Head of Service Education - Sufficiency (CDC)

Based at: Civic Office, Doncaster / Hybrid Working

Salary details: Grade SMG, £74,767 - £80,739 per annum

Contract Type: Temporary, Full Time

Hours: 37 hours per week

Flexible working arrangements: Flexible working requests considered.

Closing date: 16th November 2026

The City of Doncaster Council is a confident, ambitious organisation which puts improving the life of its residents at the centre of everything we do. You have an opportunity to be part of this in the role of Head of Service Education - Sufficiency.

City of Doncaster Council is seeking to appoint a high calibre Head of Service to join the extended directorate leadership team. City of Doncaster Council is an ambitious Mayoral authority with a clear purpose to ensure Doncaster and its people thrive and that value for money is at the heart of everything the Council does. Rewarding and encouraging initiative, innovation and strong effective leadership are seen as key components to drive continuous improvement.

The post will provide strategic leadership for key areas of the education portfolio to ensure that Doncaster fulfils its statutory duties. They will promote inclusive education, ensure high standards, and lead on delivering the council’s education sufficiency, with oversight of admissions. They will be instrumental in redesigning and implementing our offer to maintained schools, building on a strong school improvement offer. They will review and develop our traded offer across the education system to ensure that we provide excellent services.

Great things happen when people come together with a shared ambition to improve people’s lives. In Doncaster we see this happen all the time and in recent years we have gone from strength to strength. Doncaster is proud of its vibrant communities and ambitious vision for education. Recent outcomes data highlights both our progress and the challenges ahead, particularly in ensuring that we have and inclusive education system for all. 92 % of our schools are rated ‘good’ or better.

We have a growing, £5 billion economy, record levels of residents in employment (over 140,000) and many new jobs in the pipeline. We are making progress in achieving inclusive growth - which means local people are able to benefit from the new quality job opportunities being created. Our 10 year education and skills strategy are closely aligned to the Economic Growth strategy, ensuring that we create career pathways for all ages linked to the local economy. Our purpose as a council is to ensure that all people in Doncaster thrive. That means we are committed to inclusive education for all.

The candidate needs to have an excellent grip of detail and expertise around leading implementation of delivery, and the ability to bring partners together to deliver to the plans. They also need a good financial and commercial understandings.

Strategic partnerships locally and internationally are important. We have a strong track record of finding educational approaches that works for all learners. We have a track record of innovating and raising standards in the specialist and AP sector and have partnered with Pittsburgh to engage children, young people and their families in world of learning and work through the Remake Learning project.

In recent years we have partnered with multi-academy trusts to open a UTC (awaiting the second UTC announcement) and to expand specialist provision. We are in the process of developing with partners a university offer closely linked to the job opportunities that the reopening of the Airport will bring.

We are developing community assets, playing to people’s strengths and putting resources nearer to communities to ensure individuals get the right support, in the right place at the right time. By tackling issues early on we can often delay or prevent bigger problems occurring in the future.

We are seeking a senior leader with:

• Proven experience in education leadership, sufficiency and school improvement.
• A track record of partnership working and delivering impact through collaboration.
• Deep understanding of inclusive education and the barriers faced by learners.
• Passion for innovation and a commitment to the principles of remake learning.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to drive improvement.
• Values that reflect ambition, inclusivity, and service to the community.

We value a range of experiences and skills. If you have transferable skills from other roles or voluntary work, we encourage you to apply.

In return for your contribution, we offer:

• Competitive leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Wellbeing support and staff networks
• Development and training opportunities
• Staff discounts and benefits schemes
• More information on benefits can be found in the attached benefits booklet.

Please review the job summary and profile and demonstrate in your application how you meet the required criteria.

Shortlisting will take place week commencing 16th November 2026 and it is anticipated that interviews will be held on 30th November 2026.

For further details or an informal chat, please contact: Lee Golze, Tel: 01302 735488, Email: Lee.Golze@doncaster.gov.uk

We encourage applicants to use their own words to reflect their experience and skills and over-reliance on AI is discouraged.

The Advance Employment Team offers personalised support to help you take your next step into work. From building your CV and getting the right interview skills to accessing a wide range of free courses, the team will help you grow your skills and confidence and find a job you’ll enjoy. Get in touch by email (advanceemploymenthub@doncaster.gov.uk) or visit the Advance website (www.advancedoncaster.co.uk) to discover the support available.

City of Doncaster Council is committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and improving quality of life for all. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults.

We are a Disability Confident employer and committed to a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria and make reasonable adjustments as required.