Operational Director of Childrens Services

Operational Director ofChildrens Services.

Salary:68800 per annum.

Location:Homebased in the South- East with significant presence in London and Leeds.

Contract:Permanent 35 hours per week.

Benefits:

• 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays with up to 5additional days for continuous service andoption to buy or sell leave (pro rata).

• Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.

• Flexible maternity adoption and paternity packages.

• Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.

• Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15000 national retailers discounts.

Why Action for Children

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It is the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that when we work together we can makea huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable childrens lives.

Diversity equality andinclusion

AtActionforChildrenwerededicatedto building a diverseinclusive and authentic workplace.

Weactivelyencourageapplicationsfrom Black Asian &MinorityEthnic and disabled candidates as they areunder-representedwithinActionforChildren. We want to takedeliberateand purposefulactionto ensure equalopportunityto all groups in society and forActionforChildren.

A bit about the role

You will be a senior leader with considerable experience in leading and managing childrens services either in Local Authorities or the Voluntary Sector. A strong communicator and creative thinker with a flair for innovation who is focused andpassionate about changing the lives of children and their families.

We have a unique opportunityfor an Operational Director of Childrens Services to provide leadership and management acrossEngland predominantly London and Leeds. This is an exciting and rewarding role with theopportunityto make a huge personal impact.

Reporting to the National Director ofEngland South you will lead develop and manage a dedicated team of managers who develop and deliver a range of childrens services across a specified area.You will work will commissioners and be responsive to legislation and policy change to identify areas for service development. You will be skilled in working across service areas to meet identified needs and develop new sustainable services.

England has ambitious plans to grow residential and criminal exploitation services whilst ensuring our existing service footprintremains strong and development anddelivery of these services will be a key element of this role.

You will have responsibility for oversight of specific regulated services including holding responsibility for the quality and culture of the service. You will need a strong understanding and significant experience of both childrens homes regulations and criminal exploitation as part of this role.

This is an exciting opportunity for an inspirational leader who wants to make a difference to the lives of children and young people as part of an enthusiastic and ambitiousEngland team.

How youll help to create brighter futures

• Providing leadership and overall management for a range of Childrens services (includingChildrens Residential Homes) while collaborating with peers and stakeholders.

• Having responsibility for direct reportswholl be a range of committed managers with varying levels ofexpertise and managing their performance.

• Monitoring contract management operations and ensuring effective governance by creating performance reports and supplying the information to relevant committees.

• Guiding our sustainability and growth plans to make sure we are meeting or exceeding targets.

• Oversee local tenders and grants andsubsequent implementation and delivery plans.

• Applying theHIGHESTstandards of safeguarding across your area and reporting on developments.

• Operating within the local political context adhering to legislative and regulatory requirements and build collaborative working relationships with local and national bodies

• Acting as key account manager to commissioners partners and stakeholders to ensure our services are promoted.

Lets talk about you

• A relevant professional qualification in Education Health or Social Care.

• A management qualification or working towards S/NVQ level 5 in management or DMS leading to MBA.

• Substantial experiencing of safeguarding and managing childrens services.

• Strong people leadership including (though not limited to) Culture Health and Safety Financial Performance and Retention.

• Experience of Safeguarding and delivering and managing childrens services.

• Commercial awareness and the ability toidentify new sources of revenue and business opportunities.

• Strong project management skills to ensure successful development and implementation of new services.

• The availability to travel to various locationswithin England whenrequired.

Please see the Job Description for the full list of accountabilities and requirements.

Contact:David Simpson on or email us atquoting reference 12515.

Closing Date: Wednesday 4th February 2026.

Interviews will be 18^th February 2026.

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for thisrole.

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Job Description

See below for further information about working with us:

Action for Children Employee Benefits

AfC Commitment Statement

Management Competency Framework