Deputy Director – East of England

Job summary

The Deputy Director will play a critical role in leading the Department’s work within the East of England region, working as part of the regional senior leadership team to improve outcomes for children, families and learners.

They will be responsible for strategic leadership and delivery across the region, ensuring effective implementation of Government Priorities in SEND reform, Children’s Social Care reform, school standards, the school system and trust regulation, supporting the senior leadership team to ensure delivery is integrated, high-performing and responsive to local needs.

The Deputy Director will operate as a senior system leader, shaping how national policy is delivered locally, leading complex multi-disciplinary delivery through others, and taking ownership of significant risks and performance challenges.

Please note that regular travel (up to two days a week) to schools, local authorities and other partners in the region is an expected part of this role.

Job description

Strategic Leadership and Delivery

• Own and lead delivery of major elements of the government’s Opportunity Mission across the region.
• Translate Government priorities into clear regional strategies and delivery plans.
• Oversee multiple interdependent programmes, ensuring alignment, pace and impact.
• Identify risks to delivery and intervene decisively where outcomes are off track.

Regional System Leadership

• Operate as a senior system leader within the region, understanding local context and shaping performance.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders including Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local authorities, trusts and sector leaders.
• Bring partners together to solve complex system challenges and drive collective improvement.
• Represent the department externally as a senior and credible leader.

Performance, Risk and Intervention

• Monitor system performance and identify emerging risks using evidence and insight.
• Lead intervention activity in underperforming areas to drive rapid improvement.
• Ensure robust governance, reporting and escalation to the Regional Director, Director General and Ministers.

Leadership of People and Delivery

• Act as a visible senior leader modelling Civil Service values and behaviours.
• Demonstrate thought leadership and bring people together to solve complex problems.
• Lead delivery through senior teams (G6/G7), creating clarity, pace and accountability.
• Set stretching objectives and actively manage performance.
• Build high-performing, inclusive teams and develop leadership capability.
• Shape organisational structures to best deliver priorities.

Strategy and Corporate Contribution

• Contribute to regional and national strategy, ensuring policy reflects delivery reality.
• Provide high-quality advice and briefing to Ministers and senior leaders.
• Lead or contribute to cross-regional or national priorities.
• Play an active role in the regional senior leadership team.
• Support wider departmental and cross-government priorities.

Person specification

Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria. If there is a high volume of applicants, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criterion.

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed.

Essential Criteria:

• Exceptional leadership experience within education, local government, national government, or similarly complex public sector environments, with a track record of leading high-performing teams through others.
• Proven experience leading large-scale, complex delivery across multiple programmes, systems, or organisational priorities, while managing risk, ambiguity, and high-profile issues.
• Strong strategic leadership capability, including influencing outcomes beyond direct authority and shaping organisational or system-wide direction.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a track record of building productive relationships and securing buy-in from senior leaders across organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrable experience of leading change, transformation, and continuous improvement, delivering sustainable improvements in performance, services, or outcomes.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience working within education, SEND, children’s social care, or related public service systems, with an understanding of place-based delivery and the East of England regional context.
• Experience of system reform, improvement, regulation, intervention, or contributing to strategy and policy development.
• Experience working with Ministers, senior government stakeholders, or other high-profile partners to influence and deliver outcomes across organisational boundaries.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Education contributes

£24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Part‑time hours available, from a minimum of 0.9 FTE.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 19th October 2026.

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
• A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 2 sides or 1,000 words) detailing ‘why should we consider you for this role’ (up to 500 words) and why you have chosen the Department for Education (up to 500 words). You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role or further demonstrates your suitability for the role.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

If you are unable to apply online, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process.

Please note the following:

• we cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
• applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided;
• you will be subject to social media checks and references for this role;
• please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
• applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
• feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to:

I. Take part in a Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held week commencing 2nd November 2026.

II. A formal panel interview in the week commencing 16th November in person in the DfE London office. Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates) and they will be asked questions to further assess their Experience and Strengths using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary .

As part of the recruitment process shortlisted candidates may be invited to an informal ministerial conversation.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment.

Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Candidates with disabilities

As an employer we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues and applicants. The Department for Education uses the Disability Confident scheme (formerly the Guaranteed Interview scheme) to help widen employment opportunities for disabled people. Applicants with disabilities who meet the essential criteria, as stated in the person specification, the Civil Service nationality requirements and indicate they are applying under the Disability Confident scheme will be guaranteed an interview.

Employment scheme for Veterans

The ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme’ makes it easier for veterans to join the Civil Service. If you opt into the scheme and meet the minimum criteria, you’ll progress to the next stage for most roles – whether that’s an interview or an online test.

For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minim