and a strong commitment to social justice. Applicants should have a track record of leading complex programmes that deliver meaningful social outcomes, strong research, data analysis and performance management skills, and experience of building partnerships and securing commitment across organisations.

Experience of working in politically sensitive environments and engaging with elected members is also required, along with a deep understanding of poverty, inequality and the evidence base for effective interventions, and experience of overseeing significant budgets, commissioning and programme governance. Local government experience would be valuable, the council says, but more important is the ability to learn about local government quickly, navigate complexity, build consensus and drive change.

Why the role matters in Haringey

The council is frank about the challenge. Haringey, which becomes London Borough of Culture in 2027, is a borough of extraordinary diversity, creativity and resilience, but too many residents face the daily realities of poverty, rising living costs and inequality. The council says it cannot change national economic and welfare policy, but it can choose how to respond locally, and tackling poverty is not the responsibility of a single service or organisation.

The post sits at the centre of that response. Success, the council says, will depend on bringing people together around a shared purpose and delivering outcomes through collaboration rather than formal authority, with a relentless focus on improving people's lives and measuring what actually works.

Pay, benefits and how to apply

The starting salary is PO8, £66,078 to £69,807. The benefits package includes 31 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, hybrid working, health and wellbeing support, a generous local government pension scheme and discount schemes across leisure and culture.

Applications must be made through the council's official jobs portal, and the council warns that it reserves the right to close the advert before the stated deadline if it receives sufficient applications, so candidates should apply as soon as possible. Anyone who would like an informal discussion before applying can contact Angela Moukouta, whose details are given on the official job listing. The listing also gives the council's resourcing hub contact for questions about the status of an application.

For jobseekers in north London, this is a senior, time-limited leadership opportunity with a clear deadline and a defined programme to run. The closing date is Sunday, 22 November 2026 at 11.59pm.