Shape something new. Change children's lives.

Every child deserves the opportunity to be safe, supported, heard and able to thrive. In East Surrey, we are creating a new council with children, young people and families at its heart, and we are looking for an exceptional leader to help shape that future.

Local government in Surrey is being reshaped for the first time in more than 50 years. From April 2027, East Surrey Council will become a new unitary authority serving around 560,000 residents, bringing together vital local services under one organisation with a budget of up to £700m. This is a rare opportunity to help build a new council from the ground up while leading one of the most important and influential portfolios in local government.

As Executive Director of Children and Education and Statutory Director of Children's Services, you will help shape services, culture and outcomes for children, young people and families for generations to come. You will champion their voices, ensure they are at the centre of decision-making and work alongside families and communities to co-produce services that make a genuine difference to people's lives.

East Surrey is a place of strong communities, distinctive towns and villages, and significant opportunity. With excellent transport connections, internationally recognised businesses, outstanding natural environments and a strong sense of local identity, it offers an exceptional environment in which children and young people can grow, learn and succeed.

Like local authorities across the country, we face significant challenges. Rising demand, increasing complexity of need, growing financial pressures and national policy reform require ambitious leadership and innovative thinking. We are committed to ensuring children receive the right help at the right time, improving outcomes for our most vulnerable children and young people, and reducing inequalities so every child has the opportunity to reach their potential.

As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will play a central role in establishing the new council and shaping its future direction. You will provide strategic and statutory leadership across children's social care, safeguarding, education, SEND, family help, early intervention, corporate parenting, commissioning and quality assurance services.

Your focus will be on creating a high-performing, integrated and prevention-focused system that improves life chances, strengthens inclusion and delivers better outcomes for children, young people and families. You will build strong, trusted partnerships with schools, academy trusts, colleges, health organisations, police, voluntary and community sector partners and wider public services, creating a shared commitment to supporting children and young people to flourish. Working collaboratively with educational leaders, you will help create the conditions in which all children can achieve and succeed.

The successful candidate will hold the statutory responsibilities of the Director of Children's Services and will be responsible for maintaining strong safeguarding arrangements, regulatory confidence and inspection readiness while leading large-scale transformation. You will help establish a new organisational culture that is ambitious for children and young people, rooted in inclusion, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

We are seeking an exceptional executive leader with substantial experience within children's services, education or a related public service environment. You will bring a proven track record of improving outcomes for children and young people, leading complex services at scale, driving transformation and managing significant resources within politically-led and publicly accountable organisations.

You will be collaborative, visible and politically astute, capable of building trusted relationships with elected members, partners, regulators, communities and, most importantly, children, young people and families. You will be an advocate for participation and co-production, ensuring the voices of those who use our services help shape how they are designed and delivered.

Most importantly, you will be inspired by the opportunity to build something new: a modern, ambitious organisation that listens to children, works alongside families and delivers excellent services that improve lives and create opportunities for future generations.

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape a new council and make a lasting difference to the lives of thousands of children, young people and families across East Surrey.

For a confidential discussion, please contact our search partner GatenbySanderson: Camille Revuelta: camille.revuelta@gatenbysanderson.com and Alex Hayes: alex.hayes@gatenbysanderson.com

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Recruitment Timetable

Closing date
23.59 Sunday 8 November 2026

Longlist Meeting
w/c 9 November 2026

Technical Interviews
w/c 16 November 2026

Shortlist Meeting
w/c 23 November 2026

Stakeholder Panel
w/c 30 November 2026

Final Panel Interviews
w/c 30 November 2026

How to Apply

• Please submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement addressing the person specification criteria, evidencing how you meet the criteria.
• Detail any employment or education gaps.
• Be ready to provide the names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees; one should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will be contacted for those proceeding to final stages. We will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
• Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
• Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email confirmation. If you do not receive, please email contactus@gatenbysanderson.com