Director

Our vision is that all children and young people with autism receive an education that enables them to fulfil their aspirations – is yours?

One in 100 people are autistic. Education is key to enabling children and young people on the autism spectrum and their families to thrive.  The Autism Education Trust (AET) helps children and young people with autism to receive a good education, enabling them to reach their potential.

Our mission is to provide professional development resources and opportunities that support education services and staff in securing positive experiences and outcomes for autistic children and young people.  We are a not for profit programme led by two national autism charities – the National Autistic Society and Ambitious about Autism.

Established 10 years ago and supported and accredited by the Department for Education, the AET promotes and supports partnerships throughout the education system to improve educational access, experience and outcomes for children and young people with autism. Underpinned by current research into good education practice, the AET programme is structured around the three education phases – early years, school and post 16. We currently work with more than 60 local authorities in England.

Our future

Over the past three years we have undergone a strategic review. We have developed a strategy and business model which will enable us to extend our reach, become self-sustaining and take an entrepreneurial approach to developing partnerships, products and services whilst remaining focused on the quality of provision.

We aim to have partners in every local authority in the country and to continue to deliver cutting-edge products and support for education professionals. This is an exciting time for AET and as we implement this strategy we are looking for a leader who can drive our future growth and sustainability while maintaining the quality of the work we do.

The role

As our Director you will lead a small team, and work closely with the AET Chair, Programme Board and partners, to implement our strategy. You will engage, support and manage key partnerships, act as an ambassador for the AET, develop new income streams, and oversee the evaluation and quality assurance of all AET programmes.

The role requires a highly collaborative individual with a track record of success in building and sustaining enduring partnerships and relationships at a senior level.  You will have worked at a strategic level within SEND, either in policy or practice, and ideally within education or training/skills – although we are also open to those whose experience is in health or social care.

We need an entrepreneurial individual with a track record of success in managing complex programmes with ambitious delivery targets, and experience of securing funding and managing budgets. You will have experience of leading and developing high performing teams and have worked effectively with a board or governance committee.  Ideally you will bring experience of developing digital provision. While the AET has infrastructural support from the National Autistic Society, our next Director will need to move seamlessly between the strategic and operational, be self-sufficient, and driven.

We are working with Peridot Partners to recruit this role, and for further information please visit our recruitment microsite: www.peridotportal.co.uk/aet

For a confidential discussion please contact our consultants at Peridot Partners: Emma Harvey on 07702 678653 or emma@peridotpartners.co.uk or Philippa Fabry on 07772 902071 or philippa@peridotpartners.co.uk

Closing date: 9am, Monday 7th January 2019

The role is subject to an enhanced DBS check.