Job Title: Assistant Director of CLF Institute
Actual Annual Salary: £66,919 - £73,819 (L13 to L17 based)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 32.5 hours per week
Additional role info: Working Pattern - Monday to Friday
Provisional Start Date: September 2025
Your opportunity to lead impactful school improvement and shape the future of professional development across our trust
We are looking for an inspirational and experienced leader to join us as Assistant Director of the CLF Institute (School Improvement). This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality professional development and driving sustainable school improvement across our trust and beyond. You will work closely with the Director of the CLF Institute and lead a dynamic team of school improvement professionals, subject experts, and strategic partners.
As part of our commitment to high expectations, equity, and excellence, you will help shape the educational experiences of thousands of students by supporting leaders and teachers to deliver outstanding outcomes. You will also represent the CLF Institute at local, regional, and national levels, contributing to the wider system leadership agenda.
About you:
You will be:
- A qualified teacher with a strong track record of successful senior leadership and school improvement.
- Experienced in leading professional development, curriculum innovation, and change management with measurable impact on outcomes.
- Skilled in analysing data, evaluating impact, and using evidence-based strategies to drive improvement.
- A confident communicator and collaborator, able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Committed to equity, inclusion, and the success of all learners, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- A strategic thinker with excellent organisational skills, resilience, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Passionate about developing others and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
You will also demonstrate:
- A deep understanding of the education landscape, including Ofsted frameworks, government policy, and the role of professional development in school improvement.
- The ability to lead and manage teams, deploy resources effectively, and contribute to trust-wide planning and decision-making.
- A commitment to the values of the CLF: high expectations, equity, success for all, resilience, and tolerance.
Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.
About Cabot Learning Federation Institute:
The Cabot Learning Federation's Institute provides teacher training and professional development for teachers and education staff and support for school improvement across the greater Bristol area.
The Cabot Learning Federation is a mature multi-academy trust in the South West of England which promotes the delivery of excellent educational experiences for our pupils, improving their life chances.
The core purpose of the CLF is at the HEART of all we do. Our vision is simple: we believe that by working together rather than in isolation we can accelerate school improvement and embed excellence in our academies. In doing so, together we can create more opportunities for the lifelong success for our students.
Why CLF?
We are a diverse and inclusive community of 35 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.
We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
What we can offer you:
- Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
- Comprehensive induction and ongoing support for career development and wellbeing.
- Sector-leading professional development entitlement and opportunities.
- Collaboration with colleagues across the trust through subject communities and specialist networks.
- Shared CLF curriculum, written and curated by trust experts, reducing individual teacher workload.
- Career enhancing and progression opportunities within the trust and through the CLF Institute.
- A collaborative culture which supports workload.
- Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
- Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
- A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
- Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking and many more!
Recruitment timeline:
- Closing Date: 29 June 2025 @11.59pm
- Shortlisting: 30 June 2025
- Interviews: Week Commencing 07 July 2025
How to apply:
Please complete a full application form via the Eteach website. As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through the application form.
Please note that there is a requirement for you to attach a supporting letter of no more than 2-pages, outlining your leadership experience to date and how this has prepared yourself for this post and your vision for school improvement at scale. Please ensure this is uploaded under the CV/resume attachment prior to submitting your application and that it is labelled with your name, followed by ‘Supporting Letter – Assistant Director of CLF Institute’. The Supporting Statement section in the application form does not allow anything over an 8,000-character limit, which is why we ask for this to be uploaded as an additional document.
We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.
Skilled Worker visas can be sponsored through this role, where it meets the minimum salary threshold set out by government, based on the hours required. Candidates are advised to check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.
The Cabot Learning Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment.
All successful candidates will undergo a comprehensive pre-employment checking process, including an enhanced DBS check (including a further check against the appropriate barred list), references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, child disqualification, prohibition from teaching/management and online checks. You must also tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.