Job Description

Details

-----------


###

Reference number

430961
###

Salary

68,635
68,635 (National), 72,104 (London) per annum. Rising to 69,322 (National), 72,791 (London) per annum on successful completion of probation.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
###

Job grade

Grade 7
Band A APT###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

Education###

Type of role

Policy

Senior leadership

Other###

Working pattern

Full-time###

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

------------

Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

------------


2 Rivergate, Bristol. 10 South Colonnade, London or Piccadilly Gate, Manchester.

About the job

-----------------

###

Job summary

We're hiring two Policy Leads to join Ofsted's Education Directorate, which leads policy development for inspections across early years, schools, further education and skills, teacher development and SEND.


The first Policy Lead we are hiring sits in our Inspection Improvement Team. The role will lead significant, and fast paced cross cutting projects. The work of the inspection improvement team is varied, but has recently focused on implementing the changes set out in Ofsted's Big Listen and leading Ofsted's renewal of its Education Inspection and Initial Teacher Education frameworks. This role will require an individual that is passionate about driving change and innovation, is comfortable working at pace, who can manage senior internal and external stakeholders, and can juggle competing priorities. The role will require strategic thinking, project management, policy development, change management and stakeholder management skills.


The second Policy Lead we are hiring will focus on MAT inspections. The MATs inspection role offers an exciting opportunity to shape a new inspection regime, as Ofsted prepares for the first inspections of Multi Academy Trusts (MATs). MATs now educate the majority of pupils in England, and the Government intends to introduce MAT inspections this Parliament. These inspections will align accountability with decision-making, spotlight excellent practice, and support the Department for Education in setting standards for trusts. This role will involve leading the development of inspection frameworks, policies and guidance; establishing programme management and governance; building stakeholder networks; recruiting and managing a new team; and contributing to the DfE's regulatory work.


This is a fantastic opportunity to high-achieving professionals at all levels, surrounded by a friendly and supportive team. They will have access to amazing benefits, such as flexible working hours, the Civil Service Pension Scheme, and 32.5 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays. We offer a hybrid working model, so you may also choose to spend a proportion of time working from home.

###

Job description

Please refer to the job specification for further information.###

Person specification

Please refer to the job specification for further information.###

Qualifications

Degree level qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience.###

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Seeing the Big Picture Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Seeing the Big Picture ###

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:


Experience of leading successful policy projects in a fast-moving and pressurised environment, mastering new areas quickly in order to make credible policy proposals. Strong verbal and written communications skills, with proven ability to build and maintain relationships effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organisation. Ability to analyse both strategic and operational issues and provide positive and innovative solutions, and lead these through to implementation. Experience of managing staff to deliver high quality outcomes through direct line management and/or task management. Understanding of the current political and professional issues in education.

Benefits

------------


Alongside your salary of 68,635, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills contributes 19,883 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Full details of the benefits available can be found in our Ofsted Offer brochure.


Ofsted is devoted to equality, diversity and inclusion. Within our Ofsted Strategy 2023-2027 we have stated that we will improve the representation of under-represented groups across the organisation and publish our progress on this annually. We are always looking to expand on our diverse workforce by recruiting candidates from varied backgrounds and differing experiences. We are proud to be a Disability Confident - Leader, we continually engage with our 5 staff networks for protected characteristics, and highlight the work of our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Group. We ensure all candidates are treated with fair and open competition, with all appointments being made on merit and we use our Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to provide assurance to all candidates of this.

Things you need to know

---------------------------

###

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application and Shortlisting:

The selection panel will assess your application based on your evidence you have provided against the essential criteria as set out in the person specification.



You will also be asked to provide information within the "Employer/Activity History" section of the application form. This information is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV setting out your career history (this may be used in the sifting process).


In the event that we receive a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be conducted based on the following two criteria:

Behaviour - Seeing the big picture

Applicants who meet these criteria will be invited to progress to the next stage of the selection process. If necessary, a further full sift will be undertaken, assessing all applications against the complete set of essential criteria.

Assessment and Interview:

Candidates who pass the benchmark at the shortlisting stage will be invited to an assessment and interview where they will be assessed against a mixture of the Civil Service behaviours and the experience/technical skills set out in section 3 of the job specification.


We will invite the most suitable candidates to attend an assessment and interview during the week commencing

Monday 27 October 2025.

The assessment and interview will be at held at

10 South Colonnade, London

.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
###

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

---------------------------------


This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

####

Job contact :

Name : People Services Delivery Team Email : Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk Telephone : 0300 013 1487
####

Recruitment team

Email : Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk ###

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email Ofsted recruitment at jobs@ofsted.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recrutiment