Department for Education
Director of Education Funding Delivery and Oversight
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Coventry (CV1 2WT), Darlington (DL1 5QE), London (SW1P 3BT), Manchester (M1 2WD), Sheffield (S1 2FJ)
Job Summary
The DfE is supported by around 8,000 staff across multiple sites, and it works with 13 Arm's Length Bodies. These bodies play a critical role in the administration of our funding, the delivery of services, and the provision of regulation and advice across the sector.
We Are Responsible For
- Teaching and learning for children in the early years and in primary schools.
- Teaching and learning for young people in secondary schools.
- Teaching, learning, and training for young people in further education.
- Teaching and learning for students in higher education.
- Supporting professionals who work in our sectors.
- Helping all children and young people, including those who are disadvantaged or with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), to achieve and thrive.
- Making sure that local services protect and support children.
You can find out further information on our responsibilities, priorities, who we are and corporate information on GOV.UK About us - Department for Education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Want to Learn More?
We’re hosting a virtual candidate information session where you can:
- Meet the Chief Operating Officer, Tony Foot
- Ask questions about the role
- Learn more about what the role involves
- Explore development and progression opportunities
Online via Microsoft Teams on 8 September at 13:00 (60 minute session)
To receive an invitation, please email: SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk
Job Description
The Role And Key Responsibilities
- Delivering accurate, timely, and resilient education funding – over £90 billion a year to around 20,000 schools, colleges, and other providers.
- Leading transformation of the Department’s funding service – modernising digital systems, building operational capability, and simplifying delivery across policy, finance, digital, data, and operational teams. This includes SRO leadership of the Department’s Grant Transformation Programme to radically simplify and align grants.
- Stewardship of public money – delivering the financial control function for the education sector. This includes setting key frameworks, proportionate controls, effective counter-fraud leadership, and delivering clear assurance that funding is used effectively and for its intended purpose. The role involves maintaining confidence through ministerial, parliamentary, and public scrutiny.
- Strengthening financial resilience – working with sector leaders to anticipate and address financial risks.
- Influential leadership across government and education – shaping departmental priorities, bridging policy and operations, and building trusted relationships with senior leaders across Government, ministers, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, and school and college leaders.
- Leading a capable, inclusive, and high-performing directorate – inspiring and energetically leading approximately 350 colleagues, including finance, counter-fraud, and operational delivery professionals.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- A proven track record of leading complex operational delivery functions – delivering quality services at scale and in highly scrutinised environments.
- Experience of leading large-scale data, digital, and technology-driven transformation – using data, digital, technology, and process improvement to drive efficiency and improve outcomes.
- Extensive responsibility for oversight of large budgets and providing financial assurance – including the application of strong controls, risk management, and value for money principles.
- Outstanding people leadership – with a track record of building high-performing teams, developing capability, and creating an inclusive culture that enables people to deliver their best.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills – including experience of working with the most senior leaders, Ministers, and delivery partners.
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Desirable Criterion
Where candidates are closely matched against the essential criteria, the panel may also take account of the following desirable criterion.
- Knowledge of the education, skills, or wider public sector landscape, gained through working with relevant delivery organisations, regulators, or sector partners.
Salary and Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £105,000, Department for Education contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
- As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
- You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
- We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time, and compressed hours.
- Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
- Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
- As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate, and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
If you would like to apply for this position, please complete the Civil Service Jobs application form by clicking the "apply now" button at the top or bottom of this advert. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 21 September 2026.
Stage 1 – Application
At sift stage, you will be assessed on your Experience in line with the essential skills listed in the person specification section of the job advert.
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To Apply For This Role, Please Provide
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Your CV should be no more than two pages.
- A Statement of Suitability of up to 1,250 words, detailing how you meet the essential criteria set out in this pack, with reference to specific examples and evidence. Should we receive a high number of applications, then we will sift on the first two essential criteria.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process.
Stage 2 - Interview
Depending on the number and strength of applications, the selection process may include selecting a longlist of candidates for initial assessment interview before shortlisting.
Longlisted Candidates Will Be Required To
- Take part in an initial assessment interview on Monday 12 October 2026.
Shortlisted Candidates Will Be Required To
- Complete online numerical and verbal reasoning assessments.
- Complete a staff engagement exercise which will take place on Monday 19 October 2026.
- Take part in a formal in-person interview in London on Tuesday 27 October 2026, which will include:
- A presentation (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates).
- Interview questions based on the Essential Criteria to further assess your experience.
As part of the recruitment process, we may request references.
Please note that, at the interview stage, we may ask whether you have any conflicts of interest to declare.
The successful candidate will be subject to social media and due diligence checks prior to appointment.
The Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview or assessment unless otherwise stated.
All communications will be electronic, therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.
For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk
Important Information
- If you fail to complete the tests before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are untimed, administered via Civil Service Jobs, and applicant guidance is available during the test and online on GOV.UK Online Tests guidance.
- Applicants must complete the test on their own, without help, and Departments reserve the right to retest applicants under supervised conditions at later stages of the selection process. Doing this can provide reassurance to recruiters who are concerned about the authenticity of one or more test results.
- Please ensure you allow yourself sufficient time to complete both assessments and submit your application before the advertised deadline.
Reasonable Adjustments & Test Accessibility
See our reasonable adjustments guide for candidates (online tests), or some example case studies, to act as a guide. You can use these to help you decide whether to ask for help or take the test without help.
More information about online tests can be found here:
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