About this role
Job summary Senior Leader: Partnerships and Quality Assurance
Join Oxfordshire County Music Service at an exciting moment in its development as the new Hub Lead Organisation for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub.
As Senior Leader: Partnerships and Quality Assurance, you will play a key role in delivering the strategic vision of the Music Hub, helping to ensure children and young people have access to high-quality, inclusive and inspiring musical opportunities. Working closely with the Head of Music Service, you will build and strengthen partnerships with schools, cultural organisations and key stakeholders while driving continuous improvement across hub programmes and services.
You will lead on partnership development, quality assurance and performance monitoring, using data and stakeholder feedback to evaluate impact, support improvement and ensure delivery aligns with Arts Council England expectations. The role also includes contributing to strategic planning, governance, programme development and school engagement activity across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
As a member of the senior leadership team, you will support organisational development, lead and develop staff, manage performance and help deliver innovative projects that increase the reach and impact of music education. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced educational leader who is passionate about partnership working, quality improvement and transforming opportunities for children and young people through music.
Main duties of the job As Senior Leader: Partnerships and Quality Assurance, you will lead partnership development, quality assurance and performance improvement activities across the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub. Working with schools, cultural organisations and strategic partners, you will help ensure high-quality music education opportunities are accessible, inclusive and impactful for children and young people.
About us Oxfordshire County Music Service is dedicated to ensuring every child and young person has access to high-quality music education and the life-changing opportunities that music can provide. As the new Hub Lead Organisation for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub, funded by Arts Council England, the service is entering an exciting period of growth, innovation and regional collaboration.
Working in partnership with schools, cultural organisations, music educators and community providers, the Music Service is committed to widening participation, improving inclusion and delivering inspiring musical experiences for children and young people across both counties. This is an opportunity to be part of a service that is shaping the future of music education while creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of musicians, performers and learners.
Job description Job responsibilities
About UsAt Oxfordshire County Music Service, we believe that every child and young person deserves the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits of music. From September, we will become the Hub Lead Organisation for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub, funded by Arts Council England, creating a unique opportunity to shape the future of music education across two counties.
This is an exciting time to join our leadership team. As we embark on this new chapter, we are looking for a passionate and experienced leader who shares our ambition to ensure that children and young people have access to high-quality, inclusive and inspiring musical opportunities. If you are motivated by partnership working, educational excellence and making a lasting difference, we'd love to hear from you.
About the RoleAs Senior Leader: Partnerships and Quality Assurance, you will play a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Music Hub. Working closely with the Head of Music Service, you will help turn strategic ambitions into meaningful outcomes for children and young people, ensuring that our programmes remain ambitious, impactful and responsive to the needs of schools and communities. This is a highly collaborative role where relationships matter. You will lead on building and strengthening partnerships with schools, cultural organisations and key stakeholders across the region, fostering a shared commitment to high-quality music education. Alongside this, you will oversee quality assurance and performance management activities, helping partners and teams continuously improve and ensuring we meet the expectations of Arts Council England and other stakeholders.
You will contribute to strategic planning and governance, monitor programme performance, support school engagement and drive forward innovative projects that enhance the reach and impact of the Music Hub. The role also includes line management responsibilities, with a focus on developing, supporting and empowering staff to thrive. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will occasionally deputise for the Head of Music Service and help lead the service through a period of growth and opportunity.
This is a fixed-term position for 12 months, with the potential for extension subject to future funding and service requirements.
About YouYou will be an experienced and inspiring leader with a strong background in music education or a related sector, holding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people through music.You will bring significant experience of developing partnerships across organisations and have the confidence to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, from school leaders and educators to strategic partners and funding bodies. You will understand the importance of quality assurance, performance monitoring and continuous improvement, using data and insight to drive decision-making and deliver excellent outcomes.We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable thinking strategically and delivering operationally. You will have experience of leading teams, managing performance and supporting colleagues through change, while maintaining a collaborative and inclusive leadership style. You will be driven by a desire to make a difference and excited by the opportunity to help shape a major new chapter in music education across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Experience of working within a Music Hub, a grant-funded programme or a changing organisational environment would be advantageous, as would knowledge of the current education landscape and school systems.If you are ready to influence the future of music education and help create opportunities that inspire the next generation of musicians, performers and learners, we would love to hear from you.
Rewards and benefits
As part of our team, you'll benefit from:
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements. Local Government Pension Scheme. Generous annual leave entitlement. Access to employee wellbeing and benefits schemes. Ongoing professional development opportunities. The opportunity to help shape music education across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.Ready to make a difference? Apply now and help us create outstanding musical opportunities for children and young people.
Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If thisis applicableto you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.
Ourcommitment to: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.
Our commitment to:Guaranteed Interview Schemes
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.
Our commitment to:Safeguarding
Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.
Our commitment to:Flexible Working
We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.
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Person Specification
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Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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Employer details Employer name Oxfordshire County Council
Address
Oxford
OX3 9FF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)