Strategic Manager (SEND Improvement & Assurance) HCC625309

Hampshire County Council; Winchester; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Assured Employee Assistance

Generous annual leave

Occupational sick pay

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Hampshire County Council is seeking a Strategic Manager (SEND Improvement & Assurance) to shape and lead a new function focused on improving SEND services across the county. You will provide strategic oversight, governance and challenge to ensure programmes deliver outcomes for children and families.

Working across Education & Inclusion and Local Area Partnership, you will drive performance, accountability and continuous improvement, chair the SEND Improvement & Assurance Board, and translate

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading strategic improvement, assurance or governance activity.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret data and financial information.
• Proven ability to influence and challenge senior leaders and partners to deliver change.
• Understanding of the local government environment, governance and accountability.
• Strategic thinking in complex, evolving environments with clarity where there is ambiguity.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management to improve SEND outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the SEND Improvement & Assurance Framework and SENDIAB with governance and accountability.
• Monitor system performance, risks and outcomes and coordinate assurance activities.
• Analyse performance and financial information, turning data into actionable recommendations.
• Lead strategic reviews and deep dives to evaluate impact and inform investment decisions.
• Build relationships across education, health and social care to drive improvement.
• Prepare and present high-quality reports and recommendations to senior leaders and boards.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Analytical thinking

Influence senior leaders

Governance & accountability

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Job description

Strategic Manager (SEND Improvement & Assurance) HCC625309

As Strategic Manager (SEND Improvement & Assurance), you'll play a key role in influencing the future direction of SEND services across Hampshire. Leading a newly established function at the heart of Hampshire's approach to SEND improvement, governance and accountability, you'll provide the strategic oversight, assurance and challenge needed to ensure services, programmes and investment deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Working across Education & Inclusion and the wider Local Area Partnership, you'll help shape a culture of performance, accountability and continuous improvement across the SEND system. Leading the SEND Improvement & Assurance Board (SENDIAB), you'll bring together performance information, financial intelligence, audit findings, stakeholder feedback and strategic reviews to build a clear picture of system effectiveness. Through robust governance, assurance and constructive challenge, you'll help senior leaders understand strengths, risks and priorities, enabling evidence-based decision-making and driving improvement across the system.

Company: Hampshire County Council

Salary: £58,143 to £65,162 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Winchester, SO23 8UJ

Working pattern: Hybrid - 4 days remote

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 30 Oct 2026

Closing date: 15 Nov 2026

What you'll do

• Lead Hampshire's SEND Improvement & Assurance Framework and SEND Improvement & Assurance Board, providing strategic oversight, governance and accountability.
• Monitor system performance, risks, outcomes and delivery, identifying areas for improvement and coordinating assurance activity where needed.
• Analyse complex performance and financial information, turning evidence into clear intelligence and recommendations for decision-makers.
• Lead strategic reviews, deep dives and assurance activity to evaluate impact, inform investment decisions and support long-term sustainability.
• Build strong relationships across education, health and social care, influencing partners and senior leaders to drive improvement.
• Prepare and present high-quality reports, assurance findings and recommendations to senior leaders, governance boards and partnership forums, supporting effective decision-making and accountability.

What we're looking for

• Significant experience leading strategic improvement, assurance or governance activity.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience interpreting complex data and financial information and translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Proven ability to influence, support and constructively challenge senior leaders and partners to deliver change and improvement.
• Strong understanding of the local government environment, including governance, accountability and political decision-making.
• The ability to think strategically and operate effectively in complex, evolving environments, bringing clarity and focus where there is ambiguity.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a commitment to continuous improvement and strengthening outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.
• Shape a new strategic function with the opportunity to influence the future direction of SEND services across Hampshire.
• Play a key role in improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND through system-wide leadership, insight and partnership working.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Why join us?

• Shape a new strategic function with the opportunity to influence the future direction of SEND services across Hampshire.
• Play a key role in improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND through system-wide leadership, insight and partnership working.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• Competitive benefits package, including generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

To learn more about this role, please review our Candidate Pack available on our website.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role and therefore it is essential that you already have the right to work in the UK.

Other job titles you may be searching for may include: SEND Improvement & Assurance Manager, SEND Performance & Assurance Manager, Strategic SEND Improvement Manager, SEND Governance & Assurance Manager, Improvement & Assurance Manager (SEND).

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Essential requirements

As per Summary.

Summary

As Strategic Manager (SEND Improvement & Assurance), you'll play a key role in influencing the future direction of SEND services across Hampshire. Leading a newly established function at the heart of Hampshire's approach to SEND improvement, governance and accountability, you'll provide the strategic oversight, assurance and challenge needed to ensure services, programmes and investment deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Working across Education & Inclusion and the wider Local Area Partnership, you'll help shape a culture of performance, accountability and continuous improvement across the SEND system. Leading the SEND Improvement & Assurance Board (SENDIAB), you'll bring together performance information, financial intelligence, audit findings, stakeholder feedback and strategic reviews to build a clear picture of system