Assistant Director - Learning and Belonging

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

Lead a system where every child feels they belong and can thrive.

North Somerset is ambitious for its children and young people. We are looking for an exceptional leader to shape and deliver our vision for Learning and Belonging across the whole system, from early years through to post‑16, with inclusion at its heart.

This is a pivotal role with responsibility for education, SEND, inclusion and wider learning systems, ensuring they work as one joined‑up offer that improves outcomes and life chances for all children.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Children’s Services, you will provide strategic leadership across education and inclusion, ensuring statutory duties are delivered while driving whole‑system reform.

Key Responsibilities:

You will:

• Lead the education system as the council’s senior educational professional

• Drive SEND and inclusion reform, shifting focus to early intervention and inclusive mainstream practice

• Ensure education plays a full role in safeguarding, early help and family support

• Oversee school place planning, capital programmes and education sufficiency

• Build strong, influential partnerships with schools, trusts, early years and regional partners

• Act as a system leader across education, social care and health, reducing fragmentation and improving outcomes

This is a role that combines statutory accountability with genuine system leadership — influencing beyond organisational boundaries to deliver lasting change.

What we’re looking for

You will be an experienced senior leader who:

• Brings credibility with education leaders and partners

• Has a strong track record of raising standards and improving inclusion

• Understands SEND reform, safeguarding and education legislation in depth

• Has led large-scale system change across complex partnerships

• Is confident working with elected members, inspectors and national bodies

• Leads with clarity, warmth and a focus on children’s outcomes

Why join us

North Somerset offers the opportunity to lead in a system that is:

• Ambitious and improving, with clear political and corporate support

• Committed to inclusive, place-based working

• Focused on early help, prevention and reducing inequalities

• Values-led, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and belonging

You will join a supportive and forward‑thinking senior leadership team, working collectively to deliver meaningful change for children and families.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified to degree level and relevant professional qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of education, SEND, Inclusion, safeguarding and children’s legislation

• Knowledge of current educational policy especially as it relates to curriculum, teaching, assessment, leadership and management and school improvement

• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation and systems of education delivery, governance and funding

• A detailed understanding of relevant statutory frameworks and the political economic and social environment in which services need to be delivered

• Strong understanding of inspection, improvement and accountability frameworks

Experience:

• Senior leadership experience across education and/or children’s services

• Experience of leading complex, multi-disciplinary transformation programmes (desirable)

• Experience of developing and leading high performing teams

• Experience of successfully planning and delivering service improvement and budget management

• Experience of working successfully with education and local authority leaders

• Experience of using partnership structures to design and effect successful change

• Experience of working with elected members and regulatory bodies

• Successful track record of building effective partnerships with schools, academies and colleges to create and develop opportunities to improve educational outcomes

• Proven track record of improving inclusion, outcomes and system performance

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and valuesand are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Claire Shiels, Director of Children’s Services (Claire.shiels@n-somerset.gov.uk) on 01934 888891

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: 28 and 29 July 2026

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.