Following an internal promotion, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team and lead the College’s MIS and Business Support functions.
We have ambitious plans for the future with our ongoing journey to Outstanding and this is an exciting opportunity to join our team and help us achieve our ambitious strategic objectives.
New Directions College is Reading Borough Council’s Adult Community Learning and Skills service. This year we’re celebrating 65 years of Adult Learning in Reading. We’re a small friendly College delivering to over 2000 learners and Apprentices in Reading each year, directly and through our subcontractors and partners.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About you
We are seeking an experienced leader to head up our MIS and Business Support operational functions, to deliver an innovative service, aligned with the college’s aims and objectives and the rules and regulations the service must abide by.
You will be an experienced leader in the FE/Lifelong learning sector and have a track record of successfully leading operational and financial processes in line with ESFA and regulatory body rules and regulations.
You will be skilled at translating and interpreting a range of regulatory body rules and turning these into effective protocols across the service as well as developing impactful mechamisms for cascading information and knowledge to the wider staff team.
You will have had experience of being a Designated Safeguarding Lead as well as Health, Safety and Wellbeing within an FE/adult learning college, and be able to demonstrate the appropriate skills, knowledge and behaviours that are conducive with this role.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
To find out more about New Directions College, visit the website: www.newdirectionsreading.ac.uk
For more information on the role please contact Lisa Welch Adult Learning & skills Manager and Principal of New Directions College - Lisa.Welch@reading.gov.uk
Closing date: 7th July 2024.
Interviews will be held on the 19th July in person at New Directions College.
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to
Disability Confident.
