Deputy Director for the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner

Pay band: Senior Civil Service Pay Band 1 (Deputy Director).
Contract: 3 years’ fixed-term contract with possible extension of up to one year or secondment.
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Job share.

Overview

The Department for Education is responsible for providing world-class education and care that allows every child and young person to reach his or her potential, regardless of background.

Our three system goals below define the overarching outcomes that we are aiming for by 2020:

1. Safety and Wellbeing

All children and young people are protected from harm and vulnerable children are supported to succeed with opportunities as good as those for any other child;

2. Educational excellence everywhere

Every child and young person can access high-quality provision, achieving to the best of his or her ability regardless of location, prior attainment and background; AND

3. Prepared for adult life

All 19-year-olds complete school or college with the skills and character to contribute to the UK’s society and economy, and are able to access high-quality work or study options.

The Department for Education is implementing one of the most ambitious education reform programmes in the world to deliver a world-class education system across England. There are now over 5,000 open academies, free schools, studio schools and University Technical Colleges, with numbers increasing rapidly. In recent years, the results of sponsored academies have improved faster than other state-funded schools and, the longer they are open, the better they perform on average. The National Schools Commissioner (NSC) and the Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) who work to him are at the forefront of these reforms and are an integral component of the academies system. RSCs are supported by headteacher boards that provide highly influential advice to commissioners so that the decisions and actions they take on behalf of the Secretary of State are based on local knowledge and expertise.

RSCs share intelligence and practice with each other and, where relevant, with the wider education sector to drive up standards across England.

We are recruiting a candidate with a strong track record of leadership, management and school improvement to the role of Deputy Director (DD), leading teams supporting the RSC to deliver his priorities.

Role Description

You will work as part of a senior team to lead multi-disciplinary teams in an area which is both fast-paced and high-profile, throughout a period of significant growth and change. You will play a pivotal role in driving the development and delivery of the RSC’s priorities. The role will offer you a unique opportunity to work closely with the RSC and others at the forefront of education reforms. The balance of priorities may vary depending on the priorities for the particular region, for example focusing on underperformance, rebrokerage of underperforming academies, sponsor capacity and recruitment, or leading on sub-regions within the region, shared with the other members of the senior regional team. Responsibilities may also be tailored to the skills and experience of the successful candidate. You will operate as an ambassador in your region for RSCs, Ministers and the wider department. You will need to inspire staff and delivery partners to engage fully with the long term vision and purpose of the department, during a period of real change in the education landscape where we now have over 5000 academies and over 300 free schools.

As a member of the senior management team you will bring analytical rigour, credibility and pace to world class policy development and delivery. You will be an outstanding communicator, able to work and negotiate effectively with external stakeholders such as schools, academy trusts and sponsors and local authorities, as well as internal stakeholders such as Ministers, other regional units and the national core, and other directorates in the Department. You will need to be a team player who can work collegiately and corporately with your peers, the NSC and the RSCs to prioritise and resource effectively across the wider Directorate and Department. In particular, the role will include the following:

• Managing the accountability framework and/or monitoring performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies;
• Tackling underperformance in maintained schools by providing drive, inspiration and innovation and leading on developing and planning strategies;
• Managing stakeholders such as academy trusts, sponsors and local authorities
• Providing high-quality, strategic advice to RSCs and Ministers;
• Ensuring that the sponsor market meets the local and national need by building on existing networks within the sector to encourage academy sponsorship;
• Growing and developing a vision for good practice in academy governance and effectively communicating and implementing the vision in the academy sector; and
• Leading people to deliver to a high standard by exemplifying and fostering a culture built on enthusiasm, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will have a track record as an outstanding leader. They will be able to command respect in the sector and have credibility with Ministers and headteachers. They will work effectively with the RSC, Ministers and senior departmental staff in order to ensure that regional priorities are delivered in the context of a national framework and have the best possible impact. In particular, these posts require the following skills, behaviours and experience.

Competencies

Setting Direction

Seeing the big picture:

• Having an in-depth understanding and knowledge of how your role fits and supports the Department’s objectives and wider customer and public needs.
• Focusing your contribution on the activities that will meet the Department’s goals.
• Developing long-term strategies to engage the education and community sectors in the academies and free schools programmes to maximise their value to children and society more widely.

Making effective decisions:

• Demonstrating clarity of thought, setting priorities and analysing evidence to evaluate options.
• Being objective and using sound judgement to reach well-reasoned and justifiable decisions about the local academy system.
• Identify the main issues in complex problems and clarify understanding or partner expectations, to seek the best option.
• Striking the right balance between maximising returns and taking risks.

Engaging people

Leading and communicating:

• Confidently engage with partners and colleagues to generate commitment to goals and build trust.
• Establishing a strong direction and a persuasive vision on academies and free schools that is compelling to the public and partners.
• Clarify strategies and plans, giving a sense of direction and purpose for self and team through being visible.

Collaborating & partnering:

• Building and maintaining professional and trusting relationships with a wide range of people to help get business done.
• Sharing information and ideas with colleagues and stakeholders and having the confidence to challenge assumptions.
• Delivering the RSC’s objectives through collaboration and effective partnerships, including strong relationships with departmental colleagues.
• Encourage and establish principles of working effectively across RSC regional boundaries to support the business

Delivering Results

Delivering value for money:

• Balance policy aspiration and delivery, outline risks and benefits of different options to achieve value for money ensuring all submissions contain appropriate financial information.
• Understand the financial position of own area, the organisation and the wider economy and recognise impacts of this when delivering services.
• Weigh up priority and benefits of different actions and activities to consider how to achieve cost effective outcomes.