Service Manager - Education

The role

Service Manager – Education

  • Salary: £63, 904 - £69,823
  • Location: Huyton, Merseyside
  • Permanent

Champion inclusion. Strengthen education services. Make a difference for every child.

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership role within Knowsley’s Children’s Services. As Service Manager - Education, you will lead key statutory and strategic education functions, including admissions, attendance, governor support and school sufficiency, ensuring that children and young people have access to high-quality educational opportunities. Working as part of the senior management team, you will drive service improvement, lead performance management, oversee resources and budgets, and work collaboratively with schools, partners and stakeholders to deliver positive outcomes for children and families. You will also play a strategic role in shaping education policy, developing system-wide attendance strategies and supporting inspection readiness across education, health and care services.

An adult smiles while helping a young child with schoolwork during a small group learning session.

About You

You will be an experienced and inspirational leader with a strong understanding of the education landscape and the challenges facing children, young people and families. You will have a proven track record of leading and improving services, managing complex priorities and building productive relationships with schools, governors, multi-agency partners and elected members. A skilled communicator and problem solver, you will be comfortable using performance information to drive improvement, managing budgets and resources effectively, and leading teams through change. Above all, you will be committed to inclusion, high standards and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and achieve their potential.

Why Knowsley?

At Knowsley, we are ambitious for our children, young people and communities. We are committed to delivering excellent education services, promoting inclusion and ensuring that every child receives the support they need to succeed. We work closely with schools, families and partners through our "Knowsley Better Together" approach, creating a culture built on integrity, accountability, communication and respect. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation where you will have the chance to influence strategic priorities, shape services and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people across the borough.

Assisting young student

Interested?

For further information and details on how to apply, please explore the candidate information via the links on this site.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact:

Chris Price

Director (Education and Inclusion)

Telephone: 0151 443 5655

Email: Chris.price@knowsley.gov.uk

Or

Karen Austin-Smith

Head of Education

Telephone: 0151 443 2256

Email: Karen.Austin-Smith@knowsley.gov.uk 

Recruitment Timeline - Key Dates

  • Closing date: 1 December 2026
  • Interviews: 18 December 2026

Supporting information

Our Offer

Our workplace offer

Knowsley Council offers a competitive salary and generous benefits package within flexible working arrangements.

Find all our employee benefits below. 

Financial

  • Competitive salary, which rises annually to the next increment of our pay scale for most roles
  • Annual Pay Awards which are negotiated nationally and apply to all employees
  • Financial well-being offers and support, including affordable borrowing
  • 24-hour financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
  • Car mileage payments
  • Free car parking
  • Access to a salary sacrifice scheme to lease hybrid and electric vehicles
  • A home goods and electricals salary sacrifice scheme
  • Transparent pay structures so you are paid fairly in line with peers and know what you will be paid as you develop your career with the council

Development

  • Engaging comprehensive induction programme
  • Fully embedded apprenticeship and graduate development programmes with tailored support and development
  • Collaborative working with educational establishments to support development initiatives and opportunities
  • Levy funded vocational and degree level qualifications available
  • Full programme of CPD for work-based learning and development opportunities
  • A wide variety of roles, helping you to try different careers and apply your skills in new areas
  • Opportunities for getting involved in innovative projects and initiatives to support continuous improvement
  • Strong culture of employee engagement as well as reward and recognition – supporting you to be the best you can be

Pensions

  • Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.  Unlike many private sector pensions which are defined contribution (DC), LGPS is a defined benefit (DB) scheme. This means:
    • Pension is based on salary and length of service.
    • Provides a guaranteed income for life after retirement.
    • Less risk for the employee compared to DC schemes.

Whereas most DC schemes are based on performance of market investments.

  • LGPS pensions are inflation-protected, increasing annually in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), helping maintain purchasing power over time.
  • The council will typically contribute 9.3% towards your pension, compared to lower contributions in many DC schemes.
  • The scheme includes ill health and death benefits which includes immediate access to your pension if you are retired early due to ill health and a lump sum death benefit of 3 times your salary as a lump sum and survivors pensions for dependents.
  • Members of the pension scheme can also opt for early retirement from 55 (with reductions to pension benefits).
  • You can find out more about our pensions at Merseyside Pension Fund (mpfmembers.org.uk)
  • Ways to top up your pension benefits, including shared cost salary sacrifice, meaning more savings on National Insurance and Income Tax and the option to voluntarily make additional pension contributions.

Wellbeing

  • 36 hour full-time working week
  • Generous annual leave entitlement with an additional two concessionary days over the festive period plus public holidays. Entitlement varies depending on grade, illustrated below, in addition to public holidays.

Entitlements below are based on full-time hours and will be pro rata for part-time employees.

Grade (Days) Basic Leave Continuous Service (Days) After 3 Years Continuous Service (Days) After 5 Years Continuous Service (Days) After 10 Years (Days)
Grade A-E 23 24 28 29
Grade F-G 24 25 28 30
Grade H-L 26 27 29 32
Grade M-Q and PMG 1-2 28 29 31 34
PMG 3-5 and Directors 30 31 33 36
  • Option to buy additional annual leave
  • Flexible working
  • Hybrid working in many roles
  • Active travel support with a cycle-to-work scheme
  • 24-hour health and wellbeing support with access to qualified counsellors and practitioners
  • Occupational health services
  • Workplace adjustments
  • Access to a wide range of wellbeing support material including lifestyle assessments and recommendations, information about different health and wellbeing subjects and healthy eating recipes.
  • Free flu jab
  • Free eye tests for DSE users
  • Access to a range of health programmes, such as weight management and smoking cessation sessions
  • The council has strong Trade Union representation through Unison, GMB and Unite and you will have the option to join.

Discounts

  • A range of lifestyle savings and discounts available to all employees, including high street retailers, dining out, cinema, holidays, days out, health and fitness and beauty
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Access to reduced-cost travel passes
  • Discounts available through mobile phone providers
  • All local authority employees are eligible for Costco membership

Family and Carers support

  • Maternity Leave
  • Paternity leave
  • Shared parental leave
  • Unpaid emergency leave support
  • Family-friendly policies supporting fostering, fertility treatment, fostering, adoption and caring responsibilities
  • Carers passports to make sure you’re supported to manage caring responsibilities alongside work
  • Menopause policy, passport, and support

Employee Networks

  • The Changies offers a safe, informal space for men to connect and support each other.
  • The Carer’s Forum offers support to employees with caring responsibilities.
  • The Disability Workers’ Group advocates for disabled employees and helps shape inclusive policies.
  • The LGBTQ+ Forum supports LGBTQ+ staff, promotes visibility, and influences inclusive change.
  • The Multi Faith and Belief Workers’ Group raises awareness of diverse beliefs to reduce discrimination and improve service delivery.
  • The Neuro Diversity Network offers  a place for employees who are neuro diverse to come together and support each other.
  • The United in Diversity Network challenges discrimination and promotes cultural diversity and race equality.
  • The Women’s Operational Workers’ Network focuses on sex equality in employment and policy development and runs Menopause Café’s.
  • The Youth Employee Network empowers young staff to share experiences, develop skills, and influence workplace culture.

The employee networks work together on joint projects across the organisation.

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