Education Enrichment and Childcare Lead

Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Salary: PO4 £49,056 - £52,194

Contract Type: Full-time/Permanent

Working hours per week: 36

Application Deadline: 17th September 2026

Proposed Interview Date(s): W/C 28th September 2026

Reference: 2287

About Us:

Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work.

We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.

London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.

The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email [email protected] so we can arrange an alternative application method.

About the role:

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Education Operations Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality education, early years, childcare and enrichment services across Waltham Forest.

Reporting to the Education Operations Manager, you will lead on a diverse portfolio of operational, performance and commissioning responsibilities that support the Council's statutory duties relating to childcare sufficiency, free early education entitlement, and enrichment opportunities for children and young people. You will work collaboratively with schools, childcare providers, internal services and external partners to ensure high-quality provision, strong business performance and positive outcomes for families.

The role involves overseeing grant-funded programmes, monitoring provider compliance, developing business processes, analysing performance data, and driving service improvement. You will also provide expert advice and support to providers, helping to ensure they remain sustainable, compliant and responsive to the needs of local communities.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and operational leader who enjoys working across partnerships, using data to inform decision-making, managing complex projects and translating policy into effective service delivery. You will play a key role in ensuring children and families have access to high-quality childcare, early education and enrichment opportunities that support learning, development and wellbeing.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, have strong operational management experience, and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, we would love to hear from you

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