Director of Education

Community Care Live; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Nottingham City Council is seeking an exceptional Director of Education to lead education strategy, standards, inclusion and outcomes across the city. This hybrid role is based at Loxley House, Nottingham, with responsibility for statutory education functions and cross-agency collaboration to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The successful candidate will bring extensive senior leadership experience in education, knowledge of national policy, and a track record of delivering

Qualifications

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent, plus leadership qualification or willingness to pursue one.
• Significant senior leadership experience in education services, school leadership, or academy trusts.
• Strong understanding of education legislation, statutory responsibilities and policy.
• Proven track record of improving educational standards, inclusion and outcomes.
• Experience of leading large-scale transformation and service improvement programmes.
• Strong partnership building across agencies and stakeholders.
• Finance, commercial and strategic awareness with strong analytical skills.
• Ability to operate within a politically led organisation.
• Commitment to inclusion and improving life chances for all children.

Responsibilities

• Lead statutory education functions including inclusion, SEND, early years, admissions, welfare, psychology, and school improvement.
• Work with Children's Services and external partners to deliver high-quality education services.
• Translate strategic priorities into measurable improvements and outcomes.
• Provide expert educational advice to senior leaders and elected members.
• Drive system-wide improvement and innovative service delivery.

Skills

Leadership experience

Partnership working

Strategic thinking

Financial & analytical skills

Education

QTS or equivalent with leadership qualification

Job description

Director of Education

Location: Loxley House, Nottingham
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Salary: £109,702 - £113,977 (Soulbury Grade 47 – 50)

Lead the Future of Education in Nottingham

Nottingham City Council is seeking an exceptional education leader to join us as Director of Education.

This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for shaping the strategic direction of education across Nottingham, improving outcomes, standards, inclusion and opportunities for children and young people. Working across schools, academy trusts, education partners and wider Children's Services, you will play a leading role in delivering the Council's ambition for every child to achieve, thrive and fulfil their potential.

As Nottingham continues its improvement journey, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence education policy, lead system-wide improvement and drive innovation across a broad portfolio of statutory and education support services. You will work closely with elected members, senior leaders, schools and strategic partners to create the conditions for high-performing, inclusive and sustainable education services that respond to the needs of our city.

We are looking for a visionary leader with substantial experience of education leadership within a local authority, school, academy trust or comparable environment. You will have a strong understanding of the national education landscape and a proven track record of improving educational outcomes, leading large-scale change and building effective partnerships across complex systems.

Your portfolio will include leadership of key statutory education functions, including inclusion, SEND, early years, school admissions, education welfare, educational psychology and school improvement. Working collaboratively across Children's Services and with external partners, you will ensure services are responsive, effective and focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people across Nottingham.

You will be a highly credible and influential leader, capable of providing expert educational advice to senior leaders, elected members and partners, whilst translating strategic priorities into measurable improvements. You will combine political awareness, commercial acumen and a relentless focus on delivery, inspiring high performance and innovation across the services you lead.

About You

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent educational professional qualification, together with a leadership qualification or willingness to work towards one.

• Significant senior leadership experience within education services, school leadership, academy trusts or a comparable environment.

• A strong understanding of education legislation, statutory responsibilities and national education policy.

• A proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in educational standards, inclusion and outcomes for children and young people.

• Experience of leading large-scale transformation and service improvement programmes.

• Strong partnership working skills, with experience of building effective relationships across agencies and stakeholders.

• Financial, commercial and strategic awareness together with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• The ability to operate effectively within a politically led organisation.

• A commitment to inclusion, equality and improving life chances for all children and young people.

Why Nottingham City Council?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future of education in Nottingham. You will join an ambitious organisation committed to delivering high-quality services, improving outcomes for children and young people, and creating a city where every child can succeed.

If you are a strategic and values-led leader with the vision, passion and expertise to drive educational excellence and inclusion, we would love to hear from you.

Closing Date: Sunday 10th January 2026
Interview Dates: to be confirmed

Informal Enquiries

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Sarah Nardone: Corporate Director for Children's and Education Services

Contact via [e-mail]

For recruitment enquiries, please contact:

[e-mail]