Jobs

Leading Collaboration. Strengthening Trust. Improving Outcomes

This role combines leadership of one of the country’s largest and most complex local education systems with a unique opportunity to shape and influence the national education agenda.

Birmingham is a young, vibrant and diverse city and our council has made clear and recognised progress in recent years, including for the city’s children. This includes a ‘Good’ Ofsted ILACS judgement, significant and sustained headway acknowledged by regulators and government following the August 2025 SEND inspection and improving trends in attainment and attendance. The role of Director of Education offers a compelling opportunity to build on this momentum and to help shape the future of education and life chances for children and young people across the city.

We are seeking a collaborative and committed Director of Education to provide strategic leadership across Birmingham’s education system, spanning a wide range of settings. This is a role for an established senior leader who brings credibility, confidence and deep experience of operating within a complex educational landscape.

Effective partnership working is central to success. You will shape system-wide improvement by working in close partnership with a wide range of organisations, including the diverse family of maintained schools and academy settings across the city through established collaborative structures; employers and further and higher education institutions; the Birmingham Education Partnership; the DfE’s Regional Director and other DfE colleagues; and Ofsted. We are seeking a team player who will work alongside colleagues within the council’s children and families team, the Birmingham Children’s Trust, and more broadly across the council.

This is an opportunity to play a decisive role in strengthening trust, reducing fragmentation and building greater coherence across a diverse and complex education system, while continuing to improve outcomes that support Birmingham’s ambition for all children and young people to thrive. This will include a clear understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, alongside a strong commitment to closing gaps in attainment where they exist.

If you feel inspired to contribute to a mission of this scale and importance, please contact our recruitment partner, Simon Winspear at Hays Executive, on 07525 466 357.

Company: Birmingham City Council

Salary: £135,398 to £175,519 (3 days per week on site)

Location: Birmingham, West Midlands

Sector: Corporate Services

Sector: Corporate Management Team

Sector: Education

Job Role: Director