Programme Director (Assistant Director) - 2 posts

Education Authority; Ballymena; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Programme Director to provide corporate leadership. The role involves driving programme delivery, improving outcomes for children and young people, and working collaboratively across teams. Candidates must possess strong leadership skills and a proven record in senior management, ideally within the education sector. This position offers a significant opportunity to shape educational services and policies.

Benefits

Access to local benefits

Professional development opportunities

Commitment to equality in workforce

Qualifications

• At least three years' experience in a senior management role leading strategic projects.
• Experience in optimizing organizational resources and delivering value to the public.
• Proven ability to lead continuous improvement in complex service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide corporate leadership in line with EA's strategic goals.
• Drive delivery of assigned programmes and ensure resource alignment.
• Monitor performance and ensure compliance with legislation.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Communication

Change Management

Strategic Thinking

Education

Senior Management Experience

Experience in Education Sector

Job description

Overview

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post: Programme Director (Assistant Director) - 2 Posts

Post 1 – EdIS

Post 2 – SEN

Reports to: Chief Officer (as appropriate in line with assigned programme)

Programme Directors (Assistant Directors) are responsible for working flexibly and collaboratively with the Chief Executive and Chief Officers to provide corporate leadership to the Education Authority (EA), particularly in relation to progressing EA’s improvement journey and ensuring corporate alignment across the organisation.

These are challenging roles requiring proven skills in leading and working collaboratively with others to lead and ensure delivery of programmes that improve outcomes for children and young people.

Corporate Leadership

In this context, the roles have responsibility for the following.

• Collectively as part of the Senior Leadership Team, optimising business structures, harnessing strengths and making EA a great place to work.
• Leading and driving delivery of assigned programmes, projects and services.
• Working towards EA’s long-term improvement ambitions, ensuring that resources, delivery models, governance and organisational structure is aligned with its vision, purpose and strategic goals.
• Supporting Chief Officers, and working collectively with other Assistant Directors, to align, agree and progress corporate priorities.
• Focusing on corporate leadership duties and empowering teams, individuals and schools to focus on operational excellence.
• Monitoring performance and outcomes, driving continuous improvement and implementing innovative change at pace where required to improve outcomes.
• Ensuring that EA lives within its annual budget allocation from the Department of Education.
• Working in partnership with staff and stakeholders including partners across the education sector, governing bodies, school leaders, trade unions, elected representatives, other related agencies, the media and the public.
• Ensuring that EA adheres to relevant legislation and standards.
• Ensuring that delivery is shaped by service user input.
• Advising the Department of Education on policy issues and contribute to policy reviews.

The above responsibilities apply to all postholders. Whilst you may be initially assigned to a specific portfolio/programme and directorate, this may change according to business need or priorities. This will provide personal development opportunities for a wide-ranging and varied career and enable strategic leadership skills and experience to be maximised.

Example of current programmes/projects are included in the full pack and can be viewed here.

Key Areas of Focus

The Programme Director holds the following high-level responsibilities, along with overall leadership for the programme, fostering a culture of improvement and engagement.

• Corporate Leadership and Planning. Providing leadership, fostering a culture of improvement, collaboration and engagement.
• Establishment, leadership and management of the programme through to the delivery and realisation of benefits in line with agreed programme goals, resources and governance arrangements. This may include supporting the transition to business as usual.
• Proactive intervention and decision-making to ensure that the programme stays on track and delivers the intended stated outcomes/benefits. This includes proportionate and effective management of risk, issues, change, conflicts, priorities, communications and resources (including staff).
• Working positively and proactively with the full range of individuals and groups involved, particularly the senior responsible owner and any business and sectoral stakeholders.
• Providing expert and strategic business decisions advice to enable decision being made in relation to the transformation programme, migration from legacy systems, business process re-design to maximise delivery of benefits and management of risk.
• Ensuring there is interface between programme ownership and delivery and act as a focal point between service delivery areas, stakeholders, users and the associated programme team(s).
• Guiding the Corporate Leadership Team and EA Board on how the programme delivers transformational change for EA in the aim to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Programme Director is accountable for ensuring that programme delivery is focused on meeting the needs of children and young people.

Other

• Any other duties related to the role which may be required from time-to-time by the Chief Executive and the Board.
• In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), be expected to promote Good Relations, Equality of Opportunity and pay due regard for Equality Legislation at all times.

This job description will be subject to review considering changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.

Person Specification

Candidates must demonstrate on their application form that they meet the following essential criteria.

• Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Experience

A minimum of three years’ experience in a senior management role* successfully leading strategic projects or programmes of work on a significant and challenging scale**

Experience of working collectively across a senior team to align goals, resources, policies and processes to optimise use of the organisation’s resources to deliver maximum value for the public/customers.

Experience of leading and championing continuous improvement in complex** service delivery that has delivered improved outcomes for the public/customers.

Strong communicator with proven skills to engage across a range of stakeholders, demonstrating successful impact.

*Senior management role includes providing advice or being party to decisions affecting strategic issues concerning the organisation in which the individual is working.

**Significant/challenging/complex: defined as cross-cutting across a number of business areas, involving internal and external stakeholders, and having an impact on multiple people/groups.

Application Form

Presentation

Interview

Other

The successful candidate will be required:

• to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion;
• OR
• be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

Disclosure of Criminal Background

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

Applicant Guidance Notes

To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.

For more information, the candidate information pack can be viewed here

To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.