Assistant Director – Education Improvement and Partnerships

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local education authority in the East Midlands is seeking a strategic leader to shape education services for Derbyshire children. You will set strategy, oversee performance, and lead senior advisers while managing budgets and building partnerships across educations settings. The ideal candidate has substantial experience in senior leadership within schools or local authorities, combined with outstanding communication skills. This position comes with various benefits including the Local Government Pension Scheme, generous annual leave, and discounts from high street retailers.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexi time

Generous annual leave

Travel expenses

Discounts on leisure centre memberships

In-house counselling service

Access to sessions with a trained physiotherapist

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Substantial senior leadership experience in schools and local authorities.
• Proven budget management and strategic analysis skills.
• Outstanding communication and influencing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy and drive performance across Education services.
• Lead senior advisers and maintain strong partnerships across schools.
• Oversee performance data and advise senior officers.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Budget management

Strategic analysis

Partnership building

Outstanding communication skills

Influencing skills

Job description

Closing date: 11 January 2026

Help shape great education for every Derbyshire child.

What You’ll Do

• Set strategy and drive performance across Education services, with robust QA and evaluation.
• Lead senior advisers (incl. Early Years), the Head of DACES and the Virtual School Headteacher.
• Oversee performance data, benchmarking and inspection readiness (e.g., Ofsted).
• Build strong partnerships across schools, health and wider agencies; advise senior officers and Elected Members.
• Shape traded and maintained‑school improvement offers and secure best value through contracts.

About You

• Substantial senior leadership experience in schools and a local authority/complex, politically‑led setting, including intervention in schools causing concern.
• Proven budget management, strategic analysis and partnership building across maintained/MAT landscapes.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to lead through change.

Enjoy being a part of our team with benefits such as:

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi time, allowing up to an additional 2 days of leave per month
• Derbyshire Rewards - Discounts from high street retailers and more
• Generous annual leave and flexi time scheme
• Travel expenses
• Discounts on leisure centre memberships
• Free car parking at most sites
• In‑house counselling service
• Occupational Health service
• Access to sessions with a trained physiotherapist
• Cycle to work scheme
• Various Employee Networks championing inclusivity across the council

Provisional Interview Date: 22 January 2026