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Regional Director - South East

On-site in London·Full-time·Added today (last checked 21 Oct)

Department for Education (DfE)

11 open roles

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Overview

Salary: £105,000 - £150,000 a year
About £5,870 - £7,610 a month after tax.
Contract: Full-time
Closing date: Apply by Tuesday 3 November
Holiday: 25 days holiday
Pension: 28.97% employer pension

Skills

Social Media

The role

Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 3rd November 2026

Details

Reference number

486914

Salary

£105,000

External candidates should expect their salary upon appointment from £105,000 to £150,000 per annum.

Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 2

Contract type

Permanent
Secondment

Length of employment

expected minimum assignment duration of 3 years

Business area

DFE - Regions Group - South East Region

Type of role

Senior leadership

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share

Number of jobs available

Location

City of Westminster, London (region), SW1P 3BT

About the job

Job summary

The role of Regional Director South East is wide-ranging, exciting and challenging.

Regions Group in the Department for Education brings together regulation, improvement, intervention, reform, stewardship and capacity building work with schools, trusts and local authorities. Our purpose is to ensure that all children and young people receive high-quality education, care and support. Regions Group is at the heart of delivering the department's objectives and reform priorities and plays a key role in removing barriers to opportunity.

This appointment comes at a pivotal time with a new Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Education making clear the importance of an effective place-based approach to the education system, anchoring learning directly within local economies and communities. The South East is an extensive region that wraps around (but does not include) London - it has a very wide range of communities and wide range of effectiveness and performance of both academy trusts and local authorities. Working in collaboration with local partners, our role is to enable its children and young people to succeed.

As a senior leader in DfE you will also play an important role in the wider leadership of our Group and the department. Your passion and experience will make a difference to the lives of children and young people.

Job description

Within their region, the Regional Director will lead the South East team to deliver on the vision set out in Government policy, aligned to Regions Group strategic priorities and informed by local context:

Providing local leadership where appropriate for programmes and activities in support of the Government's Opportunity Mission
Leading the new regional approach to school improvement ensure schools that most need it receive targeted intervention to deliver high and rising standards.
Work in partnership with local authorities, academy trusts to promote knowledge of and access to wider school improvement support and lead intervention in schools where needed.
Leading improvement and intervention in children's social care functions in local authorities, working in partnership with the sector to identify solutions to deliver rapid improvement
Leading follow up to area wide SEND inspections, ensuring effective challenge and support in partnership with the sector to enable areas of weakness to be remedied quickly
Taking decisions relating to our oversight of the academy trust system, including those linked to: trust growth, academy transfer, voluntary academy conversions and significant changes to academies; underperformance and compliance with the Academies Trust Handbook; and shaping school system provision
Working with local authorities to ensure every local area has sufficient places for pupils
Working effectively with Ministers: providing advice, briefing and support
Leading on a cross-cutting priority area on behalf of Regions Group
Leading a strong inclusive and effective culture of delivery, effective line management and people development and wellbeing across a diverse team

Key responsibilities include

School improvement and intervention - Driving the new regional school improvement model and ensuring targeted RISE support and intervention reach schools where standards are weak.
Schools and trust system - Leading decisions on academy trust growth, academy transfers and rebrokering, voluntary academy conversions and significant changes to academies. The Regional Director will also oversee trust performance and compliance with the Academies Trust Handbook.
SEND and children's social care - Leading improvement and intervention activity, including SEND inspection follow-up, area partnership improvement plans, SEND reform and the implementation of Families First Partnerships.
Policy and ministerial support - Strengthening the connection between national policy and local delivery by providing advice, briefings and recommendations to ministers. This includes escalating sensitive or high-profile matters and ensuring advice reflects regional evidence and realities.
Stakeholder relationships - Building effective relationships with local authorities, academy trusts, dioceses and strategic partners to improve outcomes through influence rather than direct control. This includes working with local authorities on pupil place planning.
National leadership - Leading an assigned national cross-cutting responsibility within Regions Group, supporting consistent delivery across regions and helping shape policy that reflects local needs and regional variation.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

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.

Excellent system leadership skills gained within the education or care sector, local or national government; able to take a leading role in initiating action, making decisions, managing performance and promoting inclusive team working in a large-scale operation, and being part of collective leadership success.
An exceptional understanding and ability to galvanise influential stakeholder relationships that can deliver impact, bringing impetus to enable delivery of improvement through others at a regional level. Including an ability to understand and absorb the implications of policy for delivery and have a mature dialogue with policy colleagues in order to blend policy into implementation with a system wide focus.
Proven ability to make decisions based on evidence and analysis in order to manage change positively and respond promptly to critical events.
Effective communication skills to be an advocate of delivery and policy development with senior colleagues, ensuring that delivery impact and user need are at the core of our policy-making. With external stakeholders, be able to convert complex policy into a simple and meaningful message.
Demonstrable experience of leading and delivering change inclusively with your team, including delivering system improvement and transformation

Candidate Information Session

On the 27th of October at 11:15 - 11:45 am we shall be holding a MS Teams virtual candidate information session, where you can meet the Director General for Regions Group, learn more about the role and ask any questions you may have about the role and the department. You will be able to join the session and ask questions anonymously if preferred.

If you would like to attend, then please email SCS.recruitment@education.gov.uk and a MS Teams link to join will be sent to you.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £105,000, Department for Education contributes £30,418 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.

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 3rd of November 2026.

Candidates will be asked to provide:

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) outlining your motivation for the role against the essential criteria. You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role or further demonstrates your suitability.

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 there is a high volume of applicants, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criterion

Excellent system leadership skills gained within the education or care sector, local or national government; able to take a leading role in initiating action, making decisions, managing performance and promoting inclusive team working in a large-scale operation, and being part of collective leadership success.

Please note the CS Jobs system at the point of application states ''not to insert information that will identify you''. As this is a Senior Civil Servant appointment and so that we can understand your experience for this role, please provide your current and previous employment history on the CV and Supporting Statement where applicable.

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;
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:

A virtual partnership engagement conversation with Tim Coulson and a small number of stakeholders from across the Education and Care system, including a Director of Children's Services and an Academy Trust leader, on the 13th of November. A report will be shared with the interview panel.
Take part in a virtual Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held on week commencing 16th November. A report will be shared with the interview panel.
A formal panel interview on the 1st of December 2026 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 against the Essential Criteria as outlined on slide 9 and Strengths using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary.

Department for Education does 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 and social media checks maybe conducted prior to appointment.

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.

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 minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

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.

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).

Apply and further information

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 : SCS Recruitment Team
Email : SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk

Further information

The Department for Education's recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages