Job title: Chief Officer Education

Salary: £90,030 - £98,828

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds

Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.

As Chief Officer for Education, you’ll thrive on taking the lead in bringing council services, partners and stakeholders together to ensure our children and young people can access the best possible education. 

This role is an opportunity to transform young lives for the better across the city. As Chief Officer for Education you will have the lead responsibility for the provision, oversight and development of a wide range of services supporting schools and young people in Leeds.

You will lead on a range of services including Learning Improvement, Learning Infrastructure, Learning Access and the Virtual School. You’ll also be instrumental in maintaining and promoting effective, trusted relationships with head teachers and principals across the city. 

We are committed to the ambition of Child Friendly Leeds. We want Leeds to be a city where all children are safe, happy and healthy, do well at school, fulfil their potential and grow up to be active citizens with voice and influence.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As Chief Officer for Education, you will bring to the role:

• A relevant professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial experience in an education, learning or local authority setting.
• Experience of successful leadership and management of large scale complex change programmes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across the education sector to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.
• Evidence of working with partners and key stakeholders to drive successful partnerships that deliver cross-sector priorities and outcomes.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to education.

About the role

As our Chief Officer for Education, you’ll be integral to the Children and Families leadership team and will hold a key position with education partners in the city.

You’ll be a champion for the children and young people of Leeds, seeking and incorporating their views and ambitions wherever possible and flying the flag for our Child Friendly Leeds initiative.

You’ll use your extensive senior leadership experience to develop and maintain a high performing workforce while managing resources to achieve overarching goals and objectives around education in Leeds.

You will advise colleagues and elected members on a range of education matters and will work with key partners at national, regional and local level to promote best practice and support the delivery of real change across the city. You’ll also take pride in leading and co-ordinating the Education Division’s contribution to the Children and Young People’s Plan for Leeds.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form by uploading your CV and personal statement, ensuring your application reflects the requirements of the role as outlined in the role profile.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

For more information or to arrange a discussion with Dan Barton, Deputy Director Learning, about the role please email: daniel.barton@leeds.gov.uk 

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purposeProvide strategic leadership across a range of services within the Education Portfolio within the Learning Service taking lead responsibility for the provision, oversight and development of a wide range of services supporting schools and young people in Leeds.

Responsibilities

• Lead a range of services including; Learning Improvement, Learning Infrastructure, Learning Access and the Virtual School

• Lead and develop the following Services and ensure effective management arrangements are in place to deliver upon agreed objectives:

• Learning Improvement
• Learning Infrastructure
• Learning Access
• Virtual School

• Be instrumental in maintaining and promoting effective, trusted relationships with school and settings Head Teachers and Principals from across the City.

• Provide strategic leadership, advice and expertise to decision makers across the Council. Working with key partners at national, regional and local level

• Work collaboratively as part of the Best Council Leadership Team to ensure the values, priorities and ambitions of the Council are realised through maximising resources and delivering potential across the Council.

• Champion initiatives within the organisation and work in collaboration with colleagues and partners to support the delivery of real change across the city.

• Be a champion for the children and Young People of Leeds, seeking and incorporating their views and ambitions wherever possible and espouse the principles of our Child Friendly Leeds approach.
• Lead and co-ordinate the Education Division's contribution to the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) for the city 

• Lead a major area of the Directorate to ensure delivery of Best Value services to customers, meet the objectives of the Council and comply with Government Standards.

• Take the strategic lead in developing the service in the context of city, regional and national priorities.

• Oversee the development of the citywide education infrastructure plan.

• Set out and oversee the city’s Alternative Provision strategy.

• Support the Deputy Director in the development and ongoing management of a new Leeds Education Partnership.

• Ensure that the city council’s statutory duties in relation to the attendance and education of vulnerable cohorts of children are discharged.

• Lead, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.

• Liaise closely with the Chief Officer SEND and Inclusion in the delivery of the strategic priorities for the Learning area.

• Recognise the most vulnerable children in need of support and ensure that service delivery responds to their needs in an appropriate manner

• In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the Directorate.

• Be a key player in the management of the Dedicated Schools Grant

• Set and deliver transformational goals with broad perspectives and long term timelines, which meets priorities, maximises effective resource management, ensures financial compliance and is responsive to sector and city priorities.

• Ensure the voice of the child is heard and acted upon

• Champion a cross Directorate and cross Council approach to delivering first class services

• Model the Council’s values and behaviours

• Advise Elected Members on a range of education facing matters and will work with key partners at national, regional and local level.

• Maintain and develop strong trusted relationships with a range of stakeholders within and outside of the City

• These duties outlined and not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the role.

Qualifications Appropriate professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial experience across the service area.

Working Context -

Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role.  The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Significant senior experience in an education, learning or Local Authority setting relating to education

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the current local, regional and national issues and the legislative and political context relating to education and learning.

• Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.

• Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, negotiate and establish credibility across sectors to enhance reputation and form positive relationships.

• Evidence of working with partners and key stakeholders and of forging and driving successful partnership programmes to deliver cross sector priorities and outcomes.

• Experience of successful leadership and management of large scale complex change programmes with an understanding of the strategic issues that face integrated work.

• Experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
• Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

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