Assistant Service Director, Skills and Employment Strategy

Overview

Lead the Future of Skills, Employment, and Lifelong Learning in Buckinghamshire.

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for driving economic growth and improving lives through innovative skills and employment initiatives? The Human Resources and Organisational Development Service is seeking an exceptional individual to join our senior leadership team as Assistant Service Director, Skills and Employment Strategy.

Salary £85,000 - £90,000 per annum.

About the role

This pivotal post provides strategic leadership for Buckinghamshire’s Skills and Employment Strategy, overseeing the Adult Learning Service and a diverse range of Skills and Employment programmes, such as Skills Bootcamps and Connect to Work. You will set the vision, direction, and priorities for Skills and Employment across the county, ensuring our strategies align with Buckinghamshire’s Growth Plan and national policy objectives.

This post will provide dedicated strategic leadership, oversight, and risk management for the devolved Adult Skills Fund and the broader skills and employment portfolio. As our principal authority for employment and Adult Skills, you will build robust partnerships, secure funding, and ensure compliance with policy and quality standards. Your remit includes shaping programme delivery, strengthening strategic collaborations, and embedding rigorous governance and performance frameworks to achieve sustainable growth and improved opportunities for our residents.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of Buckinghamshire’s Skills and Employment Strategy, ensuring measurable outcomes that enhance skills, employment prospects, and economic wellbeing.
• Oversee the Adult Learning Service and all funded Skills and Smployment programmes, maintaining excellence in governance, quality, and compliance.
• Act as the council’s central figure for Adult Skills and employment, providing strategic guidance on policy, funding, and innovation to senior leadership.
• Represent Buckinghamshire Council at partnership, public, and high-profile events, influencing stakeholders and building effective external relationships with national/regional bodies, education providers, business sectors, and community organisations.
• Collaborate with a diverse range of education and delivery partners to create high-quality pathways for lifelong learning.
• Drive the development and delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) in partnership with Skills England, employers, and sector leaders.
• Establish and manage effective monitoring, evaluation, and risk management frameworks, ensuring all programmes meet internal and external standards.
• Lead funding bids, budget planning, and delivery of efficiencies to maximise value for money and secure long-term sustainability.
• Develop and mentor a multidisciplinary team, building expertise and delivering high-quality outcomes.

About you

• Proven strategic leadership of large-scale Adult Learning, Skills, and Employment programmes, with end-to-end oversight of externally funded initiatives.
• Strong foundation in national and regional skills and employment policy, local government governance, and economic growth strategies.
• Experience in strategic planning, risk management, performance oversight, and executive advising.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing skills, with political awareness and the ability to work collaboratively at all levels.
• Track record of developing and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Educated to degree level or with equivalent relevant experience. A professional qualification in learning and development, skills, or project management is highly desirable.
• Full driving licence required.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Advert closing date: Tuesday 10th March 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 17th March 2026

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager Vicki Oliver, please contact: [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

This post is politically restricted under the terms of the Local Government Act 1989.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/