Head of School Programmes

£58,000 per year

Full-time, 35 hours per week

Permanent contract

Based in London / home and flexible working

Our client empowers people with the skills they need to succeed in life. Together, they're helping people change their stories. You could join them to lead their programmes for primary and secondary schools.

What Youll Be Doing

Our clients school programmes target those from disadvantaged and underserved communities, enabling them to read for pleasure and develop confidence in their reading skills, develop their skills and creativity for writing, and become confident communicators. In this key leadership role, you will be responsible for a substantial proportion of programmes for both primary and secondary school-aged children and young people.

You will provide strategic leadership for programme teams who work with a wide range of partners, including those outside of traditional mainstream education, such as alternative provision settings, sports clubs and other community organisations. You will ensure the programmes are impactful, evidence-based and targeted to need, as well as ensuring their sustainability through your expert relationship management and identification of new partners and business models.

You will also be a compelling and expert advocate for all aspects of our clients work and represent the charity at a senior level.

This role is based in London, but you will be able to work from home if you prefer under their flexible working policy. However, you will need to be in London at least six times per year for team and organisational days, as well as for other partner/funder meetings or events when necessary, and unfortunately, they are unable to cover travel costs for this.

What Our Client Is Looking For

You will be an excellent programme leader, with strategic vision, leadership skills and experience of financial and risk management. You will also be skilled at leading and motivating a team, particularly in a distributed/flexible working environment.

You will need experience of senior stakeholder management and working in or with schools. Being a clear and confident communicator, for a wide range of audiences and levels, is essential. Experience working in or with the charity sector and/or corporate sector, and knowledge of effective approaches to teaching and learning, would be an advantage.

Why our clients work is so vital

Reading and writing change everything.

They give you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. Theyre the key to knowledge, confidence and inspiration. Theyre better results at school and better jobs. If children grow up without the tools to communicate, without books to read or opportunities to write, its harder to get where you want to go.

Our client helps people overcome these challenges and change their life chances through the power of words reading, writing, speaking and listening. From first words, through school days to training, jobs and beyond.

• They work collaboratively in local communities, focusing their work in areas of the UK that are facing the biggest challenges.
• They support schools, developing the most effective tools and techniques and providing resources and programmes to engage and inspire children.
• They campaign to make reading and writing a priority for politicians and decision-makers.
• They support vulnerable adults, people in the criminal justice system and young offenders institutions to build their skills.

What Our Client Offers You

Our clients team are passionate about their mission, and they have a strong and positive working culture, based on shared values and respect. They offer a range of flexible working options and promote a workplace where you can be yourself and contribute to their success, whoever you are.

As well as a competitive salary, they offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 39 days (including bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year), pension contributions of 8% of annual salary, a cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and other health and wellbeing benefits.

Application details

Our clients people are their most important asset, and they value and respect diversity in all its forms (seen and unseen). They particularly welcome applications from those from Black and Asian backgrounds, as well as candidates with disabilities and from the communities in which they work. They would like to increase representation of these groups among their staff as they know greater diversity will lead to an even greater impact for their work.

To apply, please select the apply button shown.

Closing date: 10am, Thursday 1 May 2025.

Please note our client does not accept CVs. No agencies or recruitment sites.