Overview

Head of Skills & Employability Ref: CH05125

Walsall Council invites applications for the Head of Service: Skills and Employability to join the Access & Inclusion Management Team. Salary: £81,501.00-£92,483.00.

Closing date: 22 September 2025
Interviews: 30 September 2025

Main purpose of the job:

• Operate as a system leader for the Employment and Skills Service, working across the Council to deliver a strategy and delivery arrangements that enhance skills across all ages and join up activity across the economy and growth service with education and community services to maximise the talent and expertise of Walsall residents.
• Lead and implement a Skills and Employability Strategy that complements the economic development and growth vision for the Borough and ensures best use of regional resources, including understanding opportunities for business growth and ensuring business support services meet current and future need.
• Build and develop effective relationships with stakeholders (schools, colleges, employers, and partner agencies such as DWP and the Combined Authority) to maximise opportunities for employment, education and training.
• Engage with schools, colleges and educational establishments to develop a strategic approach to skills development that supports young people in continuing to develop their skills through meaningful career paths.
• Support colleagues across education and employment sectors to develop excellent learning services from cradle to career, addressing workforce challenges to adapt learning provision to local needs.
• Seek opportunities for workforce and recruitment engagement, working with employers to inform strategies and delivery plans that meet future needs and deliver sustainable improvements.
• Maximise grant and funding opportunities in collaboration with national and regional agencies, oversee grant spending, and ensure contract compliance.
• Engage with leaders in schools, colleges and early years settings to ensure alignment between national curriculum requirements and localised skills development.
• Identify, track, and support young people at risk of NEET, providing targeted support to participate in education or training.
• Ensure information, advice, and guidance about careers is provided to help young people make informed decisions, with particular involvement of vulnerable young people in career guidance activities.

The successful candidate will:

• Design, deliver and monitor provision across the service area in line with the Council Plan priorities and service plans; lead to ensure services are delivered efficiently and meet residents’ needs and improve outcomes.
• Use business insight to review and develop service strategies and policies and ensure statutory requirements are fulfilled as relevant.
• Act as an ambassador for the Council, communicating through various methods to promote the Council and Borough values and priorities.
• Support continuous improvement and lead major change activities, ensuring workforce and change management strategies enable timely responses to developments and priorities.
• Champion customer focus, gathering feedback from service users, communities, partners and employees, and empowering staff to implement improvements.
• Promote modern business methods, flexible management, and hybrid working to enable effective organizational change and value for money.
• Develop and enable effective internal and external relationships; manage service budgets to reflect priorities and demonstrate value for money.

For further information contact:

Sharon Kelly, Director-Access and Inclusion, sharon.kelly@walsall.gov.uk

Walsall Council is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees.

Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC).

Information for Applicants
When completing your online application, you must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the criteria in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please ensure you complete the work history and qualifications sections; CVs are not accepted. See the Information for Applicants leaflet for details.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy. We are not accepting Agency applications or referrals at this time

Seniority level: Executive

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Other

Industries: Human Resources Services

Note: This description contains information for applicants and is intended to reflect the responsibilities and expectations of the role.