Benefit Realisation Lead

About The Role

Join us as a Benefit Realisation Lead and help drive meaningful outcomes for residents in Islington.

Are you passionate about public service and ensuring transformation programmes deliver real, measurable impact? Do you have experience defining and tracking benefits in complex change environments? If so, we want to hear from you.

About us:

At the London Borough of Islington, our mission is simple: we serve. With diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, we're committed to making Islington a more equal place for everyone who lives and works here. Our Strategic Change and Transformation team plays a vital role in shaping the future of council services, ensuring our work delivers tangible improvements for residents and communities.

About the role:

We're looking for aBenefit Realisation Leadto join our team on a two-year fixed-term contract. Sitting within the Strategic Change and Transformation team, you will lead the design, implementation and governance of benefit management across a wide-ranging transformation portfolio.

You will ensure that the outcomes we set out to deliver are clearly defined, strategically aligned and rigorously tracked, providing robust assurance to senior leaders and elected members. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence strategic direction, embed a benefits-led culture, and make a measurable difference across the council.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading the end-to-end benefits management process across strategic transformation programmes.
• Working closely with programme leads, finance colleagues and stakeholders to define, validate and track benefits aligned to council priorities.
• Creating and maintaining benefits maps, profiles and realisation plans, linking them directly to business cases and strategic outcomes.
• Developing clear and engaging reporting tools, including dashboards for senior leadership and programme boards.
• Running governance forums focused on benefits delivery, providing insight, challenge and assurance.
• Embedding continuous improvement into the benefit realisation approach, drawing on feedback and emerging best practice.
• Supporting a culture of evidence-based decision making and measurable, outcomes-focused delivery.

Why join us:

• Make an impact:Play a key role in shaping programmes that improve services and outcomes for the people of Islington.
• Work with purpose:Be part of a transformation function that is values-led, resident-focused, and committed to lasting change.
• Professional development:Access to development opportunities and a chance to grow your expertise in strategic change and benefits management.
• Flexible workstyle:Desk-based with a minimum of one day a week in the office, plus flexibility to meet service needs.

About you:

You'll bring significant experience in benefits management within a strategic change or transformation context, ideally in the public sector. You are data-savvy, detail-focused, and able to influence senior stakeholders with confidence. You're comfortable working across multiple programmes and enjoy translating complex information into clear, actionable insights.

You'll also be familiar with recognised methodologies such as MSP, MoP, or APMG Managing Benefits, and ideally have a qualification in benefits or portfolio management.

Apply now:

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and want to help shape a better future for our borough, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to join Islington Council as aBenefit Realisation Leadand be part of a forward-thinking, values-driven organisation making a difference every day.

The London Borough of Islington is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Emma Cairns

PMO Manager

Note to Recruitment Agencies:
We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are managing the recruitment process internally and will reach out directly should we require external support. Thank you for your understanding.

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn't beclearer: we serve. It's in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the boroughand as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, wehave to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out 'CARE', which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you
We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone's identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The post is subject to a basic DBS check qualifications check and 3/5 years referencing.
Disability Confident Scheme
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.