Bedford Borough Council are seeking an experienced professional to lead and coordinate the delivery of our post-Ofsted improvement programme for Children’s Services. You will manage complex projects, drive progress against clear milestones, and ensure statutory compliance.

Strong programme and project management skills are essential, along with the ability to analyse data, produce high-quality reports, and present findings to senior leaders and partners.

Educated to degree level (or equivalent), the role requires strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement across multi-agency settings, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

If you have proven experience in managing change and delivering measurable outcomes, we want to hear from you. Experience of successful improvement work within Children's Services or Education is essential.

How to apply

When you are ready to apply, click on ‘Apply for Vacancy’; you will be asked to upload a CV and answer some application questions.  The application questions require a yes/no response.  Please make sure your CV shows how you meet the requirements for the role you are applying for, the job profile below will show the essential selection criteria.  An optional CV template is provided below.  

Closing Date: 18th January 2026

Interviews will be held on the 27th January at Borough Hall, Bedford.

Please note:

The Council will not normally re-employ ex-employees in receipt of:

· a severance payment (within 12 months of leaving)

· a local government pension (applies to Senior Officers only) unless the appointment is business critical

For further information, please email recruitment.team@bedford.gov.uk

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

Bedford Borough Council is proud to be a member of the Armed Forces Covenant and the Care Leavers Covenant, we pledge to interview any eligible job applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job they are applying for.  Bedford Borough Council is also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer and guarantees to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role they are applying for.  

Visa Sponsorship

Bedford Borough Council is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.