Assistant Director, Education, Aspirations and Achievement

Lead change. Raise aspirations. Shape futures. Hartlepool is a close-knit and ambitious borough where improving the life chances of children and young people is at the heart of everything we do. With an Outstanding Children's Services department, strong support for education and a genuine commitment to partnership working, this is an opportunity to join a leadership team focused on delivering lasting change.

As Assistant Director, you will lead a diverse portfolio spanning school improvement, inclusion, alternative provision, SEND reform, early years, skills and employability, education sufficiency, vulnerable learners, youth services and strategic education planning. Working closely with schools, trusts, colleges, employers, health partners and communities, you will champion excellence, inclusion and aspiration, ensuring every child and young person has the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

We are seeking a leader with significant senior experience in education or children's services, a strong track record of driving improvement and transformation, and a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing education today. Building on the strong foundations already in place, you will bring the vision, credibility and collaborative leadership needed to sustain excellence, strengthen partnerships and deliver meaningful improvements in outcomes for children and young people. You will be someone who can translate strategy into action, influence across complex systems and inspire high-performing teams to deliver change at pace.

In return, you will join an authority that values collaboration, innovation and collective leadership. Alongside a competitive salary, we offer access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, hybrid working arrangements, employee wellbeing support and a comprehensive benefits package. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to help shape the future of education and opportunity in a borough that is ambitious for its children, young people and communities.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our colleagues at Tile Hill, Anita Denton 07725 554802 or Chris Barrow 07437 839048.

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight Monday 24th August 2026

Technical interviews (virtual): Wednesday 9th or Thursday 10th September

Final Panel: Monday 21st September

Please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum), alongside supporting statement (four sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements. Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only.

If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact matthew.ashby@tile-hill.co.uk

Applications should include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your notice period;
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview.

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk

Hartlepool Borough Council are a Disability Confident Leader. If you’d like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.