SCS2 Director, Young People and Skills Strategy
| Posting date: | 17 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £100,000 to £120,000 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment, this will usually be the salary minimum or within 10% of their existing salary for those applying on promotion. Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing base salary. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 07 April 2026 |
| Location: | Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 453035 |
Summary
This Director post plays a high profile and critical role within DWP, working within a fast paced and dynamic environment, combining responsibility for leading the response to the challenge of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), with responsibility for overall skills strategy.
The Government has made a clear commitment to improving outcomes for young people - and this role is central to delivering on that ambition, leading on strategy, policy delivery and working in collaboration with the Department for Education, HM Treasury, and other key partners to shape plans to address the barriers to employment for young people.
The post-holder is critical to establishing the new adult skills function, supporting integration with DfE colleagues and policy delivery work transitioning from DfE. The role requires significant collaborative working with senior officials within DWP and DfE, ministers and external stakeholders.
The post-holder will need the credibility and confidence to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders including influencing decisions across the organisation, being able to build relationships of influence at senior levels, and the ability to win the trust of senior officials and Ministers.
The postholder will:
Provide strategic leadership on youth employment policy, ensuring alignment with departmental and cross-government priorities, working closely with senior leaders across DWP, the Department for Education, HM Treasury, and other key stakeholders.
Oversee the delivery of the Youth Guarantee, a core component of the government’s commitment to using innovative solutions to reduce Youth unemployment and improve transitions into work, education, or training, acting as the senior responsible officer for relevant programmes.
Provide leadership to the Skills Hub, working across the new Labour Market and Skills Group.
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across government, local authorities, and the voluntary and private sectors.
Provide high-quality advice to Ministers and senior officials, including regular briefings and submissions.
Represent DWP at senior cross-government forums and in public engagements as required.
Lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement
The Government has made a clear commitment to improving outcomes for young people - and this role is central to delivering on that ambition, leading on strategy, policy delivery and working in collaboration with the Department for Education, HM Treasury, and other key partners to shape plans to address the barriers to employment for young people.
The post-holder is critical to establishing the new adult skills function, supporting integration with DfE colleagues and policy delivery work transitioning from DfE. The role requires significant collaborative working with senior officials within DWP and DfE, ministers and external stakeholders.
The post-holder will need the credibility and confidence to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders including influencing decisions across the organisation, being able to build relationships of influence at senior levels, and the ability to win the trust of senior officials and Ministers.
The postholder will:
Provide strategic leadership on youth employment policy, ensuring alignment with departmental and cross-government priorities, working closely with senior leaders across DWP, the Department for Education, HM Treasury, and other key stakeholders.
Oversee the delivery of the Youth Guarantee, a core component of the government’s commitment to using innovative solutions to reduce Youth unemployment and improve transitions into work, education, or training, acting as the senior responsible officer for relevant programmes.
Provide leadership to the Skills Hub, working across the new Labour Market and Skills Group.
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across government, local authorities, and the voluntary and private sectors.
Provide high-quality advice to Ministers and senior officials, including regular briefings and submissions.
Represent DWP at senior cross-government forums and in public engagements as required.
Lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement
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.