Director Opportunities in Children's & Educations Services

Working for Nottingham City Council comes with a wide range of benefits. Alongside competitive pay, generous annual leave and access to an excellent pension scheme, we are committed to creating an innovative, inclusive, and progressive workplace where colleagues are supported to be their very best.

Our benefits include:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement (between 26 and 33 days per year depending on your length of service)
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with an 18.5% employer contribution
• Flexible hybrid working
• A strong focus on wellbeing
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression

In return, we are looking for compassionate, dedicated people who share our commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people, adults, and families across Nottingham. If you are passionate about making a positive difference through education and social care and want to help people thrive, we would love to hear from you.

You can find out more about the benefits available to our colleagues on our Nottingham City Council Employee Benefits webpage 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Nottingham City Council is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. We value diversity and recognise that different perspectives, experiences and ideas help us deliver better services for Nottingham's citizens.

We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, disabled people, and people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT+), as these groups are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

Disability Confident Employer

We are a Disability Confident Employer and actively encourage applications from disabled people. If you wish to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme, please tell us in your application. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and into employment.

Armed Forces Covenant

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families. We recognise the valuable skills, experience and perspectives that the Armed Forces community brings.

Championing diversity

We are committed to attracting and developing a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from:

• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) communities
• Disabled people

These groups are currently underrepresented in our workforce, and we want to better reflect our city through our recruitment.

Right to Work

Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK. Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of right to work checks in accordance with Home Office requirements.

Director of Education
Location: Loxley House, Nottingham
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Salary: £109,702 - £113,977 (Soulbury Grade 47 – 50)

Download Job Description

Lead the Future of Education in Nottingham

Nottingham City Council is seeking an exceptional education leader to join us as Director of Education.

This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for shaping the strategic direction of education across Nottingham, improving outcomes, standards, inclusion and opportunities for children and young people. Working across schools, academy trusts, education partners and wider Children's Services, you will play a leading role in delivering the Council's ambition for every child to achieve, thrive and fulfil their potential.

As Nottingham continues its improvement journey, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence education policy, lead system-wide improvement and drive innovation across a broad portfolio of statutory and education support services. You will work closely with elected members, senior leaders, schools and strategic partners to create the conditions for high-performing, inclusive and sustainable education services that respond to the needs of our city.

We are looking for a visionary leader with substantial experience of education leadership within a local authority, school, academy trust or comparable environment. You will have a strong understanding of the national education landscape and a proven track record of improving educational outcomes, leading large-scale change and building effective partnerships across complex systems.

Your portfolio will include leadership of key statutory education functions, including inclusion, SEND, early years, school admissions, education welfare, educational psychology and school improvement. Working collaboratively across Children's Services and with external partners, you will ensure services are responsive, effective and focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people across Nottingham.

You will be a highly credible and influential leader, capable of providing expert educational advice to senior leaders, elected members and partners, whilst translating strategic priorities into measurable improvements. You will combine political awareness, commercial acumen and a relentless focus on delivery, inspiring high performance and innovation across the services you lead.

About You

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent educational professional qualification, together with a leadership qualification or willingness to work towards one.
• Significant senior leadership experience within education services, school leadership, academy trusts or a comparable environment.
• A strong understanding of education legislation, statutory responsibilities and national education policy.
• A proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in educational standards, inclusion and outcomes for children and young people.
• Experience of leading large-scale transformation and service improvement programmes.
• Strong partnership working skills, with experience of building effective relationships across agencies and stakeholders.
• Financial, commercial and strategic awareness together with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to operate effectively within a politically led organisation.
• A commitment to inclusion, equality and improving life chances for all children and young people.

Why Nottingham City Council?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future of education in Nottingham. You will join an ambitious organisation committed to delivering high-quality services, improving outcomes for children and young people, and creating a city where every child can succeed.

If you are a strategic and values-led leader with the vision, passion and expertise to drive educational excellence and inclusion, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement outlining how you meet the requirements of the role to:

helen.pearson2@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

Closing Date: Sunday 10th January 2026
Interview Dates: to be confirmed

Informal Enquiries

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Sarah Nardone: Corporate Director for Children's and Education Services

Contact via tanya.frost@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

For recruitment enquiries, please contact:

helen.pearson2@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

Director of Children's & Education Commissioning & Partnerships
Location: Loxley House, Nottingham
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Salary: £101,636 - £112,285 per annum (SLMG 1)

Download Job Description

Shape the Future of Children's Services in Nottingham

At Nottingham City Council, we are ambitious for our children, young people and families. As we continue to transform Children's & Education Services, we are seeking an exceptional strategic leader to join us as Director of Children's & Education Commissioning & Partnerships.

This is a pivotal role with responsibility for ensuring Nottingham has the right services, in the right place, at the right time, to meet the needs of children and families across the city. Leading our commissioning function, you will work across social care, education, health and wider partnerships to develop innovative, sustainable and outcome-focused solutions that improve lives and deliver value for money.

Working at the heart of our leadership team, you will shape commissioning strategies that respond to changing demand, influence local and regional markets, and strengthen provision for children, young people and families. Your leadership will be critical in supporting service transformation, improving sufficiency and ensuring commissioning activity contributes to better outcomes across the whole system.

We are looking for a dynamic and commercially astute leader with significant experience of commissioning, transformation and partnership working within a complex organisation. You will have a strong track record of delivering strategic change, building effective relationships across multiple agencies and influencing stakeholders at the highest levels.

You will bring the confidence to challenge, innovate and think differently, alongside a commitment to putting children and families at the centre of decision-making. Whether shaping markets, developing new models of delivery or driving improvement through commissioning, you will be motivated by making a tangible difference to the lives of Nottingham's children.

In return, you will have the opportunity to lead a high-profile portfolio at a time of significant change and ambition for Children's & Education Services, working alongside committed colleagues and partners who share a determination to deliver the very best outcomes for children and families.

About You

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Degree level qualification, Leadership and Management qualification and evidence of continuing professional development at senior leadership level.
• Significant senior leadership experience in commissioning, transformation, procurement or service redesign.
• A strong understanding of children's services, partnership working and statutory responsibilities.
• Experience of developing and implementing strategic commissioning approaches within a complex environment.
• A proven track record of delivering large-scale change and service improvement.
• Strong commercial, financial and contractual awareness.
• Excellent influencing, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to operate effectively within a politically led organisation.
• A commitment to improving outcomes and reducing inequalities for children, young people and families.

Why Nottingham City Council?

At Nottingham City Council, we put children, families and citizens at the heart of everything we do.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future of Children's & Education Services in Nottingham and play a leading role in delivering our ambition for children and families. If you are a strategic leader with the vision, drive and expertise to help shape the future of commissioning, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement outlining how you meet the requirements of the role to:

helen.pearson2@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

Closing Date: Sunday 6th December 2026
Interview Dates: to be confirmed

Informal Enquiries

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Sarah Nardone: Corporate Director for Children's and Education Services

Contact via tanya.frost@nottinghamcity.gov.uk 

For recruitment enquiries, please contact:

helen.pearson2@nottinghamcity.gov.uk