Bristol, Cambridge, Coventry, Croydon, Darlington, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield, Watford Job Summary The Department for Education (DfE) oversees children’s services and education in England, from early years to higher education, apprenticeships, and skills. Leading the Government’s Opportunity Mission, and a significant contributor to the Growth Mission, we work with key partners to create opportunities for learners to thrive today and succeed tomorrow, strengthening society, driving the economy, and enabling equality. This is an exciting opportunity to join DfE as Director General, Regions Group, leading nine regional teams with significant powers and responsibilities to improve outcomes for children and young people across England. You will spearhead transformational change through the newly established RISE teams (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence), delivering targeted interventions to tackle underperformance and drive sustainable improvement in education and care systems. Job Description The role involves leading regional school improvement initiatives, children's social care reforms, academy trust oversight, education system capacity planning, and building strong partnerships with local authorities, dioceses, and other key stakeholders. You will also help the Department develop a stronger sense of place in its policy making, ensuring frontline experience informs decisions at all levels. The role involves leading regional school improvement initiatives, children's social care reforms, academy trust oversight, education system capacity planning, and building strong partnerships with local authorities, dioceses, and other key stakeholders. You will also help the Department develop a stronger sense of place in its policy making, ensuring frontline experience informs decisions at all levels. Person specification DfE is looking for an accomplished leader with a strong track record of driving school improvement across the system, excellent operational delivery experience, and significant regional or local delivery leadership. This person will need exceptional skills in engaging and influencing at senior levels, both within and outside Government, and an outstanding record of people leadership. If you have a passion for improving education and care services for children and young people and are ready to make a transformative impact across England's nine regions, DfE looks forward to hearing from you. Alongside your salary of £160,000, Department for Education contributes £46,352 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Selection process details Please see the Candidate Brief attached below for details. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact Name : Saxton Bampfylde Email : Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Recruitment team Email : sarah.vale@cabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact sarah.vale@cabinetoffice.gov.uk in the Senior Talent and Resourcing Team, Government People Group in the first instance.. Location : London, England, United Kingdom