Head of Operational Delivery | Lead National STEM Education Programmes | Maternity Cover

Head of Operational Delivery | Lead National STEM Education Programmes | Maternity Cover

EDT is seeking an exceptional Head of Operational Delivery to lead national student and school engagement activities across the UK during an exciting period of transformation. This is a rare opportunity for a strategic and people-focused leader to take ownership of operational delivery, student recruitment, programme performance and team leadership within a respected education charity. As our Head of Operational Delivery, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring thousands of young people access inspiring STEM experiences that improve social mobility and create pathways into future careers.

Why Join EDT?

At EDT, our values drive everything we do:

• Passionate about creating equitable access to STEM careers.
• Dynamic in our response to a changing world.
• Collaborative with industry, educators and communities.
• Respectful of young people's potential and lived experiences.

As Head of Operational Delivery, you'll help shape the experiences of young people across the UK while leading teams that directly contribute to EDT's mission of inspiring the next generation of talent.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and develop EDT's Operational Delivery Team, ensuring exceptional programme delivery, student engagement and school recruitment nationwide.
• Oversee performance, capacity planning, budgets, KPIs, reporting and operational effectiveness across multiple programmes.
• Develop and implement student recruitment and engagement strategies that drive growth and impact.
• Work closely with senior leaders to improve efficiency, support programme growth and maximise delivery outcomes.
• Champion safeguarding, quality standards, continuous improvement and outstanding learner experiences.
• Build strong relationships with schools, colleges, universities, funders, volunteers, alumni and partners.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for the full responsibilities and person specification.

Who We're Looking For

• Experienced operational leader with a track record of managing teams, programmes and organisational performance.
• Strong background in education, youth engagement, programme delivery, student support or charity operations.
• Experience managing budgets, KPIs, reporting frameworks and operational planning.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities, solve challenges and drive continuous improvement.
• Passion for supporting young people and creating meaningful educational opportunities.
• Outstanding stakeholder management, leadership and communication skills.

What's In It For You?

• Full-time maternity cover contract from 28 September 2026 to 3 August 2027.
• From £36,000 to £49,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Up to 10% employer pension contribution.
• Hybrid and flexible working.
• Opportunity to lead national programmes with significant social impact.

Location

• Hybrid working.
• Office base in any of our regional offices -  Manchester, Birmingham, Welwyn Garden City, Plymouth or Southampton.
• National remit with occasional travel and overnight stays.

Why This Role Stands Out

• This is more than an operational leadership role.
• As Head of Operational Delivery, you'll influence how young people engage with STEM education across the UK.
• As Head of Operational Delivery, you'll lead national recruitment, engagement and delivery strategies that support thousands of students each year.
• As Head of Operational Delivery, you'll work closely with senior leaders to shape the future direction of an ambitious and growing charity.
• As Head of Operational Delivery, you'll have the opportunity to create lasting impact for young people, schools and communities nationwide.

#HeadOfOperationalDelivery #OperationsManager #HeadOfOperations #CharityLeadership #EducationLeadership #ProgrammeManagement #OperationalLeadership #YouthEngagement #StudentEngagement #EducationCharity #STEMEducation #ProgrammeDelivery #CharityJobs #EducationJobs #TeamLeadership #SchoolEngagement #VolunteerManagement #StakeholderManagement #HybridWorking #NonProfitJobs #OperationalExcellence #StrategicLeadership #PeopleLeadership #EducationSector #NationalRole #HeadOfOperationalDeliveryJobs #LearningAndDevelopment #SafeguardingLeadership #CharityCareers #STEMCareers