Adult Learning and Skills Manager and Principal

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Reading

18/06/2026

Adult Learning and Skills Manager and Principal - New Directions College

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary

£56,730 to £63,472 Per year

Contractual hours

Basis

Full time

Region

Permanent / Full-Time

Job category/type

Adult Services, Culture, Education, Managerial

Date posted

04/06/2026

Job reference

DEN1570

New Directions College is Reading Borough Council’s Adult and Community Education service dedicated to empowering individuals through lifelong learning and skill development.

Under the successful tenure of our current Principal, who is moving on to a promoted role, New Directions College has grown to be a successful, place-based College and a regional lead in skills development and is currently graded Good under Ofsted’s updated

Education Inspection Framework.

This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative and values led leader with a strong track record of delivery to join our ambitious College and develop our adult skills strategy as part of the Berkshire Prosperity Board’s learning, skills and employment workstream. You will be at the heart of the county’s devolution plans for learning, skills and employment and key to delivering the Get Berkshire Working plan.

About the Role

New Directions College provides an inclusive and supportive space where adults can build confidence, develop essential skills and progress into further learning, employment and improved wellbeing. 98% of our learners would recommend us to friends and family.

We adopt a place-based approach to our adult learning offer, drawing on local economic, social and labour market intelligence. This ensures programmes align with local priorities, employer needs and learner aspirations. The College prioritises place-based delivery, progression into work and support for adults furthest from the labour market.

The College continues to focus on stability, financial sustainability and partnership led delivery.

This is an exciting opportunity for a forward-looking leader to build upon strong foundations and realise our ambitious strategic objectives.

About You

This is a pivotal opportunity to drive innovation, quality, and impact across our adult and community education provision.

We are looking for an inspiring and visionary leader who brings:

• Significant senior leadership experience within adult learning, community learning, or further education
• Proven expertise in financial management, including budget oversight and strategic planning
• Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, including working with boards, partners, and community organisations to develop relationships within Reading and the region to deliver education and skills excellence.
• A track record of designing and delivering transformational change
• Experience of operating within quality assurance frameworks that drive improvement
• The ability to work collaboratively across services, sectors, and communities
• Successful track record in leading, motivating, and developing high performing teams, ensuring both performance targets and learner needs are achieved.

You will be a confident communicator and a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and inclusive opportunity. If you have the strategic and operational leadership skills and are politically astute, we would love to hear from you.

As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at New Directions College in south Reading, RG2 8DH
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on the role please contact Donna Pentelow, Director of Culture, Leisure and Skills - ***email_hidden***

Closing date: Thursday 18th June 2026

Interview date: To be confirmed

Interview setup: In person at New Directions College, 330 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 8DH

Adult Learning and Skills Manager and Principal - New Directions College