Director of Education - Diocese of Brentwood

Director of Education - Diocese of Brentwood - Essex

Competitive + TPS + Relocation support (Hybrid working) - Catholic - Head/Principal
Ref: 145 Date Posted: Monday 10 Mar 2025

Diocesan Director of Education

The Bishop of Brentwood, The Rt. Revd. Alan Williams, is seeking to appoint a Director of Education as a key member of his senior diocesan leadership team.

The Diocese of Brentwood stretches from Harwich to Shoeburyness and Saffron Walden to Canning Town. This comprises the County of Essex, five London Boroughs (Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Newham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge) and two Unitary Authorities of Thurrock and Southend.

The Diocese serves a network of 90 schools: comprising 72 primary and 18 secondary schools, providing for the formation and educational needs of some 40,000 children and young people.

The role of Director of Education is an inspiring, rewarding and fulfilling position. The successful candidate will join a dedicated and committed team at a significant time for the education sector, for Catholic education nationally, and for the schools and colleges across our own Diocese as we look to serve Bishop Alan and the mission of our Church with Christ as the foundation of our entire educational enterprise.

As Director you will be expected to establish good relationships with each authority as well as engaging with the Regional School Director, ESFA, and Ofsted so that our schools and their staff are well served.

The role offers the opportunity to utilise your existing skills, gifts and talents in new and innovative ways as we look to preserve and protect our distinctive educational heritage and history whilst forming and co-constructing an authentically Catholic educational landscape for the future.

As Director of Education, you will:

  • Promote and implement the Bishop’s vision for Catholic education within the Diocese
  • Build capacity, trust and good relationships within the diocesan family of schools; encouraging collaboration to develop and sustain school improvement, and raise aspirations
  • Confidently and enthusiastically articulate the role of Catholic education in the mission of the Church and be an effective witness to it

We are looking for someone who has:

  • Extensive leadership experience in an education context, at Headteacher level in school/academy/diocesan leadership or local authority/SIP setting.
  • A strong grasp of current educational issues (including CMATs’ evolving role within the parish, diocese and local community)
  • Excellent leadership and management skills - the ability to communicate a clear vision, win trust, influence and respect and bring people with you
  • A deep knowledge and understanding of Catholic education as structured in this country

Now is a moment of real opportunity within the educational and Catholic life of the Diocese, which makes this post an extremely attractive and rewarding career opportunity.

A requirement of the post is that applicants must be practising Catholics.

  • Closing: Monday 7 April at 12 Noon
  • Shortlisting: Tuesday 8 April
  • Interviews: Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April

Whilst your normal place of work will be based at Cathedral House, Brentwood, we anticipate some hybrid working, with 3 days being spent in the office.

For an initial informal chat please call Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Advising Consultant, on 01737 652 043 or email him at ldowds@emmausleadership.me for an Application pack.

All conversations will be held in the strictest confidence.

DO NOT APPLY ONLINE. ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL.

The Diocese of Brentwood is an equal opportunities employer and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. DBS check required.

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