Strategic Lead - Skills - Directions College

Are you an ambitious Further Education leader ready to shape the future of adult learning in Reading? At New Directions College, we’re looking for an exceptional Strategic Lead – Skills for Work to drive performance, innovation and impact across one of our largest curriculum areas. This is a pivotal leadership role with the opportunity to make a tangible difference to learners’ lives, local employers and the wider community.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

To find out more about New Directions College visit: https://

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across our diverse Skills for Work provision, including:

• Arts, Crafts & Wellbeing
• Employability & Hospitality (including SEND provision)
• Early Years & Digital Skills
• Apprenticeships and vocational programmes

You will lead curriculum development, quality improvement and performance management to ensure outstanding teaching, learning and assessment across all programmes.

You’ll champion a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring strong learner outcomes, excellent compliance, and a consistently high-quality experience.

• Lead and develop Curriculum Leads, Lead Tutors and delivery teams
• Drive performance against recruitment, attendance, retention and achievement targets
• Oversee Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) across the College
• Build strong partnerships with employers, schools and community stakeholders
• Ensure full compliance with funding and audit requirements
• Lead self‑assessment and quality improvement planning

We’re seeking a confident, strategic FE leader with:

• A degree (or equivalent) and recognised teaching qualification (DTLLS or equivalent)
• Proven operational leadership experience within Further Education
• A strong track record of curriculum planning, design and quality improvement
• Experience leading and developing staff to achieve high performance
• Knowledge of funding compliance, audit requirements and data integrity
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• A genuine commitment to inclusion, equality and improving life chances

You’ll be ambitious, resilient and highly organised — able to balance strategic vision with operational delivery.

• Enhanced DBS check required (including barred lists for children and vulnerable adults)
• Some evening and occasional weekend working required
• Annual leave restrictions apply during key term start periods and Ofsted inspections

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

• Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
• Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

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