Deputy Further Education Commissioner
Job Details
Introduction from the Minister
Thank you for your interest in applying to join the Further Education (FE) Commissioner’s team as a Deputy FE Commissioner.
It is my mission that we give our young people and adults the skills they need to seize opportunity and grow our economy. We will do this through championing our brilliant colleges and securing the future of our world class universities. Deputy FE Commissioners are key in supporting us to realise this ambition.
In this sector-leading role, you will have the opportunity to support colleges, FE providers and higher education (HE) providers across England, making sure that they are equipped with the tools to provide outstanding education and training. You will work as part of the wider, prestigious FE Commissioner team, providing independent advice to the Secretary of State for Education and the ministerial team. You will also engage directly with institutions to share your experience and expertise and lead on cases where colleges or HE providers require more in-depth support and intervention, helping to drive up standards. In addition to working with the FE Commissioner’s team, you will have a key role in helping to form policy, working directly with civil servants across the department to ensure advice is informed by your practitioner insight.
If you believe you possess the necessary skills and experience and share my passion and commitment to advancing post-16 education in England to a world-class standard, then I look forward to hearing from you.
Rt Hon Baroness Smith MP, Minister for Skills
Appointment description
The statutory further education (FE) sector is at the heart of the government’s renewed mission-led approach to drive economic growth and support opportunity for all. The statutory FE sector has an essential role in delivering the missions – whether it is the construction skills needed to build 1.5 million homes or developing the talent pipeline into the NHS and social care to end the hospital backlog. Our colleges also play an essential role in delivering opportunity for all – enabling progression into high quality, rewarding and well-paid jobs.
The role of the Deputy FE Commissioners is pivotal in working with colleges and local authority providers to ensure they have the capacity to meet local skills need and are able to deliver high quality provision to learners. Deputy FE Commissioners work in a team led by the FE Commissioner and alongside FE Advisers and some of our current exceptional FE leaders who are National Leaders of FE or National Leaders of Governance.
Deputy FE Commissioners work closely with colleagues in the Department for Education (DfE) and Skills England to support improvement in our national network of statutory FE colleges and local authorities with FE provision to deliver high quality outcomes for FE learners, and to meet local skills need.
As part of the Government’s approach to improving the FE sector, the FE Commissioner team provides ‘active support’ to all statutory FE colleges and local authorities delivering further education. The team also assess colleges who are in intervention, advising ministers and DfE senior officials on any relevant course of action to support recovery and improvement.
The FE Commissioner team working with DfE determines the best way in which further education can be delivered in any given area, having regard to the needs of learners, employers, national and local FE policies and value for money.
Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria. In your application you should demonstrate clearly how you meet each of the following requirements of the post.
Regulation of appointment
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Ability to lead and influence complex organisational change within an educational context, delivering at pace.
- Ability to develop and implement quality and improvement strategies.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills and the ability to influence, persuade and engage stakeholders at the highest levels, in addition to excellent management and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively with ministers, civil servants, college leaders and key stakeholders, demonstrating resilience and the ability to maintain a positive approach in challenging circumstances.
- An understanding of the regulatory framework within which FE and/ or HE institutions operate
Desirable criteria
- Senior level academic experience of measuring success in an education context.
- A qualified accountant with current/recent experience, track record and knowledge of FE and/ or HE funding, finance and financial planning/recovery at a strategic level.
- We have a preference for recruiting candidates with some experience of working in an operational capacity in the HE sector. A thorough understanding of HE financial management, governance and strategy would be an asset and will support DfE in delivering the Government objective of greater collaboration between the FE and higher education (HE) sectors.
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