Head of Post-16 Education and Skills

Are you looking for a pivotal role working across HM Treasury with DfE to help implement the recent Spending Review settlement, and to prepare for and help deliver Spending Review? Building networks across HMT as well as develop positive relationships with DfE to find common positions and broker agreements and regular exposure to senior officials, ministers and their political advisors? If so, read on!

About the Team

We are a high profile, friendly and supportive team with oversight of £100 billion across education budgets, ranging from children's social care and childcare through to schools, further education, and higher education.

Our core role as a spending team is to advise Treasury ministers on education spending proposals, help the Department for Education (DfE) to live within their budget, and work with DfE and other parts of the Treasury to ensure that we have an education and skills system which meets the needs of the future economy.

We are a team of 17 people who put a strong emphasis on an inclusive and open culture. We are especially proud of our track record in helping our team members to develop and make the most of the opportunities available whilst being in the team.

About the Job

The key responsibilities of the post-holder will be:

1) Leading the post-16 education unit. You will oversee government's spending on further and higher education, as well as management of the student loan book.

2) Leading policy development across post-16 education. You will work closely with the Department for Education, and HMT Labour Markets division and Economic Growth Unit to develop post-16 education and skills policy in support of the Industrial Strategy and growth agenda.

3) Influencing Government and external counterparts to advance the Treasury's objectives, including delivery of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper (published in October).

4) Providing Treasury ministers with compelling advice. You will need to find creative, deliverable solutions to some of the most complex challenges currently facing the Government.

About You

You will:

1. The ability to lead a high performing team to deliver excellent work while maintaining wellbeing, even when under significant pressure (Leadership)
2. The ability to provide strategic leadership on pre-16 education policy, situated in its wider fiscal, economic and policy context (Seeing the Big Picture)
3. The ability to synthesise a wide range of competing evidence and perspectives into well-judged advice that can command Treasury ministers' confidence (Making Effective Decisions)
4. The ability to influence counterparts, senior officials, special advisors and ministers with sophistication, in pursuit of your objectives (Communicating and Influencing)

Some of the Benefits our people love!

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team at .