Executive Director of Education, Work and Skills

Posting date:	09 February 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Competitive
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	11 March 2026
Location:	Manchester, M1 6EU
Company:	inploi
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	75784899

Summary

Job: Executive Director of Education, Work and Skills

Submit your application here - Executive Director of Education, Work and Skills, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

WorldClass Thinkers. CityScale Doers.

Greater Manchester is built on ideas, ambition and a belief that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive. As we accelerate delivery of our longterm strategy for inclusive, sustainable prosperity, we are recruiting a new Executive Director of Education, Work & Skills - a leadership role with the potential to shape opportunity, talent and life chances across the entire city region.

A role that rewards system leadership

You could be working in education, workforce and economic development, industry, public services, consulting, training, regeneration, place leadership, or cross-sector partnerships, or spent time engaging with all or a number of them. What’s important is you understand how to build and influence systems, convene diverse partners, and turn strategy into better outcomes for people and employers, this role offers the platform to deliver impact at true cityregion scale.

A generational opportunity to shape the future.

You’ll create and deliver the longer-term vision for education, work, skills and lifelong learning, designing a system that supports young people into great futures, enables adults to progress in good work, and aligns provision with the needs of a fast-changing labour market. You’ll work across institutions, communities and government to champion a truly integrated approach. This includes being the overall lead on children and young people for the GMCA.

You will lead:

• A cityregion education, work and skills strategy aligned to longterm growth
• Development of the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate and worldclass technical pathways
• A significant devolved skills investment programme that maximises opportunity
• Integrated careers, readiness and employment pathways shaped with employers and providers
• Partnerships across local authorities, education institutions, VCSE organisations, communities and employers

This is a role for someone who wants to make a meaningful, measurable difference to millions of people - building an education and skills ecosystem that supports social mobility, economic resilience and inclusive prosperity.

If you bring imagination, strategic clarity and a collaborative, systemfocused mindset - whatever your sector - we will support you through an inclusive, accessible recruitment process designed to help you show your best.

If you would like an informal and confidential conversation about the role, please contact our advising consultant; Marek Dobrowolski at Berwick Partners on +44 121 654 5912 / marek.dobrowolski@berwickpartners.co.uk

Submit your application here - Executive Director of Education, Work and Skills, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

About us:

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) brings together the cityregion’s ten councils and key partners including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) - to deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy. Our shared vision is to create a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life. We work to grow an inclusive economy and ensure people have what they need to live happy, healthy lives, tackling inequalities. Our policy department include Digital, Economy, Education, Work & Skills, Environment, Place Making, Public Service Reform, and Safer & Stronger Communities - who are supported by our essential corporate functions like Finance, Legal & Governance, People Services, Procurement and Communications.

We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

To find out more about working for us please click here: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/

Our offer:

In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here:

Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Home | greater.jobs

Mandatory Information:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

Privacy Notice (Click here)

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.

Hybrid working

This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our on-site locations with remote working, typically from home; the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: ‘Do what is right for you and the business on that day’. If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.

GM Elevate Programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme within the last two years, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application?

Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.

Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.