Town Hall Extension, Albert Square,
Manchester, M60 2LA
£139,376- £159,796 per annum
Manchester
STRATEGIC DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S AND EDUCATION SERVICES
Manchester is a world-class city, renowned for culture, leisure and sporting success, as well as incredible diversity. And Manchester City Council has earned a reputation for being one of the most innovative local authorities in the country.
Firmly at the forefront of the devolution agenda, we’ve changed the paradigm across a whole range of services, from buses to integrated health and social care. In 2024 we grew Manchester’s economy faster than any other UK city, increasing residents’ wages faster than nationally. More children did better in school and our people became more qualified: nearly three quarters of our residents now have a college-level qualification.
Our Children’s Services have been on an incredible journey of transformation since 2017. This collaborative achievement has included key partners across the city; along with staff, partner agencies including schools and voluntary organisations, as well as the Council’s senior leadership team.
And in 2025 we launch a new 10-year drive – a new Our Manchester Strategy – based on thousands of Mancunians’ ambitious hopes for their city and their family. It puts children and their families front and centre of our priorities and commits to making every one of them feel that their health, wealth and happiness are improved because they are Mancunian.
It prioritises our work to become a Child Friendly City where all children and young people feel safe, heard, cared for, healthy and able to live their best lives and it champions children’s right to play that supports their physical and mental health.
This is an exceptional opportunity to play a pivotal role in continuing this rapid trajectory of improvement, so that children and families in our city can live their most fulfilling lives. It’s a full spectrum role – from embedding excellence as an everyday service expectation, to building and shaping partnerships of purpose, to actively interrogating and influencing the evolution of systems, and contributing to the professional conversation at a regional and national level.
We’re looking for a very special person who brings both experience and insight to this most important job. Your track record will be exemplary, and your commitment and creativity will have won you the respect of colleagues, elected members and peers alike. Able to think beyond the mainstream in regard to resources, skills development and service design, you’ll understand how to maximise the effectiveness of children’s services through collaboration as well as commissioning.
It’s a stand-out job in one of the most exciting cities in Europe, and an incredible opportunity to make sure young people are at the heart of Manchester’s whole growth agenda.
APPLICATIONS FOR THIS ROLE HAVE NOW CLOSED
Dawn Faulkner
T: 0121 312 3755
E: dfaulkner@faerfield.co.uk
Councillor Bev Craig – Leader
As Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People I am excited to introduce some of the work we have been doing that positively impacts not only the children and young people of Manchester, but also the wider community and our key partnerships across the city. We believe Manchester is a place where children matter, are heard, listened to and can shape – as well as benefit from – the opportunities a successful and dynamic city offers.
The Children’s Directorate of Manchester City Council draws on people and organisations from across the city, the region, and nationally to work together, with children and their families. We do this by:
This role requires a strong focus on tackling the challenges we face and working with the members and executive and key partnerships in early years, schools and colleges, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, health and Greater Manchester Police.
We believe Manchester is a place where children matter, are heard, listened to and can shape – as well as benefit from – the opportunities a successful and dynamic city offers. It is a place that inspires ideas, confidence, creativity and innovation. A place where good practice flourishes and people are truly valued for their role in helping all children and young people to
