Director of Education

Guardian Jobs; Southampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a vibrant and fast-growing city as the Director of Education at a leading institution. Your role will be pivotal in shaping the future of education, leading a dedicated team to ensure every child thrives. This opportunity is set against the backdrop of Southampton’s commitment to social justice, aiming to provide inclusive and equitable education across the city.

Benefits

Supportive Executive Director

High ambition and focus on fairness

Culture of collaboration and purposeful change

Qualifications

• Successful track record of leading improvement across education and SEND systems.
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across council services.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Play a leading role in shaping and delivering the new City Plan.
• Lead an experienced education team across various educational aspects.
• Drive transformation in education and learning.

Skills

Strategic vision

Excellent communication

Collaboration

Leadership

Job description

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Lead the future of education in a city driven by compassion, ambition, and opportunity.

Southampton is a city with ambition – for our children, our communities, and our future. We are proud to be a vibrant, inclusive, and fast-growing city with a strong sense of social justice at our core. Our strategy is simple: to give our children and young people a good start in life, to live safely, be happy and healthy, learn and achieve. Our vision for education is clear: we want every child and young person to thrive, fulfil their potential, and help shape a city where opportunity is open to all.

We are now seeking an outstanding, values-led leader to join us as our next Director of Education.

This Is Your Opportunity To

• Play a leading role in shaping and delivering our new City Plan, which prioritises growth, skills and tackling inequalities.
• Lead an experienced and committed education team across early years, school improvement, SEND, inclusion, and the Virtual School.
• Drive the next phase of transformation within education and learning, strengthening inclusive practice, improving attendance and outcomes, and ensuring sufficiency across the system.
• Work in partnership with headteachers, governors, multi-academy trusts, universities, and city stakeholders to lead a collaborative, child-focused system.
• Influence nationally, build on strong foundations, and ensure Southampton’s education system is ambitious, equitable, and fit for the future.
  
  

About You

We are looking for someone who can bring energy, credibility, and strategic vision to a complex and high-profile portfolio. Whether you are an experienced education leader, system leader, or someone who has led across children’s services or local government, what matters most is your commitment to improving outcomes – especially for those children and families who need us most.

You Will Bring

• A successful track record of leading improvement across education and SEND systems.
• The ability to work strategically and collaboratively across council services, elected members, and wider partnerships.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills – building trust, inspiring teams, and bringing people together around a common vision.
• A strong grasp of inclusion, sufficiency planning, and the challenges facing education in a diverse urban context.
  
  

Why Southampton?

This is an exciting time to join us. We have recently restructured our Education leadership team and are entering a new phase of delivery with a renewed focus on education standards, inclusion, and transformation. With a child-friendly city vision, a committed leadership team, and a strong culture of partnership working with schools and communities, this is a council where you can make a lasting difference.

Southampton Offers

• A highly supportive Executive Director and senior leadership team.
• A city with inclusive values, high ambition, and a focus on fairness.
• A culture of collaboration, innovation and purposeful change.
• A vibrant, well-connected place to live and work – rich in culture, history, and green spaces.
  
  

Be part of our story. Be the difference.

For further information or to apply, please visit: www.leadingsouthampton.com or contact:

• Helen Alwell – 07931 543313 - [e-mail]
• Anita Denton – 07725 554802 - [e-mail]
  
  

Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 29th June

Recruitment Timeline

• Applications close: Midnight on Sunday 29th June
• Longlist meeting: *Friday 4th July (no candidate involvement) *please note due to the time of this meeting, candidates may not be contacted with the outcome until Monday 7th July
• Technical interview (virtual): Thursday 10th and/or Friday 11th July
• Shortlist meeting: Friday 18th July (no candidate involvement)
• Final Panel Process* (in person in Southampton): Thursday 24th and Friday 25th July
• to include stakeholder/partner panel, local area panel and member interview

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Executive

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Education and Training

• Industries

  Advertising Services

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