Introduction
The Department for Education wishes to recruit two individuals who will form part of the Board as a Non-Executive Director.
Are you a confident individual who:
· can think both broadly and independently and is confident with change
· can consider issues from a strategic perspective
· can communicate successfully, build relationships as well as keeping the confidence of a wide range of groups
· can deliver operationally with an emphasis on risk, performance and financial management
· has the ability to work flexibly, to respond to the changing needs and priorities of an organisation
· and can use this ability to use this strategic perspective to support and challenge the DfE’s Board, and Senior Leadership Team in their planning and risk management?
If so, we would like to hear from you.
We support equality of opportunity for a truly diverse population. This means embracing differences in gender, ethnicity, abilities and beyond. We value unique perspectives and backgrounds, whether you're from underrepresented groups, outside the London and Southeast area or you have achieved success through non-traditional education routes.
Introduction from the Secretary of State
The Department for Education is the department for realising potential. Our core objective is to enable children and learners to thrive, by protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the delivery of excellent standards of education, training and care. As part of this we cover a broad area including early years, schools, higher and further education, wider skills, and apprenticeships. My priorities for the Department are threefold: give people the skills employers need and help grow the economy; set all children up for success in schools; and build strong foundations for every child.
The Board is a valued source of knowledge for the Department as well as an independent and trusted source of advice and support for my ministerial team, the Permanent Secretary and senior policy officials. It plays a vital role in our efforts to level up education standards, unleashing potential across England. The Board’s Non-Executive Members are central to supporting the Department by providing strong advice and challenge to help us achieve our strategic aims and to realise potential for children and learners. It really is an exciting time to assist us in achieving our strategic goals.
We welcome applications from individuals who have worked strategically and at a high-level, in complex organisations or from the education sector, who have successfully managed operational delivery, including risk, performance, digital, and financial management. The successful applicants will be passionate about the Department for Education’s work, understand the challenges facing the education sector, and help confidently support and challenge the Department.
My department supports equality of opportunity for a truly diverse population. Of course, diversity means many things, it's about embracing differences in gender, ethnicity, abilities and beyond. We value unique perspectives and backgrounds, whether you're from underrepresented groups, outside the London and Southeast area or you have achieved success through non-traditional education routes.
Thank you for your interest in this role and for taking the time to read through this pack. If you have the skills and experiences we are seeking, I hope that you will apply.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP
Secretary of State for Education
Role description
The DfE is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England. At our heart, we are the Department for realising potential. We enable children and learners to thrive, by protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the delivery of excellent standards of education, training and care. This helps realise everyone’s potential – and that powers our economy, strengthens society, and increases fairness.
We work to provide children’s services, education and skills training that ensures opportunity is equal for all, no matter the background, family circumstances, or need. Our priority includes the levelling up of education standards so that children and young people in every part of the country are prepared with the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need.
About the Board
The Board is chaired by our Secretary of State. The Chair is supported by the Lead Non-Executive Board Member, Richard Pennycook, Baroness Barran as Minister for the Board, other Non-Executive Directors, and senior departmental officials. The Board has 3 main responsibilities; to provide strategic and operational leadership to the department, to scrutinise the delivery and performance of policy and to challenge the department on how well it is achieving its objectives.
Further information
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website
Essential criteria
Members will be expected to participate fully in the board’s business by
having:
• Experience of leading high-profile and complex public or private sector organisations during periods of change, along with main board level experience as an executive or a non-executive.
• A commitment to support the successful delivery of the Department’s agenda and realising its vision and purpose to enable children and learners to thrive, along with a sound understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities.
• The ability to think strategically about the issues faced by the public sector and the ability to take a pragmatic approach to resolve complex issues.
• Experience of successful management of operational delivery, including risk, performance, and financial management, along with strong commercial acumen to support the delivery of efficiencies and value for money across the Education and Children’s Social Care sectors. One role will be required to attend the Audit and Risk Committee.
• The confidence and ability to successfully communicate, build relationships, provide valuable challenge, and keep the confidence of a wide range of groups including Board members, Ministers, and senior government officials.
Desirable criteria
• Strong experience of a corporate function such as finance, human resources or digital, data, and technology.
• Experience of operating at a senior level in a business or other organisation that is subject to financial and economic regulation.
• Experience at corporate governance level in the education or children’s social care sectors.