Corporate Director - Education & Learning

Dorset Council; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking a visionary leader for the role of Corporate Director - Education & Learning. This pivotal position involves leading the transformation of education services, ensuring inclusivity and high performance while collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance learning outcomes for all children in Dorset.

Benefits

Relocation package

Inclusive car scheme

Access to training opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in educational services at a senior level.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to manage complex transformation programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development of Children's Education and Learning Services.
• Collaborate with schools and partners to build integrated services.
• Oversee compliance with statutory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Education

Professional qualification in Education

Job description

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About the role

Dorset is a place of ambition and opportunity, for our people, our places, and our future. We're a dynamic unitary council with Children's Services rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. Our ambition is to reinforce Dorset's status as a leader both regionally and nationally.

We aim to cultivate a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant community where residents can live, work, learn, and grow. Therefore, we are seeking a visionary and values-driven education leader to become our next Corporate Director - Education & Learning.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead and transform Dorset's education landscape. You will be the council's strategic lead for Education and Learning, ensuring that our services are not only high performing but also inclusive, innovative and future-ready.

You'll work across a broad and vital portfolio, from school improvement and SEND services to admissions, sufficiency planning and the Virtual School, driving outcomes for all learners, especially the most vulnerable.

You'll work closely with the Executive Director of People - Children, elected Members, senior leaders, and our education community to co-create a shared vision for learning in Dorset. Your leadership will support the development of collaborative, resilient and high-achieving learning environments, where ambition thrives, and every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The Opportunity

In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of education in Dorset, driving innovation and excellence to ensure all services meet the diverse needs of our children, young people, and families.

Your Role:

• lead the strategic development and delivery of Children's Education and Learning Services, aligned with both local and national priorities.
• foster educational excellence by championing initiatives that support high-quality education and improved learning outcomes for all.
• oversee key services such as school admissions, SEN and SEND assessments, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• collaborate with schools, educational settings, and external partners to build strong relationships and integrated services.
• spearhead the integration of digital technologies into educational services to enhance access and engagement.
• work closely with the Directorate Leadership Team and Elected Members to deliver our vision and strategic direction.
• act as a strategic change maker, leading innovative projects that transform service delivery.

About You

To succeed in this role, you will be a visionary leader with extensive experience in educational services at a senior level. Your strategic mindset, coupled with a deep understanding of the educational landscape and legislative frameworks, will be crucial. You will possess strong financial acumen and a proven ability to manage complex transformation programmes.

Essential Qualifications and Skills

• professional qualification in Education, with evidence of continuous management and professional development.
• significant experience in a senior leadership role within educational services.
• comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks and statutory requirements.
• proven strategic planning and operational management skills.
• strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring and motivating diverse teams.

Why Join Us?

Join us - and help shape the future

This is your opportunity to make a lasting difference. To influence not just how education is delivered, but how it evolves to meet the changing needs of our children and communities.

If you believe in the power of learning to transform lives and are ready to lead one of the most impactful directorates in Dorset, we'd love to hear from you.

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Further Information

Application Process:

Please contact Lateefah Sulaiman, HR Business Partner, [email protected] or 01305221621 to arrange a short telephone conversation with Paul Dempsey, Executive Director for Childrens, for more details regarding this role.

Interview Date:

Shortlisting will take place the week commencing Monday 16th June with interviews taking place on Tuesday 24th June

Benefits

Access to a fully inclusive car scheme through Tusker, offering public sector discount rates with no credit checks or deposits, plus savings on National Insurance and pension contributions.

A generous relocation package is payable, of which up to £8,000 (of HMRC eligible elements) are free of tax. We can offer you help to move whether you are looking to buy or rent, depending on your circumstances.

Our package includes:

• an initial advance of up to £2,500 payable when you start
• help towards fees associated with buying/selling (up to £6,500)
• an option to receive help towards your rent or mortgage in the first two years

This position involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please see our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

This post involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them. It will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.

About Us

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 380,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• have access to range of training opportunities which will help with your personal development and career progression

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible. If you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you're passionate about making a difference, we'd love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.