About Music on Sea

Music on Sea is the music service that serves the local authority area of Southend on Sea City Council. The area is a seaside city, a unitary authority having separated from Essex. It is small in area but densely populated with wards of high deprivation surrounded by more affluent areas.

About Southend-on-Sea City Council

Southend-on-Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community.  We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the Southend 2050 ambition and make lives better for the people of Southend.  Southend itself is a vibrant place to live and work, offering coastal living alongside excellent and fast transport links into London.

Working for Southend-on-Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovative environment.  As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from regulatory services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, social services, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities.  The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

We seek to be an inclusive service and recognise the value of a workforce that reflects the diversity of our new city. We welcome applications from those from underrepresented groups within our community and from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

An exciting opportunity to join Southend on Sea City Council on a permanent as the Lead for the Music on Sea (Southend on Sea Music Service).

We are looking for someone that will be able to lead for the design, development, management and delivery of Music Services for Southend, Music-on-Sea, working with a wide range of partners, funders, stakeholders and young people. The role will provide effective strategic leadership to continue to embed the successful transition of music services into the centrally coordinated Greater Essex Music Hub (GEMH) for the region. The post holder will line manage one Music Support Officer and up to 50 peripatetic music teachers.  The successful candidate will be the lead for the service to deliver and manage the activities of the Southend Schools’ Music Service, within the context of the National Plan for Music Education.

You will be based at the Civic Centre (at least 2 days per week), agile work in a number of schools or settings across Southend with a willingness to travel privately or by public transport or work from home (as agreed).

If you have any questions, please contact the Senior Advisor on: Julie Hollingsworth@southend.gov.uk . 

Contract: Permanent / Hybrid – 3.5 days per week

(Note: It may be possible for the postholder to undertake additional duties outside of this post (tutor pay related) to equate to 1FTE should this be mutually agreeable.)

Term time only (min 30 weeks per year)

Teachers Terms and Conditions

NB: The advertised salary for this role will be pro rata

Start Date: as soon as possible (or as mutually agreed)

The successful candidate will be a proven enthusiastic music educator who can work flexibly with different key stakeholders, families, schools and children and young people.  Proven leadership and management skills and experience are expected.

You will be enthusiastic and self-motivated with the ability to engage with key stakeholders to communicate a love of music. You will be passionate about ensuring that all children and young people can access high quality music education opportunities to meet and develop their needs. These are exciting times for the city of Southend on Sea with the on-going development of the GEMH for which Southend is a key partner.

Teachers Terms and Conditions

If you're interested in this role, please submit your cv and a supporting statement (maximum two pages) evidencing how you meet the specification.

• Closing date: Monday 5 October 2026 at 12 noon
• Formal interviews: Monday 12 October at the Civic Centre Southend

Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to.

Candidates do not need to notify the service/manager of applications made via the agreed process or to send this information direct - all applications are via Hays please. Any queries about the submission (or any issues with this) process is to Hays direct. 

Music on Sea is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people and expect all staff to share in this commitment. The successful applicant’s appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances including a Disclosure and Barring Service check and references.