Overview
This is an excellent opportunity to become part of the Early Years Service within Children's Services, where you will play a vital role in ensuring there is sufficient, sustainable, and high-quality childcare provision throughout Hertfordshire. The service collaborates closely with schools, early years providers, partners, and colleagues across the council to support the effective delivery of early education and childcare entitlements for Hertfordshire's residents.
Responsibilities
As a full‑time professional, you will provide strategic leadership for childcare sufficiency, shaping how high‑quality early education and childcare provision meets the needs of children and families across the local area. Using data, insight and partnership working, you will influence the long‑term development and sustainability of the childcare market, ensuring equitable access to entitlements and support for vulnerable families. You will support access to high‑quality provision, contributing directly to improving school readiness, narrowing inequalities and raising attainment by the end of the reception year. Working collaboratively across the local authority and with external partners, you will help shape a coherent and resilient early years system, aligning childcare sufficiency with wider strategic priorities for children, families and communities.
Essential Qualifications
* Relevant experience of working with the early years sector and/or within a local authority early years team.
* Experience of working with and influencing a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, early years providers and partner organisations.
* Knowledge of the early years and childcare sector and the factors that influence quality, sustainability, recruitment and retention.
* Knowledge and experience of safeguarding policies and procedures.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly in writing and verbally to different audiences.
* Ability to analyse data (quantitative and qualitative), identify gaps in provision, and make sound, timely decisions to deliver change.
* Experience of developing and delivering briefings (in person and virtual), reports and documents to support decision‑making and stakeholder engagement.
* Experience of managing staff and undertaking performance reviews.
Desirable Qualifications
* Understanding of local authority regulations, including political processes.
Additional Requirements
* Full driving licence and ability to travel across Hertfordshire, working flexibly to meet service and stakeholder needs.
* English fluency – ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English.
Disability Confident Employer
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
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