Director of Education

3 years FTC commencing February 2015

£60k-£70k salary pa taxable in St Helena, plus other non-taxable allowances, giving a total remuneration package of approximately £89k; this will increase if family members accompany you to post. In addition there will be fare paid travel at the start and end of contract and for leave after 12 and 24 months.

Are you a dynamic leader who can carry forward educational improvements across a whole Directorate?

A sub-tropical island of spectacular and beautiful landscapes in the South Atlantic with a warm and friendly population of 4,500, St Helena is a self-governing overseas territory of the UK, poised for transformation with the construction of an airport due to be operational in early 2016. Education on St Helena is based broadly on the British system and the English national curriculum. The annual recurrent budget for the Education Directorate is approximately £2.3m, with approximately 150 staff and 590 pupils.

In this wide-ranging role you will manage and develop the Education Directorate, including Schools, Lifelong Learning, the Year 13 Scholarship scheme and the Public Library. You must review, develop and monitor implementation of the Education Directorate's Strategic Plan and 10-year vision for education,

As you develop early years provision on the island you will monitor educational standards, provide relevant staff development programmes and, in partnership with head teachers, support the development of links between the schools and local community. You must ensure a strong and continuing focus on staff development and appraisal through Performance Management systems and career development, with management succession arrangements.

Taking ownership of the education budget, as well as Development Aid projects and the funding for technical assistance personnel, you will Identify and implement 'spend to save' investment initiatives and efficiency savings.

A Degree in Education is essential, with substantial management experience, either within a local authority or a chain of schools. In addition, you must hold a clean vetting certificate. You should have sound knowledge of current best practice in education management and approaches to school improvement and have experience in successfully engendering collaborative activity across the education service and in managing significant change programmes and processes. Strong leadership, negotiating and influencing skills will be key.

We offer an extensive benefits package with 30 days leave pa and which will include a contributory pension plus generous income tax-free allowances for relocation, rent and utilities. An application form can be found at www.sthelenacareers.com where further information can also be found, or you may contact Kedell Worboys on 0203 170 8705 or email: shgukrep@sthelenagov.com

Applications to shgukrep@sthelenagov.com by 24 October 2014 please. Interviews will be held in London week commencing 10 November 2014.