Principal Lead – SEND
Salary: £76,597 - £81,370 (pay award pending)
Location: Dudley, West Midlands – hybrid
Contract: Permanent, full time
Are you an inspirational, values‑driven professional with a passion for improving the life chances for children and young people? Dudley Council is embarking on a bold and ambitious transformation journey, and we are seeking an exceptional Principal Lead – SEND to play a vital role in shaping the future of education and inclusion across our borough.
This is a pivotal position at the heart of our Children and Young People service. With your Associate Director and colleagues, you will drive Dudley’s strategic approach to education inclusion and SEND, ensuring that every child and young person, whatever their needs or background, can access high‑quality education, support, and opportunity.
Responsibilities
* Provide high quality strategic and operational leadership and management to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services.
* Lead and manage inclusive teams fostering high performance and ensuring services are compliant, meet legal, statutory and governance requirements.
* Translate strategic intent into effective and high-quality operational delivery, either through direct delivery or through robust commissioning arrangements across Education, Health and Social Care and in partnership with relevant services.
* Support the development and delivery of the Children’s Services Improvement Plan and the SEND Improvement Plan, embedding a culture of financial responsibility, a children and family focus and service excellence.
Qualifications
* Strategic, politically astute leader with a track record of delivering transformation in complex organisations.
* Inspires teams, builds strong partnerships, understands education/SEND legislation, and brings energy, integrity, and ambition.
All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK. Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications.
Applications close: Midnight Sunday 7th June 2026.
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