Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Corporate Affairs

Proposed Interview Dates: 18^th and 19^th November 2025

Optimistic - Equity - Kindness - Innovation - Collaboration

Derby College Group (DCG) are recruiting for a Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Corporate Affairs to join our dynamic Leadership Team. This pivotal role, which will lead the strategic development of the organisation, ensuring that DCG has an innovative and challenging strategic plan in place to meet local, economic and civic needs.

If you would like to visit the site and meet the team before applying, please reach out to hrrecruitment@derby-college.ac.uk.

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity to drive transformational change, foster innovation, and strengthen our relationships with learners, staff, employers, and the wider community.  As a key member of the leadership team, you will lead the development and delivery of our strategic vision, champion innovation across the organisation.

Within this role you’ll drive the delivery of DCG’s 2025-28 Corporate Strategy, monitor strategic enactment and impact, communicate progress, develop and oversee the strategic planning policy and processes, provide policy insight, analyse external landscape, positively influence internal and external reputation and lead on innovation/design thinking.

You will play a pivotal role in ensuring our college remains agile, forward-thinking, and responsive to the evolving needs of learners, employers, and the FE sector.

You will partner with the Deputy CEO, CFO, and Head of Curriculum Design to steer annual planning, financial projections, and curriculum business planning. You will also ensure that DCG’s strengths and resources are aligned with corporate strategies.

Please see our Recruitment Pack for more information about DCG and the Job Role and Person Specification here.

About You

You will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record of strategy development and enactment in complex education environments. You will have experience in making data informed decisions with strong data analysis, report writing, critical and creative thinking skills. It is essential that you bring expertise in innovation and have the relevant tools to drive creative thinking and generate valuable ideas and strategies

Please see our Recruitment Pack for more information about DCG and the Job Role and Person Specification here.

The Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• 49 days holiday (inclusive of 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days where these occur)
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with a 19.9% employer contribution
• Discount at our Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ onsite Little Explorers Nursery
• TOTUM discount card (aka NUS/Student Discount Card) / discounted Tastecard
• Discounts on East Midlands Railway Annual Season Tickets
• Microsoft Office for FREE with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage
• Discount on treatments at SENSI our onsite salon at the Roundhouse
• Flint Bishop Solicitors – free will writing, 1-hour free consultation with family department, 10% discount on Conveyancing services
• Continuous development and progression opportunities
• Free eye tests with Specsavers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace which promotes and values diversity. We welcome all talent irrespective of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. We ensure that our policies and procedures treat all applicants consistently and fairly during our recruitment process.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, reasonable adjustments, or about the role, please contact us at hrrecruitment@derby-college.ac.uk.

Safeguarding statement

DCG is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  An online search of the preferred candidate is also completed to help to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which the college may need to explore with the candidate further. Please be advised that it is an offence to apply for this position if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Recruitment Agencies - We have a PSL of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list.

Please see our Recruitment Pack for more information about DCG and the Job Role and Person Specification here. 

Job Description

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