Chair of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body

About the appointment We are seeking an exceptional Chair to lead the new School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) which is expected to be launched in Autumn 2026. School support staff play vital roles in schools, from teaching assistants to technicians and catering staff. The government is establishing the SSSNB to ensure that across England these staff are recognised and rewarded for the work they do. It will also be an important vehicle for the professionalisation of this workforce, advising on training and career progression opportunities for these staff. This is a significant opportunity to help shape, from the outset, a national negotiating body that will recognise, value and strengthen the school support staff workforce – a workforce of around 800,000 people central to delivering inclusive, high-quality education for pupils. As Chair, you will provide independent leadership and facilitate negotiations between employer and employee representatives to reach agreement on fair and sustainable minimum pay, terms and conditions for school support staff in England. You will also oversee the development of recommendations and advice on training and career progression. The role provides the opportunity to shape how the school system supports and develops its support staff through retention and progression. It offers the opportunity to create a meaningful impact on the working lives of school support staff and give them a strong voice on matters that affect them. We are looking for a respected leader with the authority, judgement and skill to navigate complex negotiations and deliver in the public interest. If you have the experience and skills to lead this new negotiating body, setting the tone for effective partnership and trust, and championing the vital work of school support staff, we would like to hear from you. Appointment description Key responsibilities of the chair of the SSSNB: The chair will be responsible for the overall leadership of the SSSNB, which includes overseeing a programme of activity to deliver the SSSNB’s annual remit effectively and to agreed timescales. You will chair meetings of the SSSNB, ensuring all voices are heard, making effective use of the skills and expertise of all members, providing effective challenge where necessary, and allowing the opportunity for all parties to come to agreements to be put to the Secretary of State for ratification. You will be the public face of the body, responsible for representing the SSSNB to the Secretary of State and for communicating key decisions of the body to the Department for Education and the wider community. Organisation description The SSSNB will be a negotiating body comprised of employer and employee representatives who will come together to negotiate on pay and terms and conditions for school support staff in England, and put agreements reached collectively to the Secretary of State for Education for review and ratification. The body will also advise the Secretary of State on training and career progression for school support staff. This is a key part of the government’s Plan to Make Work Pay and will ensure that schools can recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver high-quality, inclusive education Person specification Essential criteria Significant experience as a senior leader in a complex organisation, with the ability to set strategic vision and clear, forward-looking direction, whilst staying adaptable and open-minded. Exceptional communication skills with the ability to quickly earn trust and confidence, as well as courteously encourage debate and challenge, and to facilitate agreement across a wide range of perspectives. Experience of leading a group with diverse skills and experience to reach a well-informed consensus. Desirable criteria Experience of leading an early-stage organisation. Experience managing and leading complex employment negotiations on industrial relations, specifically those with trade unions, with an ability to effectively manage collective decision making, assessing / debating conflicting opinions across a wide range of perspectives and attitudes to form a coherent set of recommendations. Knowledge and understanding of public pay scales, remuneration, performance management, labour market and reward issues and a strong understanding of the policy, financial and operational constraints that impact on remuneration decisions. Experience of working in the education system. Further information about the role, including how to apply, can be found online via the button below. For any questions about the role please contact Tom Riley at: Tom.Riley@education.gov.uk.