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- Tasks: Lead the improvement of inspection policies for post-16 education and skills.
- Company: Join Ofsted, a key player in raising educational standards across the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in education while shaping future leaders.
- Qualifications: Degree level qualification or equivalent required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 ÂŁ per year.
Job Description
Locations:Â 10 South Colonnade, London; Piccadilly Gate, Manchester; 2 Rivergate, Bristol; 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham; Loxley House, Nottingham
About the job
Job summary
Ofsted’s role is to raise standards and improve the lives of children, young people, and learners through intelligent, responsible, and focused inspection and regulation.
We inspect and regulate services that provide care and inspect education and skills training. Every week, we conduct hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits and publish the results. We also report on standards across the country and are accountable directly to Parliament as a non-ministerial department.
Our inspections are independent and impartial, and we work on behalf of children and their families. Our values are professionalism, empathy, courtesy, and respect.
It is the responsibility of all Ofsted employees to ensure the safeguarding of children and students is paramount and always lead by example.
Job description
Our Deputy Director, Post-16 Education, Training and Skills will lead the continuous improvement and development of Ofsted’s inspection policy and methodology for 16-19 further education & skills provision, adult learning, apprenticeship, and provision for learners in receipt of high needs funding. In addition, the post holder will lead the development of inspection policy and methodology for the Teacher Development remits (ITE and ECF/NPQ), for the inspection of education, skills and work provision in prisons and the inspection of welfare and duty of care in Ministry of Defence training establishments. They will provide visible and strategic leadership and management to the Post-16 Education, Training and Skills team ensuring that Ofsted’s work in this area is well focused and driving system-wide improvement.
Reporting directly to the National Director, Education, the Deputy Director, Post-16 Education, Training and Skills will be Ofsted’s chief adviser on inspection policy and practice, advising the National Director, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) and Chief Operating Officer on all relevant matters relating to this remit.
Representing the National Director, senior management team and Ofsted, the role holder will build effective relationships and influence internal and external stakeholders, and opinion formers.
In fulfilling this role, the Deputy Director will ensure that Ofsted’s work is driving real improvements in the system, through a process of continuous improvement and framework and related policy development, informed by inspection evidence, stakeholder engagement and best practice.
Qualifications
Degree level qualification or equivalent.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Leadership Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Alongside your salary of ÂŁ108,574, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes ÂŁ31,453 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.Â
This is a Senior Civil Service post subject to Senior Civil Service terms and conditions.
Candidates from outside the Civil Service may wish to be aware of key elements of the Senior Civil Service terms and conditions for those joining the Civil Service:
- 25 days annual leave, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after five years’ service. This is in addition to eight public holidays. This will be complemented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.
- A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join and where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contribution comes out of your salary before any tax is taken and will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
- Alongside your salary of ÂŁ108,574, Ofsted contributes up to 30.3% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers.
- Occupational sick pay.
Existing Civil Servants’ annual leave entitlement will be subject to the normal rules of appointment on promotion or level move.
Ofsted is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion. Within our Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027 we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident – Leader, we continually engage with our 5 staff networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group.
We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
All applications will be considered by the selection panel. The panel will consider how your application demonstrates that you can fulfil the criteria set out in the person specification. We will inform you whether or not you were successful at each stage.
Shortlist
The panel will assess your application, including statement of suitability against the essential and desirable criteria of the person specification. Those who best meet the criteria will be shortlisted.
Staff Engagement Exercise
Shortlisted candidates will be required to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise with Ofsted staff. Candidates will be given a topic ahead of the session and will be expected to hold a two-way discussion. This will not result in a pass or fail decision. The exercise is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.
Psychometric assessment
Shortlisted candidates will be required to take part in online psychometric assessments, followed by a telephone conversation with an occupational psychologist.
These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details and guidance on these assessments will be provided to all shortlisted candidates.
Panel interview and presentation
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion about your previous experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification. As part of this process, you will also be asked to undertake a short presentation for the panel and will be given time on the day to prepare immediately prior to your interview.
Interviews are expected to take place in London. Panel interview arrangements will be confirmed with shortlisted candidates as early as possible.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements:Â https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesÂ
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact:
Name: SCS Recruitment Team Email: scsrecruitment@ofsted.gov.uk Recruitment team
Email: scsrecruitment@ofsted.gov.uk Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, which can be found at:
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/02a_RECRUITMENT-PRINCIPLES-April-2018-FINAL-.pdf
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email Ofsted recruitment at jobs@ofsted.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:Â https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints
Deputy Director, Post-16 Education, Training and Skills employer: Ofsted
Contact Detail:
Ofsted Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Director, Post-16 Education, Training and Skills
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to Ofsted or education. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview process by brushing up on your leadership and decision-making skills. Think of examples from your past experiences that showcase these abilities. Remember, Ofsted values professionalism and respect, so be ready to demonstrate how you embody these traits.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to conduct mock interviews with you. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident when it’s your turn to shine. Plus, they can give you feedback on your communication style and body language.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, keep an eye on our updates and new roles that pop up. The right opportunity could be just around the corner!
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Director, Post-16 Education, Training and Skills
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Deputy Director. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what Ofsted is looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading a team, be sure to provide examples of your leadership experience. Talk about how you've influenced others and made effective decisions in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Avoid jargon and ensure your writing is clear so that the selection panel can easily see how you meet the criteria.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application is received and considered by the right people at Ofsted.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ofsted
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in Ofsted’s inspection policies and methodologies, especially those related to post-16 education and skills. Brush up on recent reports and developments in the sector so you can speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As a Deputy Director, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples from your past where you've successfully led teams or projects, particularly in educational settings. Highlight how you’ve influenced change and driven improvements.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since building relationships is key in this role, think of ways you’ve effectively engaged with various stakeholders in your previous positions. Be ready to discuss how you would approach collaboration with internal and external partners to enhance Ofsted’s impact.
✨Prepare for the Presentation
You’ll be asked to give a short presentation during the interview, so pick a relevant topic ahead of time and prepare thoroughly. Practice delivering it clearly and confidently, as this will showcase your communication skills and ability to convey complex information effectively.