Assistant Director

Purpose and Function of Post

• To have a strategic business focus to develop and lead a range of services in a way that maximises effectiveness and efficiency.
• Develop and implement policy with other senior council officers and partners, in line with the Councils Community and Corporate Plan.
• To lead cross-organisational change programmes, actively promoting collaboration with both internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• To Deputise for the Strategic Director for both planned and unplanned absence from the service.
• To be an active member of the Councils leadership team participating in the ongoing strategic development of the organisation.
• Provide professional advice to the Chief Executive, Directors and Elected Members, ensuring clear communication, and delivery of council objectives, which will include preparation of reports and attending council and committee meetings.Provide professional advice to the Chief Executive, Directors and Elected Members, ensuring clear communication, and delivery of council objectives, which will include preparation of reports and attending council and committee meetings.

In addition to the standard pre-employment checks these positions will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory Access NI Check before appointing anyone to a regulated post, the Council is required to make an enhanced Disclosure Certificate application to Access NI.

Proposed Recruitment Timetable:
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Application live date: 12 November 2026
Application closing date: 12noon 26 November 2026
Shortlisting: 3 December 2026
Assessment Centre: 9, 10, 11 & 14 December 2026
Second shortlisting (following Assessment Centre): 18 December 2026
Interview dates: 14 and 15 January 2027
Dates may be subject to change.

The Council may retain a list of reserve candidates arising from this recruitment campaign, for any vacancies which may arise which are the same or similar and are of an equal grade of pay. This list will be valid for 12 months. ‘Another similar vacancy’ is defined as a post with a similar job description and person specification and on the same salary scale, which may be in a different department or duration to the vacancy initially advertised. Another similar vacancy does not include posts where the similarity relates solely to the salary scale.