Director of Curriculum and Assessment Job Purpose The post holder will be a member of the senior leadership team whose role is to both provide leadership and direction to the multidisciplinary team of senior professionals in the Curriculum and Assessment Directorate and fulfil key corporate responsibilities that: enable the Council to fulfil its statutory responsibilities; contribute to and support a positive leadership culture which underpins CCEAs core values and the strategic and operational management of the organisation; progress the cultural and organisational change necessary to transform how CCEA delivers its business; and ensure CCEAs qualifications meet the wider educational needs of our learners and deliver the objectives of ministerial policy and wider society in Northern Ireland. The Director of Curriculum and Assessment will have the following roles and responsibilities: Strategic Leadership Support the Chief Executive in all aspects of the Councils business to achieve the objectives detailed in the Corporate, Business and Operational Plans. Developandimplementcurriculumandassessmentstrategiestoenhancelearning recognition and opportunities for all learners. Provideprofessionalsupportindevelopingacorporateresponsetotheindependent review of the curriculum and take forward implementation of CCEA-related, Executive-agreed recommendations. Lead on the continuing monitoring and refinement of the Northern Ireland CurriculumandprovideadvicetoCouncilonanyproposedfuturedevelopments. LeadonthedevelopmentofadvicetoCouncilonfutureassessmentarrangementsin NorthernIrelandandliaisewiththeDepartmentofEducationonsecuringagreement on the implementation of new assessment arrangements. WorkinpartnershipwithDirectors,seniormanagersandcolleaguestoensurean integratedapproachtoallCCEAsactivitiesandservices. Supportthedevelopmentandimplementationofeffectiveexternalandinternal communication strategies. Lead on the organisational approach to taking forward the key deliverables in the curriculum and assessment as outlined within TransformED and its Delivery Plan. Professional Management Ensure the development and implementation of key curriculum and assessment strategies are in line with best professional practice. Develop existing curriculum and assessment policies, ensuring schools, colleges, training organisations, higher education institutes and other education providers are fully involved in the process and are kept appraised on curriculum and assessment arrangements within CCEA. Lead the development and implementation of new arrangements for curriculumandassessmentwithakeyfocusoncorporateanddepartmentalpriorities,including legislativedutiesrelatingtoSEN,IrishMedium,andIntegratedandSharedEducation. Work closely with policy colleagues in the Department of Education and Department for the Economy as well as other key sector stakeholders, in particular the ETI (Education and Training Inspectorate), to further develop the curriculum to address the future challenges in education in Northern Ireland. WorkcloselywithpolicycolleaguesintheDepartmentofEducationandDepartment for the Economy as well as other key sector stakeholders, in particular the ETI, to develop and implement arrangements which provide effective assessment of learningin education in Northern Ireland. Linkwitheducationalthoughtleadersincurriculumandassessmenttoensureallthe Directorates advice and recommended practice are based on sound educational evidence and practice. Provide comprehensive performance and progress reports on all Curriculum and Assessment Directorate functions and service provision to the Chief Executive, Council and its Committees. People and Financial Management Provide overall leadership and direction for the Directorate, fostering a culture of engagement and role modelling that reflects CCEAs core values and associated behavioural expectations. EffectivelyleadchangeacrosstheDirectorateinlinewiththeCouncilsvisionand strategic direction. Leadonandcontributetogoodgovernancewithintheorganisation,includingrisk management, quality management frameworks, other corporate strategies and legislative requirements within the Directorate. EnsuretheCurriculumandAssessmentDirectoratedeliversvalueformoney. Ensure budgetary targets are achieved, overseeing monthly and quarterly assessments and forecasts of the Directorates financial performance against budget, financial andoperational goals. Embedacultureofhighperformanceandlearnerfocus,ensuringallmanagers andstaffunderstandtheirrolesandtheimplementationofeffectiveperformance management in line with organisational policy. Ensure effective communication with all managers and staff within the Directorateon Corporate, Business and Operational Plans as well as on business issues and relationships with the recognised trade union. Take a lead role in ensuring personal and development needs of staff are supported to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet current and future business needs. General The Director of Curriculum and Assessment will undertake any other duties which may be required from time to time by the Chief Executive and the Council. As a public body, CCEA and its staff perform their role in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, promoting Good Relations and Equality of Opportunity, paying due regard to all equality legislation. CCEA reserves the right, in consultation with the post holder, to amend the job description to meet the changing needs of the organisation. PERSON SPECIFICATION Candidates must demonstrate on their application form that they meet the following essential criteria: Essential Criteria Hold a minimum Level 6 qualification And Have held a senior leadership* position in an education sector for at least 3 years in the past 8 years Candidates must also demonstrate that they have: Experience of successfully monitoring, reviewing, developing and implementing curriculum and assessment Experience of successfully contributing to education reform at a regional or national level Experience as a leader of setting and contributing to the strategic direction of an organisation in education Experience of successfully managing professional staff or teams to deliver results Strong communication skills with a proven ability to engage across a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating successful impact A clear understanding of current developments in education in the UK and Ireland, and the potential impact for curriculum and assessment in Northern Ireland. When Assessed Application Form/ Pre-employment Checks Application Form/ Assessment Centre/Interview TERMS AND CONDITIONS Salary The 2023/24 salary range for the post is £76,867 up to £86,750 per annum (currently under review). Progression through the scale (and revalorisation) is linked to performance. Pension CCEAoperatesacontributorypensionschemeintowhichyouwillbeenrolledinline with pension auto-enrolment legislation. You may elect to: participateintheNorthernIrelandLocalGovernmentOfficersSuperannuation Scheme; remainintheTeachersSuperannuationScheme(whereapplicable);or leave an occupational scheme and transfer into the NILGOSC scheme within 12 months. IfyouchoosenottoparticipateintheNILGOSCscheme,youmustcompleteanopting out form which may be obtained from NILGOSC directly. Please note that it is not possible to opt out before the commencement date of your employment with CCEA. Annual Leave The annual leave entitlement for the post is 28 days per annum, increasing to 34 days after 5 years of continuous service. In addition, there are 12 public holidays per year. Length of Contract This role is offered on a permanent basis from the date of appointment. Time Commitment This is a full-time role. The standard hours of work are 36.25 hours per week: Monday to Thursday 9.00am5.00pm and Friday 9.00am4.35pm, during which you will be entitled to a 40-minute lunch break, which is deducted from your working hours. Location The role will be based at CCEAs Headquarters at 29 Clarendon Road, Belfast. CCEA is currently piloting a hybrid working model which the post holder will be able to avail of by agreement with the Chief Executive. Contract A contract of employment containing full Terms and Conditions will be issued to the appointed candidate. All appointments are subject to two references, a satisfactory pre-employment medical and satisfactory assessment of any criminal conviction disclosures. Prior to starting, the appointed candidate must supply proof of eligibility to work in the UK and evidence of educational qualifications. THE SELECTION PROCESS AND HOW TO APPLY Application Information and Closing Date for Applications Applicants will be required to submit an application form for the post of Director of Curriculum and Assessment, demonstrating how they meet the essential criteria in the person specification above. A completed monitoring form will also be required. Those deemed to have met the essential criteria will be shortlisted to attend the next stage, which will comprise an interview and assessment. An appointed panel, consisting of the chairman and two Council members as well as the Chief Executive, will conduct the interview. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of the information which they have provided and in the event of a large number of applicants, CCEA reserves the right to enhance the criteria. Any enhancements will be applied equally to all candidates. Completed application forms should be returned together with a monitoring form by the closing date of 18July2025(12noon). CCEA is an internationally recognised, quality organisation committed to the promotion of equality in all aspects of employment.