Manager (Professional Development)

You’ll play a key role in delivering ASCL’s mission:\n\n“Speaking on behalf of members. Acting on behalf of children and young people.”\n\nWho We’re Looking For\n\nWe’re seeking a confident and strategic leader who combines commercial awareness with a passion for education and professional learning.\n\nYou will bring:\n\n * Proven experience leading and developing professional development services or similar commercial offers\n\n * Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire high-performing teams\n\n * Financial acumen and experience managing budgets and growth strategies\n\n * Excellent communication and influencing skills\n\n * Strong analytical capability, using data and insight to inform decisions\n\n * A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams and stakeholders\n\n * A commitment to delivering exceptional service and continuous improvement\n\nExperience of the education sector or working with boards or trustees is highly desirable.\n\nWhat You’ll Be Doing\n\nStrategic leadership\n\n * Develop and deliver a clear growth strategy, including mission, vision, KPIs and commercial objectives\n\n * Ensure ASCL PD strengthens and complements the wider ASCL offer\n\nBusiness and financial management\n\n * Lead budget planning and oversight, ensuring sustainability and growth\n\n * Monitor performance through data, reporting and KPIs to inform strategic decisions\n\nProgramme development and delivery\n\n * Expand and innovate PD products and services\n\n * Oversee delivery of flagship events, including ASCL’s annual conference and leadership programmes\n\nLeadership and team management\n\n * Lead, motivate and develop a diverse team of specialists\n\n * Manage a network of trainers and consultants\n\n * Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture\n\nPartnership and collaboration\n\n * Work cross-functionally to deliver a compelling and differentiated offer\n\n * Engage with marketing, policy and commercial teams to maximise impact and reach\n\nPerformance and continuous improvement\n\n * Evaluate programme impact and refine services based on feedback and insight\n\n * Drive efficiency, quality and innovation across all activity\n\nWhat We Offer\n\nASCL is an equal opportunities employer and offers a very generous package of benefits including\n\n * Flexible working: Flexible working from home with at least two days office based in Leicester.\n\n * Generous leave: 33 days annual leave + bank holidays\n\n * Pension: 9% employer contribution\n\n * Professional development: Ongoing training and peer support\n\n * Expenses covered: Travel, home-working allowance, and equipment provided\n\n * Inclusive culture: We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.\n\nWe encourage applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.\n\nFor this hybrid role the post-holder ideally would live within one hour of ASCL HQ. with a combination of working from home and being in-person at our Leicester HQ at least two days per week and travel across the UK as required.

IT and telephone equipment will be provided.\n\nIf you’re ready to lead a service that makes a real difference to education leaders and organisations across the UK, we would love to hear from you.\n\nINTERESTED?\n\nThe closing date for application is 4pm on Monday 15 June 2026.\n\nInterviews will be held in-person, at ASCL HQ in Leicester on Monday 22 June 2026.\n\nStart date: Tuesday 1 September 2026 but dependent on individual circumstances