The troubled Department of Education is on the hunt for a new chief executive. He or she will be paid between £110,347 and £121,227 per year.

It is advertising for an ’inspirational leader with outstanding communications skills’, capable of overseeing a period of transformation for the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC).

With a budget of £115m, the DESC is responsible for 32 primary schools, five secondary schools, University College IoM, Manx Sport and Recreation service, the Gaiety Theatre and Villa Marina, the Isle of Man Arts Council and the Manx Youth Service.

Last year, an independent report conducted by Beamans Management Consultants, found that the DESC’s relationship with teachers was ’fractured’ and that ’teachers felt disengaged and demotivated by lack of consultation on development of educational policies’.

It also recommended establishing a Manx education board to manage the delivery of education, separate from policy and inspection.

Education, Sport and Culture Minister Dr Alex Allinson said: ’It’s possibly the most important part of being a chief executive officer to work collaboratively with all staff within the DHSC.

’After the Beamans’ report, we had a change in the management of the department and we had a different team come in for six months and that runs up until the end of March. I think we’ve seen major changes in terms of the way we’re working with headteachers and other school staff.

’But that needs to be consolidated by a chief executive with the right skills to inspire, communicate and collaborate with staff so that we can really drive the education department forward.’ Dr Allinson said that the acting chief executive, Graham Kinrade, has been doing a great job.

He said: ’What Graham and his team have been doing is going out to see teachers, going out to UCM and listening to their concerns so that we can have that two-way conversation - which was invaluable over the lockdown because we were able to have weekly meetings and making sure that the hub schools worked. I’m grateful to Graham and his team for starting a process of change to reassure teachers that they are being listened to.

’I want the best person for this job,’ he added. Closing date is February 24.