Executive Director
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- Employer:
- UCET
- Location:
- Flexible within the UK, with regular travel to London and across the UK
- Salary:
- Competitive, commensurate with experience
- Closing date:
- 9am, Monday 10th November 2025
- Job Ref:
- GSe123140
Description
The Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) is seeking an outstanding leader to become its next Executive Director. UCET is the collective voice of university-based teacher education in the UK, playing a pivotal role in shaping national policy, supporting members, and promoting high-quality, research-informed teacher education.
As Executive Director, you will drive UCET’s strategic development, ensuring it remains the authoritative voice for university-based teacher education. You will champion the Intellectual Base of Teacher Education (IBTE), influence national policy, support members, and modernise UCET’s operations and governance.
Building relationships across all UK nations and reflecting the diversity of UCET’s membership will be central to your work.
The successful candidate will have a demonstrable track record of influencing national education policy, with significant experience engaging with government departments or equivalent policy bodies. You will be an excellent communicator, able to build relationships with diverse stakeholders across the UK, and have experience managing budgets and staff. A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to promoting high-quality, research-informed teacher education, is essential.
If you are passionate about shaping the future of teacher education and have the vision and experience to lead UCET into its next chapter, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact our recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson: Sophie Hester: sophie.hester@gatenbysanderson.com
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How to Apply
Your application should include:
1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your CV should be no more than 4 pages and clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.
2. Supporting Statement
As part of your supporting statement, please do address the following questions (no more than 3 pages)
- Motivation and Vision
What motivates you to lead UCET at this pivotal time, and why do you believe university-based teacher education is vital to the future of the profession? Please outline your vision for UCET’s role in shaping national policy and supporting its members.
- Strategic Leadership and Policy Impact
Describe a significant strategic initiative you have led that influenced national education policy. What was your approach, who did you engage with, and what measurable impact did your leadership have?
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building
Provide specific examples of how you have built and sustained relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders across the UK education sector. How have these relationships contributed to organisational goals or sector-wide change?