Project Leader

Derby City Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Team Derby Rewards discounts

Tusker Car Benefit

Job summary

Derby City Council is seeking a Project Leader to drive educational outcomes for children with a social worker or in kinship care via the Virtual School. You will coordinate across schools and social care to deliver guidance and improvements while meeting statutory duties.

The role requires senior leadership experience in education, safeguarding leadership, and strong data analysis with a collaborative, proactive approach to engaging partners and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in education and safeguarding.
• Experience with education settings 0-18 and improving progress.
• Understand trauma and relational approaches in learning.
• Knowledge of attendance importance for children with a social worker.
• Ability to analyse data to influence practice.
• Able to provide training and guidance to stakeholders.
• Strong communication and collaboration with partners.

Responsibilities

• You will be working as part of the Virtual School team to fulfil statutory duties to improve educational outcomes for children with a social worker and those in kinship care.
• You will work across educational settings and social care to provide advice, support and challenge.

Skills

Senior leadership

Designated safeguarding lead

Data analysis

Communication skills

Team leadership

Problem solving

Collaboration

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title Project Leader Job reference 000012577 Date posted 15/10/2026 Application closing date 26/10/2026 Working Pattern Blank Salary Soulbury points 6 – 9 £25,847 - £27,416 a year actual salary (£51,694 - £56,357 a year full time equivalent) plus 3 SPA points Contractual hours Blank Basis Blank Job category/type School Support Attachments Blank Job description

Salary: Soulbury points 6 – 9 £25,847 - £27,416 a year actual salary (£51,694 - £56,357 a year full time equivalent) plus 3 SPA points
Location: Council House
Hours: 18.5 hours a week
Working hours: Part time
Closing Date: 26 October 2026
DBS Requirement: Enhanced
Contract Type: Temporary until 31 July 2028

The Opportunity

Would you enjoy working strategically to ensure children with a social worker and in kinship care make good progress and are supported to attend an educational setting? Would you enjoy working in Derby with education settings and social care to produce a framework to improve outcomes for children? Have you got a track record of leading others, working innovatively and collaboratively to bring about change?

What you’ll be doing

• You will be working as part of the Virtual School team looking to fulfil its statutory duties to improve the educational outcomes for children with a social worker and those in kinship care. You will work across both educational settings and social care to provide advice, support and challenge.
• You will be responsible for raising the awareness and visibility of the needs of these children; enhancing partnerships; looking to improve attendance and achievement; as well as ensuring that any training, information, advice and guidance is given to all stakeholders.

About you

• Have senior leadership experience in education and have been a designated safeguarding lead
• Be a professional with a proven track record working with a range of education settings 0-18, with knowledge of what makes an impact on progress and attainment.
• Understand how trauma impacts on learning and how a relational approach aids recovery
• Have an understanding of why attendance at an educational setting is important to children with a social worker and in kinship care
• Enjoy problem solving and developing practice and protocols
• Be someone with great people skills, flexibility, and a can-do attitude
• A person who can bring support and challenge to senior leaders in education
• Be able to analyse data and use it to make an impact on practice
• Be a team player who understands how to work collaboratively to get the best outcomes; as well as being self-motivated, creative and able to have courageous conversations

Who We Are

At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?

At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people.

Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle

Work-Life Balance

• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities

Learning and Development

• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training

Community and Inclusion

• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

Interview dates: 2 Nov 26 (pm); 3 Nov 26 (am)

Interview location: Council House Derby

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including during your application, interview or onboarding, we'll work with you to provide the support you need.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

Where a DBS requirement is indicated at the top of this advert, the successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment process.

Where a Market Rate Supplement is indicated at the top of this advert, it is paid in addition to the basic salary and is subject to regular review. The supplement may be reduced or withdrawn and will reduce in line with incremental progression and pay awards.

The Council has a legal obligation to consider suitable redeployment opportunities for employees at risk of redundancy. Consequently, this vacancy may be withdrawn before the advertised closing date if it is filled through the Council's redeployment process.