Deputy Director - East of England

Locations: Cambridge, East of England, CB2 8DR : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1P 3BT

Advertised working pattern: Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Job summary

The Deputy Director will play a critical role in leading the Department's work within the East of England region, working as part of the regional senior leadership team to improve outcomes for children, families and learners.

They will be responsible for strategic leadership and delivery across the region, ensuring effective implementation of Government Priorities in SEND reform, Children's Social Care reform, school standards, the school system and trust regulation, supporting the senior leadership team to ensure delivery is integrated, high-performing and responsive to local needs.

The Deputy Director will operate as a senior system leader, shaping how national policy is delivered locally, leading complex multi-disciplinary delivery through others, and taking ownership of significant risks and performance challenges.

Please note that regular travel (up to two days a week) to schools, local authorities and other partners in the region is an expected part of this role.

Job description Strategic Leadership and Delivery

• Own and lead delivery of major elements of the government's Opportunity Mission across the region.
• Translate Government priorities into clear regional strategies and delivery plans.
• Oversee multiple interdependent programmes, ensuring alignment, pace and impact.
• Identify risks to delivery and intervene decisively where outcomes are off track.

Regional System Leadership

• Operate as a senior system leader within the region, understanding local context and shaping performance.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders including Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local authorities, trusts and sector leaders.
• Bring partners together to solve complex system challenges and drive collective improvement.
• Represent the department externally as a senior and credible leader.

Performance, Risk and Intervention

• Monitor system performance and identify emerging risks using evidence and insight.
• Lead intervention activity in underperforming areas to drive rapid improvement.
• Ensure robust governance, reporting and escalation to the Regional Director, Director General and Ministers.

Leadership of People and Delivery

• Act as a visible senior leader modelling Civil Service values and behaviours.
• Demonstrate thought leadership and bring people together to solve complex problems.
• Lead delivery through senior teams (G6/G7), creating clarity, pace and accountability.
• Set stretching objectives and actively manage performance.
• Build high-performing, inclusive teams and develop leadership capability.
• Shape organisational structures to best deliver priorities.

Strategy and Corporate Contribution

• Contribute to regional and national strategy, ensuring policy reflects delivery reality.
• Provide high-quality advice and briefing to Ministers and senior leaders.
• Lead or contribute to cross-regional or national priorities.
• Play an active role in the regional senior leadership team.
• Support wider departmental and cross-government priorities.

Person specification

Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria. If there is a high volume of applicants, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criterion.

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed.

Essential Criteria

• Exceptional leadership experience within education, local government, national government, or similarly complex public sector environments, with a track record of leading high-performing teams through others.
• Proven experience leading large-scale, complex delivery across multiple programmes, systems, or organisational priorities, while managing risk, ambiguity, and high-profile issues.
• Strong strategic leadership capability, including influencing outcomes beyond direct authority and shaping organisational or system-wide direction.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a track record of building productive relationships and securing buy-in from senior leaders across organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrable experience of leading change, transformation, and continuous improvement, delivering sustainable improvements in performance, services, or outcomes.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working within education, SEND, children's social care, or related public service systems, with an understanding of place-based delivery and the East of England regional context.
• Experience of system reform, improvement, regulation, intervention, or contributing to strategy and policy development.
• Experience working with Ministers, senior government stakeholders, or other high-profile partners to influence and deliver outcomes across organisational boundaries.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.