Location: London (Hybrid)
Salary: £85,000 – £96,000 + benefits
Contract: FTC until August 2026
About the Organisation:
We are a large, forward-thinking education group with a strong social mission, focused on delivering high-quality, skills-based learning and driving economic and social impact.
With a diverse network of institutions, partners, and stakeholders, we are committed to reducing inequalities, creating opportunity, and supporting learners into meaningful careers.
The Opportunity:
This is a high-impact leadership role working directly with the CEO and Executive team to drive delivery of a major organisational strategy.
You will lead the coordination and execution of a complex portfolio of strategic initiatives, spanning people, process, technology, and partnerships, ensuring successful implementation at scale.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, transformation-led environment and is comfortable operating at executive level.
Key Responsibilities:
– Lead the end-to-end coordination of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment to organisational priorities
– Establish and embed portfolio management frameworks, including prioritisation, governance, and reporting
– Drive best practice in programme and project delivery, ensuring consistent execution across initiatives
– Develop and maintain strategic roadmaps, identifying dependencies, risks, and delivery milestones
– Partner with Finance and Executive leadership to ensure alignment between strategy, planning, and investment
– Provide insightful reporting and data-led performance tracking to senior stakeholders
– Identify risks and issues early, ensuring timely escalation and resolution
– Lead or support CEO-sponsored strategic projects as required
– Represent senior leadership in external engagements with sector bodies, partners, and stakeholders
– Build and lead high-performing teams, developing capability across change and delivery functions
– Foster a culture of continuous improvement and organisational learning
About You
You will bring a blend of strategic leadership, delivery expertise, and stakeholder influence, with the ability to operate across complex environments.
Essential:
– Strong experience delivering large-scale transformation and change programmes
– Higher Education experience is a MUST
– Expertise in portfolio, programme, and project management (P3M)
– Proven ability to work with C-suite / executive leadership to drive strategy execution
– Experience managing multiple, complex initiatives simultaneously
– Strong understanding of technology-enabled change and transformation
– Excellent communication, facilitation, and influencing skills
– Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
– Collaborative leadership style with the confidence to challenge constructively
Highly Desirable:
– Knowledge of post-16 education systems (FE/HE/apprenticeships)
– Background in business development, partnerships, or fundraising
– Relevant qualifications (e.g. MBA, Agile, PRINCE2, MSP, or equivalent)
What’s on Offer
Senior leadership role with direct exposure to executive decision-making
Opportunity to shape and deliver a major strategic transformation agenda
Hybrid working (typically ~40% remote)
Strong pension and benefits package
Flexible working options (including compressed hours / job share considered)
…