Director of Education, Diocese of Derby: That Rarest of Roles
There are only 42 Diocesan Director of Education roles in the Church of England.
That matters, because it means opportunities at this level are both rare and not always well understood. So when a post as significant as the current vacancy in the Diocese of Derby becomes available, it's worth paying close attention.
Emmaus Leadership has worked with the Diocese of Derby before. We were first appointed in 2022 to support the recruitment of their Deputy Director of Education, and the experience of working with Derby, of understanding its schools, its communities, its values and its ambitions, stayed with us. When the Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education, Ven Nicky Fenton, chose to work with Emmaus again to lead this search, we were delighted
Nicky has described this role with a directness that we find compelling. "It's a real chance to influence the lives of thousands of children," she told us, “and their headteachers, staff and governors - supporting and working with them to offer life-giving, life-changing education, shaped by a distinctive Christian vision and ethos." That is not recruitment language. That is someone who understands from the inside what this work means.
Nicky brings something important to this task. Before she was ordained, she was a teacher. She understands education not as an abstract system to be managed but as a daily act of care and formation. She also understands that this is a genuinely strategic role, one with the opportunity to exert influence at national, regional and local level.
The Diocese of Derby is a richly varied place. From the city of Derby, diverse and full of potential, to the quietly faithful villages of the Peak District. From market towns shaped by resilience and change to post-industrial communities, navigating real social and economic challenge. Across that landscape, 111 church schools serve more than 10,000 children and young people every year.
The diocese is approaching its centenary year with renewed purpose and clarity. Its vision, The Kingdom of God: Good News for All, and its values of Generous Faith, Courageous Hope and Life-Giving Love are not aspirational statements. They describe the kind of diocese Derby is working hard to be, and the kind of leader they are hoping to find.
The new Director of Education will join the Bishop's Leadership Team. The Director will shape educational strategy across the diocese, support headteachers to flourish, hold relationships with MAT CEOs, local authorities, Regional Directors and the DfE, to ensure that the Church of England's presence in Derbyshire remains a genuine force for belonging, dignity and hope in every community it touches.
This is a role for someone who is relational as much as strategic. Someone who is prayerful and reflective. Someone for whom Christian education is a vocation, not simply a profession.
If that describes you, or someone you know, we would genuinely love to hear from you.
Salary: £70,000 to £80,000 depending on experience. Closing date: 29 June 2026 at 12 noon.
Please contact Liam Dowds for a confidential conversation.
ldowds@emmausleadership.me | 07961 375 759 | 01737 652 043