Executive Director - Children’s Social Care & Education
- Employer: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
- Salary: HAY 1 - £135,407 per annum
- Location: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Magdalen House/Agile
- Contract: Permanent
- Working Pattern: Full Time
- Hours: 36 hours per week.
- DBS Check: Enhanced
- Closing Date: 12/10/2025 at 23:59
- Reference: CSC/25/321976
Lead with Vision. Shape the Future. Transform Lives.
Sefton is a borough that surprises. With 22 miles of stunning coastline, the UK’s largest dune system, thriving communities, and iconic events like The Grand National and The Open, it is a place of real variety and richness. From Victorian seaside towns to vibrant urban centres, Sefton is full of contrasts and full of opportunity. For our people, our communities, and our Council, this is a place where ambition can take root and grow.
We’re proud of our ‘Good’ Ofsted rating from June this year, and our Children’s Services are poised to take the next step in its journey. We’re now looking for an inspiring and forward-thinking leader to help us build on the strong foundations we’ve established and elevate outcomes for our children and young people to new heights.
You’ll bring a deep understanding of children’s services and a track record of achieving positive outcomes. You’ll be comfortable operating across both the Council and organisational boundaries, addressing key challenges as a wider partnership through a public sector reform lens. We’re strong believers in Sefton that nothing we do is in isolation. You’ll benefit from strong local and regional partnerships, including a committed voluntary sector as we work together to improve services for children and families.
We’re looking for a leader who can balance strategy and operations, bring resilience, and inspire teams to achieve high standards. You’ll lead with creativity and proactive thinking, empowering your team to innovate while maintaining consistent, high-quality service delivery. This role offers a real opportunity to make a lasting impact on Sefton’s children and contribute to the transformation of services that will benefit the borough for years to come.
If you're ready to join a dynamic and committed leadership team and help shape the next generation in a place where your impact will be visible and valued, this is your moment.
To apply or find out more, contact our retained consultants at Tile Hill: Chris Barrow on 07437 839048 or Anita Denton on 07725 554802.
Recruitment Timeline
Closing Date: Sunday 12th October, midnight
Longlist Meeting (no candidate involvement): Thursday 16th October
Shortlist Meeting (no candidate involvement): Friday 24th October
Preliminary Interviews (virtual): Tuesday 4th November
Assessment Centre (in Sefton): TBC (November)
Final Member Interviews (in Sefton): Monday 24th November
Equal Opportunities
Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential. We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.
GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME
Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.
If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.