Strategy Manager - Post 16

We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategy Manager - Post 16 within our Standards and Effectiveness team.

About you...

You will have expertise in post-16 participation in education, employment, and training, with a strong ability to shape strategy and fulfil statutory duties. You will bring exceptional leadership skills, along with experience in stakeholder engagement and project management. As a passionate and results-driven problem-solver, you will be committed to supporting young people in improving their education, employment, and training outcomes.

About the team… 

You will work as part of the highly skilled Standards and Effectiveness team, developing strong professional relationships with partners and key stakeholders from across the Post 16 sector. The team is dedicated to ensuring high-quality education and opportunities for young people, supporting institutions in meeting standards, and building strong partnerships to achieve excellent outcomes for every child and young person.

The Standards and Effectiveness Team sits within the Education & Learning section of the People Directorate. The Assistant Director for Education and Learning oversees a team of Heads of Service, who collectively manage the core functions of the section. The individual service areas work closely together in a climate of mutual challenge and support, to achieve our collective goals.

Key responsibilities...

The Post-16 Strategy Manager leads education, employment, and training participation, ensuring statutory duties are met. They oversee budgets, contracts, and external funding while identifying gaps in provision and developing strategic action plans.

Managing and tracking contracts for 16-25 participation, they enhance opportunities for EHCP learners and care leavers, driving initiatives like supported internships and higher education pathways.

The role involves stakeholder engagement, policy compliance, and risk management while optimising learner participation. Additionally, they secure funding, support key education projects, and provide expert leadership, collaborating across sectors to improve post-16 outcomes and ensuring the Council’s strategic goals are achieved.

Our benefits include...

• 28 days* increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. 
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks. 
• Local government pension scheme.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. 
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities. 
• A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing. 
• Sports and Social Club.
• Staff dental and health plans. 
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership. 
• Supermarket discount. 

*(pro rata for part time)

Our Values

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you. 

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.  

Interview date 

Interviews will be held on 10^th March 2025 

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note: AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration

Want to ask us a question? 

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Zoe Livingstone: Head of Standards, Education and Learning: Phone Number: 01344 354192

 

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.