Skills for Jobs Development Lead, SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL Full Time NEW

We are excited to be hiring a new Skills for Jobs Development Lead to play a key role in discharging adult education functions and funding devolved from the UK Govt to Surrey County Council.

The contractual base will be Woodhatch Place, Reigate. The role is hybrid with at least one day in Woodhatch (usually Tuesday), combined with regular attendance at meetings, workshops and events across the county, which may require travel across the county.

Our Offer to You:

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years’ service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About The Team

This post sits within the Council’s Economy & Growth service and plays a key role in driving inclusive and sustainable growth in line with Surrey’s wider economic ambitions. The service works across the organisation as One Council to deliver strategic priorities that grow the economy while ensuring no one is left behind.

We provide strategic services spanning business support, innovation, skills and employment, working with partners and major employers to champion and future‑proof the county’s economy. Surrey is home to 110,000 businesses, supports 1.2 million residents and contributes £50bn annually to the UK economy.

Working closely with employers, providers and partners, the team delivers the Council’s devolved adult education functions, aligning skills provision with pathways into work and empowering residents to achieve sustainable employment.

Make a real difference to people living, learning and working in Surrey

Surrey County Council is committed to ensuring residents can access the skills they need to enter, progress in and sustain meaningful employment, while employers can access the workforce they need. Through devolved adult education funding, Surrey is shaping skills and employment support around local needs to drive economic growth for all.

About The Role

This is a highly visible role with significant interest from senior political leaders, local partners and wider stakeholders. Working in the Council’s Economy & Growth team, you will be responsible for driving innovation, collaboration and systemic change in Surrey’s skills ecosystem; developing a resilient and responsive local skills market with clear pathways and pipelines; and co-designing skills provision to ensure Surrey’s residents and employers can benefit from high quality and inclusive training opportunities.

The Skills for Jobs Development Lead will be expected to work horizontally across Economy & Growth and other Council services, contributing to the team’s collectively owned outcomes and helping integrate change into complementary employment and business support programmes.

Key responsibilities and outcomes:

• Lead the development and delivery of a countywide Skills for Jobs strategy, driving system change and informing commissioning.
• Shape a responsive skills market by strengthening provider capacity, aligning provision with employer demand, and targeting priority sectors and gaps.
• Build and sustain senior employer and stakeholder partnerships to co-design skills provision and unlock co‑funding opportunities.
• Embed best practice, insight and performance management across programmes, ensuring measurable improvements for residents and employers.
• Enable joined-up working across partners and internal teams, contributing to wider Economy & Growth initiatives and overall programme success.

Your application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and experience and align with our behaviours:

• Senior experience in skills, employability or economic development.
• Proven ability to develop and deliver strategy in complex partnership settings.
• Experience of leading change, including co‑design with employers and providers.
• Strong stakeholder influence and partnership‑building skills.
• Excellent analytical, communication and problem‑solving capability.

To apply, please submit your CV and outline your experience and suitability for the role by responding to the following questions (no more than 400 words for each):

• Describe your experience of leading or contributing to the transformation of a skills or employability system. What was your role, what changed as a result and how did you sustain long‑term impact?
• Provide examples (up to three) of how you have worked with employers and skills providers to ensure local provision met employers’ needs. How did you ensure employer input translated into real changes in delivery and outcomes?

This advert will close at 23:59 on Sunday 17th May 2026, with interviews currently scheduled to take place on Monday 1st June.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we are committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.