Senior Leader Partnerships and Quality Assurance

Job Introduction

About Us
At Oxfordshire County Music Service, we believe that every child and young person deserves the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits of music. From September, we will become the Hub Lead Organisation for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub, funded by Arts Council England, creating a unique opportunity to shape the future of music education across two counties.

This is an exciting time to join our leadership team. As we embark on this new chapter, we are looking for a passionate and experienced leader who shares our ambition to ensure that children and young people have access to high-quality, inclusive and inspiring musical opportunities. If you are motivated by partnership working, educational excellence and making a lasting difference, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role
As Senior Leader: Partnerships and Quality Assurance, you will play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub. Working closely with the Head of Music Service, you will help turn strategic ambitions into meaningful outcomes for children and young people, ensuring that our programmes remain ambitious, impactful and responsive to the needs of schools and communities. This is a highly collaborative role where relationships matter. You will lead on building and strengthening partnerships with schools, cultural organisations and key stakeholders across the region, fostering a shared commitment to high-quality music education. Alongside this, you will oversee quality assurance and performance management activities, helping partners and teams continuously improve and ensuring we meet the expectations of Arts Council England and other stakeholders.

You will contribute to strategic planning and governance, monitor programme performance, support school engagement and drive forward innovative projects that enhance the reach and impact of the Music Hub. The role also includes line management responsibilities, with a focus on developing, supporting and empowering staff to thrive. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will occasionally deputise for the Head of Music Service and help lead the service through a period of growth and opportunity.

This is a fixed-term position for 12 months, with the potential for extension subject to future funding and service requirements.

About You
You will be an experienced and inspiring leader with a strong background in music education or a related sector, holding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people through music.

You will bring significant experience of developing partnerships across organisations and have the confidence to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, from school leaders and educators to strategic partners and funding bodies. You will understand the importance of quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement, using data and insight to drive decision-making and deliver excellent outcomes.

We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable thinking strategically and delivering operationally. You will have experience of leading teams, managing performance and supporting colleagues through change, while maintaining a collaborative and inclusive leadership style. You will be driven by a desire to make a difference and excited by the opportunity to help shape a major new chapter in music education across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Experience of working within a Music Hub, a grant-funded programme or a changing organisational environment would be advantageous, as would knowledge of the current education landscape and school systems.

If you are ready to influence the future of music education and help create opportunities that inspire the next generation of musicians, performers and learners, we would love to hear from you.

Rewards and benefits

As part of our team, you'll benefit from:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to employee wellbeing and benefits schemes.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• The opportunity to help shape music education across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and help us create outstanding musical opportunities for children and young people.

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any issues with the application system, please contact us at: emma.coulthard@oxfordshire.gov.uk