Trust Director of Communications & Development

Scale : LTD, £45,859 - £50,130 pa

About Us

The Laurus Trust is seeking to appoint a Director of Communications and Development to provide strategic direction and inspiring leadership as we enter another exciting period in our growth. In September 2023 the Trust will open three new sixth forms and we continue to explore opportunities to partner with other schools. 

This pivotal role, part of the senior Central Services team, will work closely with the Executive Team and be responsible for meeting sixth form student recruitment targets as well as attracting aspiring teachers onto our teacher training programme with Altius Teacher Training. 

All our Laurus Schools are hugely oversubscribed and have a reputation, both locally and further afield, for outstanding teaching and learning through the relentless pursuit of excellence and the determination to ensure that every child succeeds. In the recent Staff Engagement Survey, over 95% of our employees stated that they would recommend working for Laurus Trust to their friends.

This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic thinker with a demonstrable track record in engaging key stakeholder groups, defining and implementing a strategy and monitoring its effectiveness. You will become a key member of the Laurus Trust family, and will play a vital role in maintaining the high standards of the Trust. 

Main Responsibilities   

• Develop a strategic communications plan to support the delivery of the Trust’s key strategic aims to include to Trust’s growth, both in terms of the number of schools and the breadth of the provision we offer.
• Promote the external reputation of the Trust schools locally, regionally and nationally and provide visionary leadership.  
• Provide insight, planning and advice to the Executive team and Heads of Schools.  
• Prepare and manage the annual central marketing budget, championing the principles of value for money.  
• Monitor the effectiveness of the communications and seek continuous improvement.  
• Support the Executive Team in ensuring our schools are the school of choice in the local areas they serve, and Altius is the training provider of choice for aspiring teachers.  
• Be responsible for leading and developing the Marketing and Communications Team with clear roles, responsibilities and objectives that meet the strategic and operational requirements of the Trust and its schools.  
• Develop and enhance our relationships with key partners, including our alumni, political leaders, and those responsible for funding streams.  
• Undertake appropriate market research to identify educational trends, new opportunities and competitor analysis.  
• Support the delivery of key strategic projects, such as consultations and/or areas of work that could have significant reputational impact.  
• Ensure that our externally facing communication channels and platforms are an engaging, on-brand, effective, informative and appropriate window into the Trust, its schools and operations.

Key Skills & Experience   

• Degree educated or equivalent is essential (CIM qualification desirable)  
• Significant experience in a similar role, preferably in the education sector, is essential   
• Demonstrable experience of team leadership, management and development of people   
• Strong commercial acumen: the ability to translate organisational strategy into prioritised marketing plans that deliver clear and measurable outcomes  
• Exceptional stakeholder management experience

Employee Benefits

We offer a wide range of employee benefits to all of our staff in return for their commitment to our schools, and to help contribute towards improving their well-being. These can be found in the Candidate Applicant Pack.

Core Behaviours

At the Laurus Trust, it is not just about what we do but also about how we do it. Our core behaviours detailed below provide guidance on the expectations we have of our staff. It is essential that any employee joining the Trust is able to demonstrate some or all of these behaviours on a regular/daily basis:  

• Adaptable - Open to change, to be flexible  
• Courageous - Willing to speak up, offer ideas, challenge the norm  
• Hard Working - Strong work ethic, prepared to go the extra mile  
• Inclusive - Treat others fairly and equally  
• Engaged - Involved/absorbed in your work, participate at all times  
• Value - Add value to your role, your team and the Trust  
• Enquiring - Have an enquiring mind, curious, improve and find solutions  
• Motivated - Pro-active, wanting to achieve goals, willingness to try, can do attitude  
• Encouraging - Giving/offering support and confidence to others, working together  
• Navigator - Providing guidance, leading when necessary  
• Tenacious - Perseverance, never giving up, whatever it takes

Applying to the Laurus Trust

If you want to work in a highly ambitious and successful school, and have the passion and commitment to join us at an exciting time of continuous progression and growth, then we would like to hear from you. 

For more information about The Laurus Trust, or for further information relating to the role and the School you’re applying to, please download the Candidate Information Pack  or visit https://www.laurustrust.co.uk/

Please note: an application form must be completed as CV’s will not be accepted. To complete an application form please click ‘Quick Apply’.

Disability Confident Committed

The Laurus Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities for all candidates. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we strongly encourage applications from all persons with a known disability, and we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview and given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talents and abilities. 

If you would prefer to request a manual application pack, or should you require any additional support in completing your application, please feel free to contact us on 0161 549 7000 or via e-mail at; recruitment@laurustrust.co.uk  

Closing Date: Wednesday 5th January 2022 at 09:00

Interview Date: TBC

The Laurus Trust and its affiliated schools are committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. It is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across the school. This is in line with statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education and The Education Act 2002, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.