Position: Interim Assistant Director, Education Strategy, Access and Inclusion (SMG2)
Location: 6 Brixton Hill, London, Lambeth, SW2 1RW
Start Date: ASAP (target start date: 5 October 2026)
Contract Duration: 12 weeks
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Pay Rate: £50.00 per hour
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership for education strategy, school place planning, admissions and education provision across Lambeth
- Lead services supporting vulnerable pupils, including SEND, inclusion, Educational Psychology, Virtual School, outreach and services for excluded pupils
- Oversee the quality, sufficiency and effectiveness of education provision and pupil-facing services
- Lead on school admissions, Fair Access Protocols and related panels
- Support school improvement and maintain strong working relationships with schools, including providing school improvement advice where required
- Develop and implement strategic and operational plans that improve outcomes for children and young people
- Lead service improvement and promote effective multi-agency working with schools, health services, voluntary organisations and other partners
- Oversee the delivery of traded Educational Psychology and outreach services to schools
- Manage service performance, quality assurance, risk and continuous improvement
- Provide clear leadership, supervision and support to managers and staff, including workforce development and performance management
- Manage relevant budgets, ensuring effective financial control, value for money and appropriate action on financial risks
- Provide professional advice to elected Members and prepare committee reports, briefings and management reports
- Lead preparation for Ofsted, CQC and other regulatory inspections, including action planning and implementation
- Ensure safeguarding, equality, data protection, information governance and other statutory requirements are fully embedded across the service
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver joined-up services
- Respond to complaints and audit or inspection requirements within required timescales
- Contribute to the wider strategic and operational leadership of Children's Services and the Council
- Provide out-of-hours or emergency cover when required
Requirements:
- Substantial senior-level experience within education, a local authority, school, Multi-Academy Trust or equivalent organisation
- Proven experience of managing professionally qualified staff at a senior level
- Strong knowledge of legislation, statutory requirements and national guidance relating to:
- School place planning and sufficiency
- School admissions
- Education provision and school improvement
- Educational Psychology
- Virtual School services
- SEND and inclusion
- Equalities and children's services
- Strong understanding of the Children and Families Act 2014, Education and Inspections Act 1996 and Academies Act 2010
- Proven track record of translating strategic plans and policies into effective operational delivery
- Experience of leading service improvement, performance management and organisational change
- Experience of developing effective partnerships with schools, families, health services, voluntary organisations and other agencies
- Strong financial and budget management experience
- Ability to analyse performance data, identify risks and implement effective improvement plans
- Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to make evidence-based decisions and deliver results in a fast-paced environment
- Degree-level qualification or above, with PGCE or equivalent
- Commitment to equality, inclusion, safeguarding and positive outcomes for children and young people
- Eligible to work in the UK
- Previous experience working within a London local authority
- Experience leading SEND, Educational Psychology, inclusion, outreach or pupil place planning services
- Experience of working with Ofsted, CQC or other external regulatory and inspection bodies
- Experience advising elected Members and preparing committee reports
- Experience securing or managing external grants and funding
- Experience delivering significant service transformation or cultural change
- Knowledge of traded education services and working with schools as customers
Job Ref: OR111824
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Pay: £50.00 per hour
Application question(s):
- Please summarise your relevant experience and explain why you would be suitable for the Interim Assistant Director, Education Strategy, Access and Inclusion role.
Experience:
- Assistant Director: 2 years (required)
- senior-level experience within education: 2 years (required)
- managing professionally qualified staff: 2 years (required)
- school admissions: 2 years (required)
- budget management: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- degree-level qualification or above, with PGCE (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
