Service Manager for Leadership and Learning

Service Manager for Leadership and Learning

Salary: Soulbury 25-27 +3 SPA (025 - 027) £76,131 - £78,704 per annum

This is a challenging and exciting opportunity for a leader to take strategic responsibility for Leadership and Professional Learning across Powys schools. The role involves ensuring improvements in teaching quality and the progressive development of learner skills. The postholder will be accountable for embedding sustained professional learning and reflective leadership across all phases, including governance to promote pupil engagement and progression.

You will lead the design and delivery of a comprehensive professional learning programme for the education service, wider council services, and elected members. This programme will be responsive to identified skills gaps and aligned with strategic priorities, particularly those highlighted in Estyn's 2025 inspection report. Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders will be key to evaluating and improving the programme's impact.

You will design, deliver and evaluate a comprehensive programme of both universal and bespoke professional learning for school governing bodies, ensuring it meets identified needs and supports effective governance. You will provide regular, high-quality updates and briefings to Chairs and Vice-Chairs of governing bodies. In addition, you will lead and oversee the efficient and effective delivery of the local authority clerking service, ensuring high standards and consistency across all provision.

The role also includes developing vertical and horizontal collaboration to support professional learning and shared accountability for learner progress. You will work with Dysgu and other partners to ensure timely access to national professional learning, and support schools in embedding enquiry-based practice and digital skills development.

You will be responsible for enacting the national approach to professional learning, including coaching, mentoring, and educational research. The postholder will contribute to strategic planning, resource allocation, and service improvement, and will deputise for the Head of Service when required. You will also advise the Education Leadership Team and contribute to corporate and cross-departmental initiatives.

You will be an experienced leader with a deep understanding of education reforms in Wales. You have a proven track record of supporting schools to become collaborative learning organisations and embedding enquiry into everyday practice. You hold qualifications in coaching and mentoring and have successfully mentored and coached school leaders.

You understand national aspirations and can align them with regional and local priorities. You are committed to developing effective self-evaluation and improvement planning and recognise the importance of health and wellbeing in school ethos and practice.

You bring energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to embedding an education system that meets the needs of learners in Powys. You are confident in advising senior leadership and contributing to strategic and corporate issues.

• Lead strategic planning and implementation of professional learning.
• Support schools in improving teaching quality and skills development.
• Co-ordinate the strategic planning of statutory and non-statutory leadership programmes.
• Design and deliver a professional learning programme informed by skills gaps and Estyn's recommendations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to evaluate and improve the programme's effectiveness.
• Promote collaboration and shared accountability for learner progress.
• Support succession planning and use professional standards to drive improvement.
• Work with Dysgu and other partners to provide access to national professional learning.
• Embed enquiry-based practice and digital skills development in schools.
• Advise the Education Leadership Team and contribute to strategic and corporate planning including workforce planning.
• Ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory, and quality standards.
• Deputise for the Head of Service and represent the Education Service in various settings.

This position has a requirement for an Enhanced DBS Check.