Director of External Relations

Director of External Relations

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 29/04/2024

Salary: £100,000 to £120,000 depending on experience

About the role:

We are looking for an experienced Director of External Relations to promote the work we do at Ark, engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and provide the strategic framework for communications, marketing, public affairs and fundraising across the organisation. Reporting to the CEO and a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director will take overall responsibility for a team of 12 across these areas, reporting regularly to our Board of Trustees.

We are looking for an engaging thought-leader with the strategic ability to make a tangible contribution to the future direction of Ark. Given the breadth of influence and responsibility, the ideal candidate will bring substantial experience in a leadership role within the communications sphere as well as the ability to inspire and motivate a high performing team. You will be a confident communicator with well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to influence at the highest levels. An entrepreneurial spirit, energy and a willingness to roll up your sleeves will be important to the success of this role.

Experience in an educational setting would be an advantage as would an understanding of the challenges affecting education in the UK. Most crucially, you will have a deep affinity for our mission at Ark.

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Hybrid working in our state-of-the-art office in West London
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and Cover Letter on our online recruitment portal at: https://www.execucare.com/jobs/tes/1855

Applications to be submitted by Monday 29th April 2024.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.