Service Director - Education and Skills in Birmingham

Enabling People, Empowering Communities, Enhancing Places. Sandwell’s story is one of potential and striving to realise the ambitions of our borough, our residents and communities. We have been through a period of significant challenge including government intervention, but through determination and our drive for excellence, we look to the future with pride and a sense of purpose. While we have come so far, there is more to do; breaking down silos, embedding our values across the organisation, and ensuring that we continue to transform to deliver the best services for residents.

Created 50 years ago from six proud towns, each unique but united by a shared identity and rich culture, Sandwell is a place built on making things happen, and where children, young people and families have the best opportunity to thrive. Following a restructure across the organisation, including within children’s and education services, we have created three new posts within the directorate, and we are now seeking an outstanding Service Director - Education and Skills to drive improvement across our education system. We want all children and young people in our borough to maximise their potential, to be prepared for later life, and be equipped to access the many opportunities that our borough and wider region has to offer.

You will provide strategic leadership for school improvement, early years and childcare, vulnerable learners, post‑16 learning, adult and family learning, attendance, school organisation and safeguarding within schools. You will lead the development of a clear and ambitious vision for education and skills across Sandwell, raising attainment, narrowing gaps, strengthening inclusion and ensuring all settings receive high quality monitoring, support, challenge and intervention. You will also oversee key statutory responsibilities including school standards, place planning, capital investment and admissions, including education for vulnerable learners. Working as a senior member of the directorate leadership team, you will help shape strategy, manage significant budgets, lead major change programmes, and work closely with schools, partners, central government and stakeholder groups to secure system‑wide improvement.

We are looking for a credible education leader with significant experience of system wide leadership, able to build positive and constructive relationships across a range of partner organisations. You will have a strong track record of driving improvement and delivering high quality outcomes for all learners, and respond to the changing policy landscape including the recently released White Paper, ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’. If you are driven by improvement and ready to make a real impact, we would love to hear from you.

• You will provide strategic leadership for school improvement, early years and childcare, vulnerable learners, post‑16 learning, adult and family learning, attendance, school organisation and safeguarding within schools.
• You will lead the development of a clear and ambitious vision for education and skills across Sandwell, raising attainment, narrowing gaps, strengthening inclusion and ensuring all settings receive high quality monitoring, support, challenge and intervention.
• You will also oversee key statutory responsibilities including school standards, place planning, capital investment and admissions, including education for vulnerable learners.
• Working as a senior member of the directorate leadership team, you will help shape strategy, manage significant budgets, lead major change programmes, and work closely with schools, partners, central government and stakeholder groups to secure system‑wide improvement.

We are looking for a credible education leader with significant experience of system wide leadership, able to build positive and constructive relationships across a range of partner organisations. You will have a strong track record of driving improvement and delivering high quality outcomes for all learners, and respond to the changing policy landscape including the recently released White Paper, ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’.

For further information speak to our executive search partners GatenbySanderson: Becky Downs.