Join Colchester Institute – Where Your Career Makes a Difference
At Colchester Institute, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities. As one of the region’s leading providers of education and training, we are proud to offer a dynamic, supportive and forward-thinking working environment where staff can thrive and make meaningful change.
Colchester Institute is proud to lead one of only five Clean Energy Technical Excellence Colleges (CETECs) in England a prestigious national designation awarded to institutions with the capability to drive excellence in technical skills for the clean energy economy.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally significant programme at the forefront of one of the UK’s most important economic and industrial priorities: building the skilled workforce required to deliver the clean energy transition.
Backed by the Department for Education and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, CETEC will play a pivotal role in developing the workforce needed to support major growth across nuclear, offshore wind, electrification, heat, grid infrastructure and wider clean energy supply chains.
As Director of CETEC, you will shape and lead a high-profile, employer-led partnership spanning education, industry and government. You will work across a hub-and-spoke model with colleges, employers and strategic partners across the East of England, driving innovation in technical education and workforce development.
This is more than a leadership role, it is an opportunity to help build something nationally significant.
You will influence regional skills strategy, shape training aligned to major infrastructure and inward investment opportunities, and help position the East of England as a nationally recognised centre of excellence for clean energy skills.
We are seeking an ambitious and highly credible leader with substantial experience in clean energy, infrastructure, engineering, workforce development or technical education, alongside a strong track record of partnership building and strategic delivery.
You will bring deep understanding of the workforce challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector, with the credibility to engage confidently with senior leaders across industry, government and education.
Job Title: Director of Clean Energy TEC
Full time, Colchester Campus with travel across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk
About the role:
- Provide strategic leadership for the Clean Energy Technical Excellence College (CETEC), delivering an ambitious programme that positions the College as a national leader in clean energy skills.
- Lead the development and delivery of CETEC's strategic plans, ensuring agreed objectives, outcomes and impact measures are achieved.
- Build and lead strong partnerships with employers, education providers, industry and government to shape skills provision that meets workforce demand.
- Champion collaboration across the CETEC hub-and-spoke network, creating a coordinated, high-quality offer that maximises impact and value.
- Represent CETEC at regional and national level, influencing policy, strengthening partnerships and raising the College's profile.
- Drive innovative workforce development initiatives that address skills shortages, support progression and respond to emerging industry priorities.
- Use performance data and stakeholder insight to evaluate impact, demonstrate value and continuously improve delivery.
- Work closely with the College Executive and Senior Leadership Team to ensure CETEC supports the College's strategic ambitions and delivers meaningful outcomes for employers, learners and the wider economy.
Essential experience:
- An understanding of the Clean Energy industries and their workforce needs
- Knowledge of relevant skills and workforce development policy (e.g. UK Clean Energy Jobs Plan)
- Experience of leading multi-partner initiatives, involving, for example, employers, providers, national or local government bodies, employer representative organisations.
- Experience of designing large-scale workforce or skills programmes, aligned to employer demand and sector priorities
- Understanding of governance structures for multi-partner delivery
- Experience of representing an organisation at regional or national level
- Experience of using LMI data, and other sources of information to shape strategy and evaluate impact
- Experience of managing budgets and resources across complex programmes
- An understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to creating a safe learning environment.
Essential Qualifications:
- Educated to Degree level or relevant industry experience, with Level 2 qualifications in English and Mathematics.
- Relevant technical, engineering or clean-energy related training or qualification
- Clear evidence of continuing professional development.
If you are passionate about system leadership, skills innovation and creating long-term economic impact, this is an opportunity to lead at regional and national scale.
Applications should include a CV and a personal statement outlining how you meet the requirements of the person specification and job description, if you cannot add a personal statement to your application, please send it to [email protected] or [email protected]. Following the review of applications, shortlisted candidates will be contacted and next steps will be communicated.
Additional Information
Colchester Institute is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please note: We do not work with recruitment or search agencies unless formally contracted in line with our PSL.
