Job details

Together, we’re shaping children’s education for the future. Every day, our colleagues are helping to transform the lives of the residents of Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to delivering educational excellence for our children and young people through continuous and innovative improvements across our educational system. Our ambitious transformation programme, “Delivering the Future Together”, aims to make us an employer, partner, and place shaper of choice. As the sector looks ahead to the biggest structural change in half a century, can your educational leadership expertise contribute to the legacy Oxfordshire County Council delivers for future generations?

We are seeking an exceptional leader to take on the role of Assistant Director – School Improvement. This is a unique opportunity to drive forward excellence and equity in education across the County, ensuring that every child and young person has access to high-quality learning opportunities and the best possible outcomes.

As Assistant Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic vision for school improvement, working collaboratively with educational leaders, multi-academy trusts, and other key stakeholders. You will lead a highly skilled team, championing innovation and ensuring that schools across Oxfordshire are supported to deliver outstanding teaching, learning, and pastoral care. Central to the role will be a commitment to support our most vulnerable children and young people and to supporting our services to become more inclusive.

Your role will involve providing clear direction, fostering strong partnerships, and holding schools accountable for their performance. You will ensure that resources are effectively targeted to address underperformance, while also celebrating and replicating areas of excellence. With a focus on driving continuous improvement, you will lead on initiatives to close attainment gaps, promote inclusivity, and ensure that all children and young people, regardless of background, are able to thrive.

To succeed in this role, you will be an inspirational leader with a strong track record in education and school improvement. Your ability to communicate a clear vision, build consensus, and deliver measurable outcomes will be vital. Experience of working within a local authority, academy trust, or a similarly complex educational organisation is highly desirable, as is a thorough understanding of the current policy landscape and the challenges facing schools.

This is a demanding but highly rewarding position that offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families across Oxfordshire. Our Agile Working Policy ensures you enjoy flexible working arrangements, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively. If you are passionate about educational excellence and have the vision, expertise, and commitment to lead school improvement at the highest level, making a real difference in Oxfordshire, we would love to hear from you.

Together, we’re the moment makers and we’re focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, you’ll look around and say, “I make a difference”, because we’re all creating lasting change to people’s lives in Oxfordshire.

Every day, you’ll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We’re not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.

We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself – while raising the bar for the future of UK public services.

Our Agile Working Policy ensures you enjoy flexible working arrangements, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively operating on a hybrid model, based in Oxford.

To find out more, speak to our Account Manager at Hays Executive, Simon Winspear on 07525 466 357 /simon.winspear@hays.com

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in employment, and we welcome applications from all members of the community.

We would particularly like to encourage applications from individuals from a multi-ethnic background, who are currently under-represented at a senior level within our organisation. At Oxfordshire, we strive to create a workplace that reflects our region, where everyone is valued and empowered to be themselves.