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Area Director - North East

Salary: c. £60,000 pro-rata and car allowance / 22.5 hours per week (3 days)

Organisation: Association of Colleges

Location: North East England

Closing Date: 24 Nov 2025


An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Association of Colleges (AoC) as an Area Director for the North East region. AoC is the national voice for further education colleges in England, representing almost 95% of the sector and supporting over 2.2 million students every year. As a not-for-profit organisation established by colleges, for colleges, we are committed to transforming lives through education, skills and opportunity.

In this role, the Area Director is our senior representative and primary contact for member colleges across the North East region. This is an influential role, working closely with college Boards, CEOs/principals and senior teams to understand and meet their needs. You will champion and represent colleges with key stakeholders, including devolved authorities, and engage members in AoC’s policy and public affairs work.

We are seeking a strong leader with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, gained from working in a complex stakeholder environment. You will need a deep understanding of colleges and the further education policy and political environment, ideally supported by experience in the FE sector. Strong local knowledge of the region’s social and economic context will also be essential.

We are a values-led organisation with a culture of high performance and commitment. In return for your expertise, we offer a great package of rewards and a flexible working environment based on mutual trust.

If you’re a confident, strategic and collaborative professional looking to make a difference in an influential role, we’d love to hear from you!

At AoC, we value trust, flexibility and professional growth. You’ll join a high-performing, mission-led organisation that offers generous benefits, flexible working, and opportunities to develop your career while making a positive impact on the FE community.

Key Dates to Note:

Closing date for applications is: Monday 24 November 2025

Final interviews to be held at the college: Wednesday 3 December 2025 (held at New College Durham)

Contact Us
Rachel West
Recruitment Manager
Rachel West photo

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Rachel West at rachel.west@aoc.co.uk

Rachel West photo

Register your interest in the Area Director - North East role at AoC