City of Westminster, London (region), SW1P 3BT
Job Summary
The Director, Technical Qualifications and Essential Skills, has a key role in delivering the Government’s skills priorities and improving the quality of post 16 technical education, offering young people high quality options which fulfil their potential and support greater productivity in the economy. It is an exciting and varied role that includes acting as SRO for the T levels Government Major programme.
The directorate is responsible for policy and delivery of technical qualifications and essential skills.
Leadership of a high performing, cross-site Directorate of around 160 people is a key part of the role, with three DD led divisions and a G6 led division reporting into you. You will also play a key role in the leadership of Skills Group and drive forward progress on engagement, diversity and inclusion and wellbeing across the group.
This role is only available part-time ideally Wednesday to Friday or Monday to Wednesday as a job-share partner to the existing Director.
Successful candidates will be required to hold or obtain SC Security Clearance.
Job Description
The Director, Technical Qualifications and Essential Skills responsibilities will be:
* Delivering the flagship T Levels programme - technical qualifications at level 3 - roughly the size of 3 A levels. T Levels provide a significant improvement to the technical qualification landscape for level 3 students. T Levels are based on employer-designed occupational standards and provide young people and adults the skills they need to do the jobs of the future. Delivery of T Levels is a government major programme and leadership involves driving forward progress to develop and deliver the qualifications.
* Oversight of Post-16 Qualifications at Level 3 and below - ensuring that all qualifications that are approved for public funding are high quality, necessary, have clear purpose and lead to good outcomes (either skilled employment, or further study).
* Ensuring strong programme management, reporting and assurance across all programmes and strong financial management across TQES budgets.
* Ensuring strategic links with other key parts of the education and skills landscape and acting a leader across the Skills Group.
As part of these responsibilities, the Director will need to demonstrate:
* Excellent stakeholder management skills, managing relationships with cross-Government partners, sector leaders and employers.
* Strong financial management and Major Project discipline. This portfolio involves a Government Major Project and further large-scale project delivery. It also includes substantial amounts of public funding which the Director is accountable for.
* Strong systems leadership. These programmes rely on close, collaborative working with a range of delivery partners including Ofqual, Ofsted and Skills England.
* Excellent leadership with Ministers, No 10 and HMT.
* Excellent staff leadership.
* Oversight of Essential Skills policy, including English, Maths and Digital skills for adults.
Person specification
Essential criteria
* This is a challenging and high-profile post that needs an extraordinary leader who can think strategically and deliver at pace. You will need to be comfortable operating across a complex policy and delivery landscape - setting a clear vision for your team, for delivery partners and stakeholders. With a leadership portfolio of around 160 talented staff across multiple sites, you will need to be engaging, flexible, inclusive and resilient.
* You will need to be a highly skilled communicator and able to gain the confidence of ministers, senior partners in DfE, Ofqual and Skills England, talk comfortably and credibly to sector leaders including chief executives of awarding organisations, representative bodies and school and college leaders, drive forward policy decisions and support implementation. You will need to regularly advise, update and engage on key decisions, prioritisation and risk management choices.
* You must be able to work in partnership with key delivery partners, using your influence to lead collaboration and ensure a joint and consistent approach and to manage risks and prioritisation across the portfolio.
* You must be able to demonstrate strong financial management and Major Project discipline. This portfolio involves large-scale project delivery. It also includes substantial amounts of public funding which the Director is accountable for.
* You must be an excellent leader of people, with strong inter-personal and management skills.
* You will have had previous experience of qualifications policy/delivery.
* Able to demonstrate a partnership approach aligned with existing job share.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of leading major government delivery programmes across geographically dispersed areas.
* Completion of MPLA, or if not held, the successful candidate should be willing to complete this.
Application
To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on 28th of April 2025.
You Will Be Asked To Provide
* A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
* A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1,000 words) detailing ‘why should we consider you for this role’ (up to 500 words), why you have chosen the Department for Education (up to 500 words) and addressing your suitability against the key criteria. You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role.
Selection Process
* This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.
* Shortlisted Candidates Will take part in a Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held 7 May 2025.
* Undertake an Individual Leadership Assessment with an Occupational Psychologist, to be held w/c 7 May 2025.
* Be invited to attend a formal panel interview. Interviews will be held week the morning of Tuesday 20th of May 2025 in Sanctuary Buildings, London.
Contact point for applicants
* Name : SCS Recruitment Team
* Email :
#J-18808-Ljbffr