Service Director for Inclusion, Education and Learning

• Salary: £110,100 - £121,785 per annum 
• Contract type: Permanent
• Hours: 37 hours per week 
• Location: Endeavour House, Ipswich, with flexible / hybrid working options

At Suffolk County Council, we’re entering one of the most exciting periods in our journey to improve outcomes for children and young people. Over the last 18 months our Children and Young People’s Services have made significant strides – stabilising services, strengthening performance and rebuilding confidence across the system. Now we’re ready to take the next step.

With strong corporate support, improving performance and renewed energy across our partnerships, this is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of education and inclusion in Suffolk and make a lasting impact for children and families across the county.

As our Service Director for Inclusion, Education and Learning, you will provide strategic leadership for educational outcomes, school improvement, inclusion and school place planning. You will also oversee our 0–25 SEND system, building on the significant progress already made to improve performance, strengthen governance and embed a culture of partnership working across education, health and care.

With strong foundations now in place, the focus is on sustaining momentum and driving the next phase of progress. We’re looking for a leader who can maintain the pace of improvement, build credibility with partners and drive the system forward towards sustained excellence. With a refreshed improvement plan and a strengthened leadership team in place, you will have the opportunity to focus on delivery, quality and impact for children and families.

You will be joining a council at a pivotal moment. With national SEND reforms ahead and a strong Children’s leadership team in place, this role offers the chance to influence the future shape of services while building on genuine progress already achieved.

You’ll work alongside committed and talented colleagues in a supportive and collaborative leadership environment that values partnership, innovation and collaborative leadership. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people across Suffolk.

Come and help lead the next phase of Suffolk’s journey – and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

Read the full Job and Person Profile: 

We’re looking for an influential system leader who can provide confident, strategic direction across Suffolk’s inclusion, education and 0–25 SEND system.

You will bring:

• Senior‑level experience leading inclusion and education functions, with the ability to strengthen outcomes, quality and practice across a complex system.
• Credibility with political, corporate and sector partners, working confidently with elected Members, chief officers and national bodies.
• A strong track record of major transformation and service redesign in large organisations, delivering sustainable improvement.
• Deep experience of building inclusive cultures, shaping policy and working across education, health and care partners to remove barriers and improve access for all children.
• Judgement and political awareness, able to lead high‑stakes statutory responsibilities, inspection preparation and system‑wide priorities.
• A collaborative, values‑led approach that builds trust, aligns partners and creates a high‑performance culture.

Above all, you’ll be the kind of leader who inspires trust, models our values, and brings people together to deliver meaningful, sustained improvement for children and young people across Suffolk.

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day

Plus lots more!

If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments, please view the About and Benefits sections at the top of the website.

You will be based at Endeavour House, Ipswich. This role supports hybrid working; however, as a senior and visible leader, you will be expected to be in the office at least three days a week, with flexibility to attend in person whenever service needs require your leadership and oversight.

While we positively encourage the use of technology for day‑to‑day communication, regular countywide travel is essential to maintain strong relationships with schools, trusts and partners. You must hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport, or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.

Our Children and Young People (CYP) directorate brings together the county council’s services for education and learning, early years and childcare, services for vulnerable children and young people including early intervention and prevention, and integrated youth support services.

To find out more, please visit our Children and Young People Services pages.

More information

The following links will provide you with relevant further information:

• CYP in Numbers (including SEND)
• CYP Structure Chart
• Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) report June 2024
• Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) improvement action plan
• Suffolk SEND Strategy 2024-2029
• Suffolk SEND Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2030
• Alternative Provision Strategy 2026-2030
• Suffolk Area SEND Partnership Self-Evaluation Summary

To apply for this role, you must submit your application through Tile Hill’s Service Director for Inclusion, Education and Learning job page. 

Please submit:

• An up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum)
• A supporting statement (four sides of A4 maximum) that addresses the criteria set out in the Job and Person Profile and uses examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements. It should also cover your motivation for the role and the organisation.

Applications must include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your current salary and notice period;
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for interview.

Contact details:

For more information about these opportunities, or a confidential discussion about your suitability, please contact our retained recruitment consultants at Tile Hill:

• Chris Barrow: chris.barrow@tile-hill.co.uk or 07437 839048
• Anita Denton: anita.denton@tile-hill.co.uk or 07725 554802

• Applications close: Midnight on Sunday 3 May 2026

• Preliminary/technical interviews: Friday 15 May (TBC)

• Assessment Centre / Final Interview: Wednesday 20 May (TBC)

Future-focused, innovative and ambitious, at Suffolk County Council we’re solution-finders driven to deliver the best outcomes for people in Suffolk. We understand the importance of collaboration, trust and respect. By listening to and learning from each other, our partners and communities, we develop a culture of mutual respect that enables us to work together and achieve great things.

Our values

Our values are at the heart of everything we do. They underpin our approach to performance, reward, and wellbeing. They define the relationship between the council and our people.

The WE ASPIRE values set behavioural standards which reflect the quality work that we do every day. It clarifies the behaviours the council expects from everyone, regardless of who they are, what their role or grade is or where they work. This also extends to our employees who volunteer within the Council, chosen charity and or wider community.

The WE ASPIRE values were refreshed and reviewed based on the feedback and input from the employees at Suffolk County Council – it has not been shaped by a management committee. They define us and help make us outstanding at what we do.

Our Customer Commitment sits alongside and reinforces these standards further by setting out our strong commitment to serving our customers.

Our WE ASPIRE values are:

• Wellbeing: We look after ourselves, each other and the planet
• Equality: Respecting, valuing, embracing, and celebrating everyone’s unique differences
• Achieve: We are the best we can be
• Support: We work as one team
• Pride: We are passionate about making a positive different to the people and place of Suffolk
• Innovate: We believe in making every penny count, every minute matter and reducing environmental impact
• Respect: We give and earn respect
• Empower: We empower, encourage, and motivate

Our Ambitions for Suffolk

Our Ambitions for Suffolk are based on the council's objectives as laid out in our Corporate Strategy for 2022-26. Over the next four years, we will focus on ensuring Suffolk recovers socially and economically from the Covid-19 pandemic. Our ambitions will be our guide as we build back better, build back stronger, and build back greener.

• Looking after our health and wellbeing
• Strengthening our local economy
• Protecting and enhancing our environment
• Providing value for money for our residents

Our ambitions will provide a crucial foundation for our work until 2026. They are the basis for major programmes including People First, the Housing Joint Venture, Suffolk's Climate Emergency Action Plan, and our Highways New Operating Model. These are ambitious projects that seek to support our communities, keep us all connected, enhance Suffolk's biodiversity, and help us all live healthy, safe, and independent lives.

To achieve our ambitions, we will continue to work closely with partners as we take an increasingly integrated and holistic approach to our council services, and to lead on new community initiatives and strategic projects in Suffolk.

More information

The following links will provide you with further information about our financial position, our structure and our corporate strategy and future plans.

• SCC Corporate Strategy for 2022 to 2026
• SCC Annual Plan for 2024 to 2025
• Corporate Leadership Team Structure Chart
• Corporate performance and risk management (suffolk.gov.uk)

Suffolk is increasingly attracting talented people choosing a county that can offer lively and thriving urban and market towns and coastal villages with a large economy. Suffolk is a great place to live, it has low-cost housing across the county, good schools, plenty of opportunities for cultural and outdoor activities and strong, safe communities.

Suffolk has beautiful villages, a stunning coastline, charming country houses and remarkable landscapes. Read on to find out more about this picturesque county…

• Lowestoft is the first place in the country to greet the sun, being the most easterly point in the UK.
• A strong food, drink, agriculture, tourism and cultural sectors
• Suffolk boasts 12 National Trust sites, 8 English Heritage sites and over 60 nature reserves (including RSPB Minsmere) for you to explore and enjoy.
• We have a strong connection to the rest of the country through the UK’s premier trade route, the A14.
• Suffolk is one of the UK’s greenest and safest counties. We boast competitively priced housing, quality local produce, food and drink festivals, plus many fine restaurants and historic country parks.
• We regularly host some of the best music in the UK. The yearly Latitude festival showcases the biggest names and is attended from far and wide.
• Suffolk is the home of British telecommunications & BT’s headquarters – the birthplace of fibre, a global technology research park and an international telecommunications centre.
• Felixstowe, the UK’s gateway to the rest of the world, is boosting its existing potential as the UK’s largest container port as part of Freeport East.
• We have over 400 educational facilities in Suffolk – over half are currently rated as either ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
• We have an estimated number of 137,053 living in Ipswich and 752,691 overall in Suffolk.
• Suffolk has a 50-mile stretch of heritage coastline and many Outstanding National Beauty areas (AONB).
• As well as the cost, there is an untouched rural landscape across the county, excellent for walkers and cyclists. Did you know? Suffolk’s landscapes were the focus for many of artist John Constable’s most famous works

Moving to Suffolk

The following websites offer information about Suffolk, relocation guidance, attractions and housing opportunities for those interested in moving to the county.

• Visit Suffolk website (visitsuffolk.com)
• Discover Suffolk website (discoversuffolk.org.uk)
• Living in Suffolk - Good Move (goodmove.org.uk)
• Moving to Suffolk - Zoopla (zoopla.co.uk)

We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve.

We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report.