Assistant Director of Education - Governance and Organisation

Introduction

We have an exciting new opportunity for someone with a heart for education coupled with a passion for governance and organisation.  The postholder will be the Company Secretary and lead officer for the Diocese of York Education Trust (DYET) and responsibilities will include engagement with a number of bodies including the Church of England Education Office, national and regional Diocesan governance and admissions groups, Department for Education and local authority partners as appropriate to support and develop the work of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) and DYET.  

Primary activities will include:

• Supporting the Diocesan Director of Education, DBE (and its committees) and DYET, particularly on matters of policy and practice linked to governance.
• Support for constitutional matters linked to the operation of the DBE and its committees.
• Representing the DDE/DBE/DYET on bodies/committees as requested.
• School System Collaboration and Organisation
• Working with the DDE and DBE in providing strategic leadership for the planning and structural development of Church of England schools and academies and MATs.
• Supporting the DDE, DBE and DYET in strategic planning relating to academisation and other forms of collaboration, including input into Diocesan academisation strategy and supporting decision making.
• Encouraging schools and trusts to collaborate within structures that support and protect the Church of England (CE) foundation of CE schools, including academy, federation and confederation arrangements.
• Provision of guidance, advice and support to CE schools considering academisation, federation or confederation and those developing or reconstituting trust structures to take on responsibility for CE schools.
• Managing the academisation process from the Diocesan perspective, including ensuring CE school protections are in place in the governance arrangements, liaising with the schools, trusts, site trustees, the Department for Education and Diocesan solicitors as required.

Broader governance activity will include amongst other things:

• Strategic leadership for the recruitment and appointment of foundation governance appointments in maintained schools and at all levels in academy trusts (local governors, trustees/directors, members), working with the Education Team Administrator.
• Ensuring clear processes and guidance in relation to the Diocesan role and requirements for governance in CE schools and academies are in place and operating effectively.
• Providing ongoing Church school specific governance information, guidance, advice, training and support to school and academy trust leaders and those involved in CE school governance.
• Monitoring and supporting the effectiveness of governance in CE schools and academies across the Diocese, including the sharing of best practice and encouraging collaborative working.
• Reviewing and advising on proposals for governance and organisational change as appropriate in school and academy contexts.
• Where required, serving as a governor/local governor in a maintained school/academy, or a member/member representative, director/trustee of an academy trust. 
• Advising on/responding to consultations relevant to governance as appropriate.

Admissions

This is a full-time post, with options available around flexible / hybrid working.  You will work principally from our large, open-plan main office at Clifton Moor on the north side of York, although the role involves travel around the diocese.  We are a values-led organisation, reflecting our Christian ethos, and encourage engagement and collaboration.  Our benefits include a generous pension scheme and support for employee wellbeing; but most importantly we offer the opportunity to play a part in an organisation at the heart of spiritual and community life in the region.

Only fully completed applications through Pathways will be accepted; applicants must have the right to work in the UK.