Assistant Director of SEND

Sheffield City Council HQ; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government office in Sheffield is seeking an inspiring leader to drive transformational change in the SEND sector. The successful candidate will oversee the SEND Transformation Programme, ensuring quality services and collaborative working to support children with additional needs. This role involves managing a significant budget and working closely with partners to enhance outcomes. Candidates with experience in SEND and strong leadership skills are encouraged to apply, contributing to a supportive and inclusive environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Guaranteed interview for eligible candidates

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading teams and driving change in the SEND sector.
• Ability to manage budgets effectively and deliver high-impact services.
• Experience in fostering a culture of support, learning, and improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the SEND Transformation Programme and drive systemwide improvements.
• Oversee a dedicated SEND workforce and manage significant budgets.
• Ensure services are joined up, efficient, and focused on quality.

Skills

Leadership in strategic change

Expertise in SEND and education

Collaborative working

Diplomatic communication

Job description

Overview

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Are you ready to lead transformational change for children and young people in Sheffield? We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to take on this role - someone who can deliver on our promise to provide outstanding support and outcomes for every child with additional needs.

Role and responsibilities

You will be at the forefront of our SEND Transformation Programme, driving systemwide improvements, championing collaborative working, and ensuring our services are joined up, efficient, and focused on quality.

This is your chance to shape our ambitious plans for the future of SEND provision in a city that is committed to inclusion and making a real difference to those we serve. As a key member of our leadership team, you will oversee a dedicated SEND workforce and manage a significant budget to deliver high-impact services for young people.

We are looking for a diplomatic and visionary leader - someone who can build morale, model best practice, and hold teams to account while fostering a culture of support, learning, and continuous improvement. Your expertise in SEND and education, alongside your ability to unite partners and drive change, will be vital as we move forward through our delivery plans.

How to apply and contact

If you are passionate about making Sheffield a place where our children with additional needs can thrive and achieve their ambitions for adulthood, we want to hear from you.

For an informal conversation about this role, please contact:
Zara Bruton
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

Helen Sawbridge
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

To apply:
To apply for this job please click on this link to apply via Faerfield and fill out the requested information. When prompted, please submit your CV and a Supporting Statement (no more than four sides of A4 each).

With your CV, please also provide the names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be contacted if you reach the final stages, and we will not contact referees without your permission.

Your supporting statement should express why you are interested in this role and what experience you can bring to the organisation. The statement should tackle the specific requirements of the role; outlining examples and outcomes showing how you meet those requirements.

Diversity and inclusion and working arrangements

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

Job details

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our New job evaluation process to be introduced at Sheffield City Council | Sheffield City Council