Head of Education, Learning and Skills (for Life and Work)

Head of Education, Learning and Skills (for Life and Work)

Published: 27th January 2026

Closes: 10th February 2026

Assessment Centre Interview Date: 17th February 2026

Location: Greenock Road, Bishopton PA7 5PW

Salary: £66,456 - £72,846 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Position Type: Full-time

Hours of work: 37.5 hours

Pattern of work: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Regular SMT Back up On Call out of hours responsibilities via an agreed rota

Are you passionate about helping children and young people thrive and flourish?

Does your track record show your commitment to upholding and promoting their rights?

Do you share our active values of being rights respecting, kind, nurturing, resilient and hopeful?

We are looking for a caring, skilled, creative and experienced education leader who is committed to our vision of being a truly trauma responsive place of safety, where children in our care and the adults who support them can reach their maximum potential, does this sound like you?

The Head of Education, Learning and Skills (for Life and Work) is a new, exciting and challenging role which will complete the Senior Management Team at Good Shepherd Centre (GSC) in preparation for the next stage of our improvement and service development journey, to keep The GSC Promise

You will have a lead role in promoting and upholding the vision and values of the GSC, working in partnership with young people, families, colleagues across the Centre and wider sector, and our Board of Directors (volunteer Trustees), to realise our ambitious plans for change and growth.

GSC offers employees a great benefits package and you will be joining an enthusiastic and dedicated team.

The GSC campus just outside Bishopton offers young people a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment set in fabulous grounds with a garden wildlife trail and outdoor sports facility. On-campus there are three secure care houses, a close support house & two cottages. Children and young people who live with us continue their education in our school, on campus, or attend further education out with the campus.

This is a time of fast paced change, intense challenge and new opportunities for the GSC as we seek to transform children’s experiences of secure care and intensive support and continue to build on our strong reputation for relational practice.

As Head of Education, Learning and Skills (for Life and Work) you will be a key member of the SMT and will have responsibility for leading Education, Learning, and Skills Development Services across the GSC.

You will lead on ensuring that the climate and learning environment for children, young people and the adult workforce at GSC is tailored and responsive to the learning needs, additional support needs, and future goals of young learners, and to the roles and responsibilities of GSC employees and trainees. You will promote a learning culture and opportunities for continual personal and professional growth and development, across the GSC workforce and disciplines.

The successful candidates will have rich and varied experience of delivering education and learning services, and of leading people and organisations through times of challenge and change. Candidates will require to be suitably qualified in a relevant area, with a teaching or further education qualification or an appropriate equivalent.

If you are seriously interested in becoming our Head of Education, Learning and Skills (For Life and Work), please contact the HR Department on hrdepartment@gsc.scot or 01505-864500 who will arrange an informal conversation with Alison Gough, Director.

To apply, please complete our application form on our website by clicking the link above by the closing date above.

Pre-Employment Medical Questionnaires will be undertaken prior to confirmation of employment. All convictions whether spent or unspent must be declared. These posts are regulated work with children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.