Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values we strive to have a workforce that reflects our local communities and welcome applicants from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic backgrounds, applicants who have a disability and applicants who are from the LGBTQ+ community to apply for our senior leadership roles. 

Our Values are:

About the team we are recruiting to

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

The Adult Education Service is part of Coventry City Council.  We provide a wide range of courses for Coventry residents age 19+ and much of our provision is targeted at people with the highest levels of need. 

We offer long courses in English, maths, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), ICT/Digital and vocational subjects such as Early Years, along with provision for adults with learning disabilities.  

We also offer a very wide range of short community courses in arts, crafts, music, dance, exercise, fitness and family learning.  In addition, we run a highly supportive study programme for young people.

Our work-based learning offer includes Apprenticeships in the following subject areas: 

• Nursery Workers
• Teaching Assistants
• Leadership/Management; and 
• Customer Care. 

We also provide courses for adults who are seeking work via the Council’s Job Shop. 

Our main base is at Southfields Old School, CV1 5EJ, with provision delivered at around 25 other sites within Coventry, mostly in areas of highest need.

We welcome applications from anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of people in Coventry.  

What is the job role?

Coventry City Council’s highly successful Employment & Skills Service is seeking an experienced Strategic Leader who will make a significant contribution to the strategic leadership and development of adult skills in the city. 

As a member of the Service’s Senior Leadership Team, the person appointed will be responsible for leading the drive to excellence throughout Adult Education’s work and ensuring the Service’s offer is aligned to, and delivers on, the Coventry Skills Strategy.

You will lead continuous improvement of Adult Education through the development and implementation of relevant strategies and change management processes, ensuring robust financial oversight, strong quality assurance and adherence to legislative and funding requirements.

Through your leadership the Service will ensure it’s responsive to employer need and ready to meet the changing funding landscape, as well as being able to cater to the evolving needs of a diverse community. 

You will also play a pivotal role in shaping residents’ access to developments in green skills, ensuring they are equipped to engage with a changing and increasingly high-tech labour market.  

As part of the One Coventry approach, your role will also work across the Council and with other skills providers to ensure the City’s learning offer is impactful for our residents, with clear learning pathways, as well as ensuring our local vision is effectively communicated with staff, learners and other stakeholders. 

The person appointed will have a strong understanding of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda and will actively promote a culture of inclusion within the service where all views are valued and taken account of, including those of learners, staff, stakeholders and the City Council.

This is a full-time, permanent role.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate will be an accomplished leader with a track record of operational and strategic excellence, ideally drawn from across the education/skills sector with a good understanding of innovation in adult skills. You must demonstrate strategic vision, commercial acuity and a strong commitment to promoting quality and fiscal management that are aligned to exceptional learner outcomes.

You will be politically astute, able to work with risk, to innovate and drive us to be modern, flexible and ambitious. Proactive and able to thrive on challenges and opportunities, as well as experienced in managing large budgets, prioritising strategic goals whilst maintaining an effective grip on delivery. You will have a track record of driving improvement and creating positive change, with excellent people management skills, and a focus on staff empowerment and accountability. 

A good understanding of relevant local, regional and national skills and economic policies is important, along with strong understanding of how the acquisition of employability and life skills through Adult Education can raise aspirations and make a difference to people's lives. 

For full details on the application process please read the attached document labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'

Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process.

Interview date(s): 10th, 11th, 12th January 2024

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 4800 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

Coventry City Council