Early Years Lead Officer

Proposed Interview Date: Monday 20 July 2026 Closing Date: Sunday 12 July 2026 Contract Type: Permanent Salary: FC8 £43,437.09 - £47,604.34 Working Pattern: 36 hours per week Location: Dunmore Nursery School, Ballingry Purpose and Values of Education Directorate The Education Directorate is committed to Improving Life Chances for All through a wide range of direct services which support our children, young people, families and the wider Fife community. Our approach to improvement is rooted in our core values: Compassion, Ambition, Respect and Equity which reflect the ethos, culture and practice principles of all staff across the directorate. We strive to ensure that our attitudes and behaviour reflect these core values in all our dealings with children, young people, their families, and the wider community in partnership with those who support them. Supporting Statement As part of your application, you must provide us with a Supporting Statement which outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. For more information, check out the How to Apply [https://www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/how-to-apply] section of our Career Site. Without a Supporting Statement, your application will not be progressed. Please upload your Supporting Statement at the section marked ‘upload resumé’. Your Supporting Statement must not be a CV. More information is available on our Career site at www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/supportingstatement [http://www.fife.gov.uk/jobs/supportingstatement]. Please consider and demonstrate the following when completing your Supporting Statement: * Working Together – Please give examples of when you have worked with others to contribute to teamwork and how you influenced those you were working with. * Delivering Results – Please give examples that demonstrate your ability to organise and solve problems to achieve results. * Personal Ownership – Please give examples of situations in which you have used your initiative to make improvements and used your skills to deal with challenges and change. * Customer Focus – Please give examples of when your skills and knowledge have helped improve the learning and development of children. Job Details We are looking for a highly skilled Early Years Practitioner who is passionate about improving life chances for all through a professional commitment to making a difference for all of our children and young people so that they achieve their full potential. As an Early Years Lead Officer in Fife you will provide additional support to those children who need it the most in order to close the attainment gap. A link to the role profile is included below, where you will find more information about the role, with specific reference to essential and desirable criteria for applicants. Qualification, Registration and Skill Requirements * You are required to hold one of the following practitioner level qualifications (or equivalent): HNC Childhood Practice OR SVQ Level 3 Social Services, Children and Young People. * Educated to SCQF level 9, which includes a Degree or equivalent, e.g. BA Childhood Practice or PDA Childhood Practice or a relevant teaching qualification (SCQF level 9) within the first period of registration. * You are also required to be registered with SSSC at manager level within 6 months of taking up employment in this role and must complete the required post registration training and learning (PRTL) over the registration period. * You should have a working knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence, realising the ambition and child development from birth to 5 years. * You are required to have high levels of interpersonal skills and abilities which will enable you to work as a member of a team to ensure positive outcomes for all children and young people in your setting. Before confirming to your appointment, you will be required to obtain Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership through Disclosure Scotland and become a member of the relevant PVG scheme. As this role requires SSSC registration, you will have three months to apply for registration. If appointed, you must start your application as soon as possible so you're registered within the required six months. If you need to achieve a qualification to maintain your SSSC membership, information will be provided if you are appointed. You must ensure you complete the qualification within the specified timeframe. More details are included in the role profile. Further Information * Role Profile - When preparing your supporting statement, review the role profile and think about how you meet the essential criteria Role Profile [https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/file/0017/40454/Early-Years-Lead-Officer-A4320.pdf] * How We Work Matters - Our employees are expected to display and promote certain behaviours in the workplace. See our How We Work Matters [https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/file/0014/40127/OD12-How-We-Work-Matters-Framework-2.pdf] behaviour framework for more information. * Employee Benefits - Employees have access to a benefits package that offers discounts on a wide range of products and services. * Directorate Information - Council Department information [https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/council-and-democracy/council-departments#xd_co_f=MzBlNmFkMDAtYzRiZi00OTgyLWI3MjUtM2MxZWU1OWIwODQx~] * Social Media - Search for more 'Fife Council Jobs' on Facebook or follow us on X @FCJobsOfficial. * Alternative Formats - Job information can be made available in alternative formats, to make a request please e-mail transactions.recruitment@fife.gov.uk [transactions.recruitment@fife.gov.uk]. AI - We recognise that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used by many people when they are applying for jobs and preparing for interview. Candidate guidance on the use of AI in the recruitment process is available here [https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/94771/AI-and-Recruitment-Candidate-Guidance.pdf]. For further information please contact: Lorna Hillmansen - lorna.hillmansen@fife.gov.uk [lorna.hillmansen@fife.gov.uk]