Senior Education Officer - Numeracy and Mathematics

Overview

Education Scotland is the national improvement agency for Scottish education and an executive agency of the Scottish Government. Our role is to promote improvement through inspection and review, innovation and change, from the early years to adult learning and to provide support and challenge to the education system. We are committed to embedding our values of excellence, creativity, integrity and respect in everything we do.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for a Senior Education Officer for Numeracy and Mathematics. Within the context of improving outcomes for children and young people, through a relentless focus on excellence and equity, you will be responsible for leading curriculum development and promoting effective learning, teaching and assessment within the specific curriculum areas of numeracy and mathematics.

You will be a joining the recently formed Learning, Teaching and Assessment team, working in collaboration with other Education Scotland teams and with a wide range of international, national and school partners. You will be leading on taking forward relevant recommendations from recent reviews as part of the process of education reform.

Benefits:

- Flexible working and currently within a hybrid model, providing excellent work-life balance

- Competitive salary ranges

- Minimum 5 weeks annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service in addition to 11.5 public and privilege holidays

- Learning and development opportunities as well as career progression

- Civil Service pension

- Workplace adjustments as required to enable individuals to work safely and comfortably within their role

- Range of health and wellbeing support available to all staff

Responsibilities

• Maintain a high level of awareness of current and developing policy and practice in specific aspects of educational excellence and equity as well as Numeracy, Mathematics and Financial Education. Engage in appropriate professional learning and development to build professional knowledge and expertise.

• Take account of equality and diversity in all aspects of work, model good practice in challenging discrimination and promoting equality to encourage positive outcomes across all education aspects and services.

• Lead and manage key developments and initiatives, within the framework of national policy and guidance, that empowers leaders and practitioners to make full use of the flexibility provided by CfE to meet the needs of their pupils. Strive to secure continuous improvement in learning, teaching, assessment within numeracy and mathematics and implement relevant aspect of educational reform.

• Provide leadership and direction in the development and delivery of on-going support, professional learning and capacity building which meets identified needs and priorities of targeted groups and stakeholders.

• Lead, manage and direct the work of Education Officers within a curriculum area, cross-cutting theme, or aspect of educational provision or practice ensuring effective delivery of guidance, advice and support activities. Striving to secure continuous improvement in learning, teaching, assessment and learner outcomes within a specific curriculum area and/or key aspects of education.

• Oversee the quality assurance of all work within numeracy and mathematics, monitoring and reporting on work undertaken and its impact, to ensure improving standards.

• Work in collaborative partnership with local authorities, stakeholder groups and national bodies and agencies to identify and share good practice and prioritise areas in need of support for improvement.

• Provide expert knowledge, strategic support and advice within a specified curriculum area and/or key aspects of learning, teaching and assessment to external stakeholders e.g. senior staff in local authorities, headteachers and a wide range of other leaders in national bodies, business and industry to influence and persuade key stakeholders on the direction and support.

• Contribute to providing professional, comprehensive and informed advice and guidance to Scottish Government policy colleagues and Scottish Ministers to inform the development of policy in specific areas of education provision. Work in collaborative partnership with local authorities, stakeholder groups and national bodies and agencies to identify and share good practice and prioritise areas in need of support for improvement.

• Provide advice and guidance which is evidence based, analysing data and intelligence to produce information and reports which are high quality and inform current and future education provision and practice.

Key Competencies

- People Management

- Leading Others

- Communications and Engagement

- Analysis and Use of Evidence

- Improving Performance

Essential Criteria & Qualifications

Qualifications

A relevant degree or equivalent qualification and have a registered GTCS membership or equivalent.

Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application with be automatically sifted out.

If you have any questions on qualifications please contact Andy Creamer at andrew.creamer@educationscotland.gov.scot.

Essential Criteria

1. Strong understanding of emerging international, national and local developments in all aspects of education provision e.g. teaching and inclusion.

2. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with a proven track record of building and maintaining successful relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

3. Strong leadership and management skills with experience of successfully promoting the leadership and career-long professional learning of teams to improve learning, teaching and assessment.

4. Track record in successfully leading and delivering significant projects within the education sector that have proven impact on outcomes for learners. A registered GTCS membership or equivalent is required for this post.

Interview and Assessment.

Dates to be confirmed

Location

The Job can be based in any of Education Scotland offices.

The post is hybrid working and attracts various work pattern in line with current Scottish Government policies.

Minimum time in post.

You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade. 

In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.

You must discuss your intention to apply with your current line manager to help ensure release dates can be agreed.

The closing date for applications is 29th May 2023 at 23.55 PM

HOW TO APPLY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

To apply please submit the following using our online application process: -

• A CV (no longer than two A4 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, with particular reference to the essential criteria
• A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining why you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria

We are unable to progress applications which fail to provide clear evidence of meeting the essential criteria in their CV and Personal Statement.

For information on this post please contact the hiring managers by email at contact Andy Creamer at andrew.creamer@educationscotland.gov.scot

The Scottish Government is a diverse and inclusive workplace and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot

As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.

Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.