Sector Skills Lead

Durham County Council; Fir Tree; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council is recruiting for multiple Sector Skills Lead roles to steer and influence skills development across priority sectors within the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority. The posts will lead strategy and activity across a portfolio of sectors, shaping policy through to practice and building senior relationships with authorities, education providers and employers.

You will translate evidence and market insights into strategic delivery, working in a hybrid environment to

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex strategy and delivery in a public-sector environment.
• Ability to turn evidence and horizon scanning into practical sector actions.
• Strong stakeholder relationship management with employers, providers and authorities.
• Commitment to inclusive growth and public value.

Responsibilities

• Lead sector skills strategy across priority sectors.
• Coordinate partnerships with local authorities, education providers and employers.
• Monitor employer insights and policy developments to shape delivery.
• Ensure alignment with regional and national strategies and budgets.

Job description

We are recruiting to multiple 'Sector Skills Lead' roles, offering the opportunity to lead and influence skills development across a range of priority sectors. We're looking for dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking individuals to lead skills and employment strategy and activity across a portfolio of priority sectors. The Sector Skills Lead will be instrumental to the delivery and implementation of the New Deal for North East Workers, ensuring alignment of regionally commissioned skills provision with the needs of employers across the North East MSA's priority sectors. The postholder will act as the strategic lead across a portfolio of industry sectors, responsible for facilitating high functioning and effective sectoral partnerships with a view to delivering meaningful outcomes for residents in careers, education, skills and economic inclusion. This will include monitoring employer insights, emerging opportunities and challenges, and relevant regional/national/international policy across the portfolio of sectors. The postholder will shape skills strategy development from policy through to practice, ensuring coherence across the directorate and working closely with internal stakeholders, external partners and key regional influencers, ensuring strong outcomes for residents remains at the heart of economic growth. The role will build and maintain senior relationships across local authorities, education providers, employers, business/employer representative bodies and wider partners. Through these relationships, the postholder will help strengthen the organisation's strategic influence, champion the region's interests, and help define where the MSA goes next in relation to sector-based human capital and economic growth.

We are seeking an ambitious, dynamic and driven leader who can turn evidence, insight and emerging trends into strategies and meaningful delivery. You will bring substantial experience of leading complex strategy, programmes or projects in a political or public-sector environment, confidently managing multiple stakeholders, budgets, risks and delivery. You will have a strong understanding of the skills, careers, employment support and economic inclusion landscape-from young people's pathways and adult skills to lifelong learning and workforce development. You will recognise the barriers faced by residents, learners and employers, and use quantitative and qualitative evidence, horizon scanning and long-term thinking to shape effective responses and demonstrate impact. A persuasive and inclusive communicator, you will build trusted relationships across government, education, business and the wider public sector. You will be comfortable supporting partnership communications, including digital and social media activity, and encouraging new ways of working. Strategic, curious and delivery-focused, you will thrive in a fast-paced and politically sensitive environment. You can work independently and as part of a hybrid team, prioritise a demanding workload and maintain momentum across complex partnerships. Above all, you will be resilient, adaptable and committed to public value, inclusive growth and better outcomes for residents and communities. You will champion equality and diversity, partnership working, continuous improvement, integrity, transparency and the highest professional standards.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, communities and experiences. We support flexible working and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented including women, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

If you have any questions regarding this role, please reach out to Reshma Begum, Head of Skills, Policy and Insight, .

It is anticipated that interviews will take place 11th and 14th December 2026.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 12th November 2026 at 23:59.

For further information about the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority please visit our website .

This recruitment is being administered by Durham County Council on behalf of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.

Attachments

• Candidate Pack - Sector Skills Lead.pdf
• Sector Skills Lead - JD PS.pdf