Head of Student Services; South - Maternity Cover

Head of Student Services (South) - Maternity Cover Student Services Sunderland & Hartlepool

Location: Any Campus

Post Type: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed Term
- Ends 14/05/2027

Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Monday 23 February 2026

Interview Date: Monday 23 March 2026

Reference: 0056-26

At EPNE our ‘purpose’ is our north star. It is what we expect of ourselves every single day and why we ask all staff to keep our purpose front and centre in all that they do.

Our Purpose is to “unlock potential, create opportunities, and transform lives through outstanding education, skills and training”. Rooted in our transformative power, it communicates our work in tackling inequalities, removing barriers, and improving the life chances of the people and communities we serve.

We nurture our very special culture. Our unifying values framework “The actions we take the choices we make - The actions I take the choices I make”represent the character of our college group, and are grounded in the belief that every action, by every individual, contributes to our success. This why we encourage empowered individuals, personal accountability and growth.

Building on our remarkable past, creativity and pioneering spirit, we are moving forward with courage into the future, improving what we do, remaining action-orientated, and innovating to make an exceptional difference for the world we live in.
Shaping futures for a better tomorrow,join our
change making
community now.

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which EPNE was graded as being Outstanding across all areas -
Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

We’re looking for a courageous and authentic leader who puts students first and leads with empathy, integrity and purpose. Respectful and inclusive in their approach, they will build trust, listen to student and staff voice, and work collaboratively to remove barriers and strengthen belonging. Driven by excellence, they will inspire teams to innovate, take action and deliver real impact—acting as a visible change maker who turns our values into improved experiences, outcomes and stronger communities for all students.

This is a high‑impact leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape and deliver a consistently outstanding student experience across Sunderland College and Hartlepool Sixth Form. It’s a great opportunity for an ambitious leader to influence culture, lead meaningful change and make a visible difference to students’ lives  role offers significant professional growth through cross‑college leadership, sector engagement, safeguarding leadership and close working with senior leaders.

You’ll also work with modern digital communication tools, data‑driven insight, and Microsoft 365 platforms to enhance engagement, collaboration and continuous improvement across the student journey.

• Provide visible, values‑led leadership for Student Services, ensuring a consistent, inclusive and high‑quality student experience across campuses.
• Lead and support multidisciplinary teams, setting clear priorities, coaching staff and promoting a strong culture of wellbeing, safeguarding and accountability.
• Work closely with senior leaders, curriculum teams, parents and external partners to remove barriers, strengthen belonging and improve student outcomes.
• Champion student voice and engagement, using insight and data to shape initiatives, events and improvements across the student journey.
• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring robust practice, compliance and a safe, supportive environment for all students.
• Monitor performance, manage resources and drive continuous improvement through effective planning, reporting and use of digital tools.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or able to demonstrate significant relevant…