Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich

Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Ipswich, IP1 1UQ Diocesan Director of Education £75k-£79k per annum Full-time 35 hours per week Permanent appointment from September 2026 Our mission is to support the 87 Church of England schools throughout Suffolk. As a diocese, we work closely with our schools which, together, educate 14,000 pupils. We are looking for an experienced education professional with successful senior leadership experience to lead our team from September, following the retirement of the current postholder. Based in Ipswich, but with travel throughout Suffolk, this post is both rewarding and varied and involves: Providing a range of support, training and advice to Headteachers and Governors Leading a small and highly effective team Leading the work of the Diocesan Board of Education, developing policy as the national education landscape changes Promoting education in Suffolk and representing the diocese as the lead on education Working across the diocese more widely as a senior member of diocesan staff Working with the Department for Education and local authority on a range of school issues Working as part of a strong and supportive network of national and regional Directors of Education and with the Church of England s National Society for Education on policy development and issues If you love schools and can demonstrate the following criteria we would love to hear from you: Successful experience as a senior leader in education Collaborative leadership and management skills The ability to think strategically and solve problems creatively A deep commitment to Church of England schools We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Closing date: 9th February 2026 at 5pm Interview date: 2nd March 2026