Location
Sutton

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£50,568 per annum

About the Role
Supporting our academies and college, Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT) also operates learning support services such as nursing and therapy, alongside a central business team including HR, finance, and IT. We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Head of Development to join our senior leadership team. This pivotal role will drive our growth agenda, ensuring new opportunities are identified, developed, and delivered to support the continued success and impact of OHC&AT.

Key responsibilities include:
- Researching and identifying opportunities for growth, including expansion of existing provisions, acquiring schools and college centres, and developing new service models
- Leading feasibility assessments and developing strategic business cases for agreed projects
- Leading statutory consultations and Equality Impact Assessments as required
- Leading submissions of bids and proposals to external partners and agencies
- Undertaking due diligence for new schools and college centres joining OHC&AT
- Managing the integration process for new schools and college centres
- Overseeing all aspects of development projects including planning, budgets, timelines, risk management, and reporting
- Monitoring progress of development projects, managing risks, and resolving issues to ensure successful completion at the development stage

Working together to transform lives is at the heart of what we do. Across the organisation, we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Rewards & Benefits
- Comprehensive training and development
- Opportunities to engage with internal professional networks
- Access to counselling advice and support via Health Assured (employee assistance programme)
- Commitment to wellbeing supported by occupational health service and mental-health first aiders
- Scope for career progression across nine college centres, 13 academy schools, and Central Teams
- Generous annual leave and flexible working schemes in addition to bank and public holidays and a Christmas closure period
- Enrollment into the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) with life cover and financial protection for your family
- Enhanced parental leave schemes
- Cycle to work scheme
- Season ticket loans
- Employee referral scheme
- Discounted gym membership subscription including digital fitness
- Home electronics scheme

Experience
- Significant experience in a strategic development or programme leadership role within education or a related public sector environment
- Demonstrable experience managing successful expansions, acquisitions, or capital projects
- Proven project and programme management expertise with a track record of delivering complex initiatives on time and to budget

About you
- Strategic and forward-thinking mindset
- Strong communication skills with the ability to write clear and persuasive business cases and proposals
- A strong personal commitment to inclusive education and improving outcomes for children and young people with special needs

Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent