Service Manager - Schools and Governance
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, we invite an experienced and forward‑thinking leader to join the senior team as Service Manager for Schools and Governance.
This vital role offers an exciting opportunity to ensure that our schools and settings have access to high quality governance and school improvement. You will be a key liaison between the local authority and our educational establishments, and support our most vulnerable children and young people while helping our services become more inclusive.
Responsibilities
As a Service Manager, you will take strategic responsibility for managing the workflow of governance and services for our schools across the County. Working collaboratively with colleagues, schools, multi‑academy trusts, regulators and other key stakeholders, you will ensure that Oxfordshire’s education infrastructure keeps pace with the county’s performance, standards and effectiveness, responding to ever‑changing demographic needs with efficacy.
You will lead on the organisation of school improvement, including our traded services programmes and respond innovatively to the deployment of advisors, partners and programmes across the county. You will need an in‑depth understanding of educational regulatory bodies such as Ofsted and its revised framework, a commitment to understanding the changing demands of schools and their communities county‑wide, and will also be responsible for working closely with the Assistant Director on the financial portfolio picture of our schools across the county.
Your ability to build strong partnerships and influence at the highest levels will be critical, as will your capacity to manage complex teams out in the field and ensure that governance at a statutory level is compliant and well managed. You will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders, balancing competing priorities and ensuring that Oxfordshire’s children and families benefit from the highest quality learning environments.
Qualities & Experience
The successful candidate will be a highly skilled leader with a proven track record in education, school improvement, governance, or a related field. You will bring a strategic mindset, exceptional communication skills, and a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local authorities in delivering school effectiveness. Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of Oxfordshire’s residents.
Commitments
* Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: 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.
* Guaranteed Interview Schemes: We guarantee interview opportunities for disabled applicants, care leavers, and those transitioning from HM Armed Forces who meet the essential criteria.
* Safeguarding: Our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults is fundamental to all recruitment and selection practices.
* Flexible Working: We discuss flexible arrangements such as flexi‑time, part‑time, job sharing, nine‑day fortnights, and annualised hours depending on role and service requirements.
Additional Information
Our Agile Working Policy ensures you enjoy flexible working arrangements, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively while operating on a hybrid model based in Oxford. This is a brand new but immensely rewarding role, offering the chance to make a real difference to the educational landscape in one of England’s most vibrant and dynamic counties.
Employment Details
* Seniority level: Director
* Employment type: Full‑time
* Job function: Other
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