Service Director - Education and Skills

Lead the Change. Shape the Future. Deliver Better Outcomes.

Sandwell is a borough on the move. Recognised as one of the most improved councils in the country, we have made significant progress but we are not standing still. We are ambitious for our children, young people and communities, and we know there is more to achieve. We are building momentum, driving improvement and creating services that deliver the outcomes our residents deserve.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join our Children and Education leadership team as Service Director - Education and Skills, a pivotal role at the heart of our improvement journey.

We are looking for a strategic, visible and inspiring leader who can champion educational excellence, strengthen partnerships and drive better outcomes for children and young people across Sandwell. This is a role with genuine influence and impact leading services that shape life chances from the early years through to adulthood.

Whether improving attendance, raising attainment, growing skills opportunities, supporting vulnerable learners or strengthening relationships across our education system, you will play a critical role in delivering our ambitions for the borough.

You will provide strategic leadership across education, school improvement, admissions, attendance, early years, post-16 education, skills and employment, Connexions, and adult and family learning. You will develop and deliver ambitious strategies that improve attainment, inclusion and educational outcomes; drive innovation and transformation across services; build strong relationships with schools, trusts, colleges, employers and partners; and lead the Council's statutory education responsibilities with confidence and credibility. You will use data, insight and evidence to improve performance, inspire high-performing teams and contribute corporately as a key member of the Children and Education Senior Leadership Team.

Education is central to Sandwell's future. We want every child to attend a great school, every young person to access meaningful opportunities, and every resident to benefit from learning and skills that support aspiration, achievement and economic prosperity. This role offers the opportunity to influence strategy, shape services and create lasting change for thousands of children, young people and families.

There is a genuine appetite for change across the Council, strong corporate support for improvement and a clear commitment to investing in children and education services. We are ambitious about becoming outstanding and are looking for leaders who share that ambition. We are focused on raising standards, strengthening partnerships, modernising services and creating a culture of high performance, accountability and continuous improvement.

We are seeking an influential leader with a track record of driving improvement, delivering transformation and building productive partnerships. You will bring strategic vision, commercial awareness, political astuteness and a collaborative leadership style, alongside a genuine passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and communities. Experience of school leadership or deep understanding of the education system would be particularly valuable as we continue to strengthen relationships and deliver our ambitious improvement agenda.

If you are ready to lead at scale, shape the future of education and skills, and play a defining role in one of local government's most exciting improvement stories, we would love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our colleagues at Tile Hill, Anita Denton () or Helen Alwell ().

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight Sunday 6th September

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email

If the organisation we're representing is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you'd like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.