Virtual School Service Support Manager

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Directorate: Children and Family Services Section: Virtual School Location: Civic Centre Grade: Level 8 Salary: £33,699 – £36,363 per annum Hours: 37 hours per week Contract type: Permanent.

About us We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job – it’s about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our vision. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

The Role We are seeking a skilled and motivated manager to lead our finance and administrative functions, ensuring the Virtual School operates smoothly, efficiently and in line with all statutory and financial requirements. You will play a pivotal role in enabling our practitioners to deliver the very best outcomes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee all financial processes, including budget monitoring, spending controls and commissioning activity.
• Lead, manage and develop the administrative team to deliver an excellent, responsive service.
• Ensure effective systems, procedures and data management are in place and regularly reviewed.
• Support reporting, audits and performance monitoring through high-quality information and analysis.
• Maintain strong working relationships across the council, with schools and partner agencies.
• Drive continuous improvement, streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.

About You:

• Have strong financial administration and budget management experience.
• Proven leadership and time-management skills.
• Excellent organisational abilities and attention to detail.
• Confidence using data and digital systems to support service delivery.
• A positive, solution-focused approach with a commitment to children’s outcomes.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme.
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes.

Pre-Employment Checks:

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Proof of address.
• Satisfactory references.
• Occupational Health Clearance.
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations.
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role).

We will not accept speculative CVs from employment agencies. No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council. Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy, their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.