302 Operational change manager jobs

Head of Growth

Job reference: REQ005617

Salary: £71,677 - £75,000 per annum

Contractual hours: 37.5

Basis: Full Time

Region: London

Apply by 30 September 2026.

United Learning is a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.

Central Office staff work closely with schools, offering a wealth of expertise to underpin schools' own knowledge. Our specialist departments, including HR, finance, technology, strategy and performance, estates, and marketing, work alongside dedicated school improvement teams. By joining us, you will provide ongoing support to schools, ultimately improving the outcomes of our pupils.

United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online check.

We always appoint on merit, and we are open to discussing flexible working options.

Job description

We are seeking a Head of Growth to lead the delivery of United Learning’s continued growth as an organisation, transforming education in more communities and benefiting more children and young people across England.

You will be responsible and accountable for all aspects of growth strategy delivery and for ensuring positive outcomes for new joining schools (pupils, staff, parents and wider communities) and for the organisation as a whole. You will work with a team of specialist colleagues across United Learning’s central teams – school improvement, finance, HR, technology – to ensure that robust plans are in place throughout the process, ensuring that each school has the support it needs to thrive as part of the Group.

You will ensure that schools have a positive experience at all stages, from the point of their first contact with United Learning through to joining the organisation and beyond. You will often be the first point of contact, explaining to school leaders and governors the benefits of being part of United Learning and what to expect throughout the process.

You will also oversee implementation of United Learning’s strategy for growing local ‘clusters’ of schools, enabling schools to benefit from meaningful local educational collaboration and from high quality and efficient support services that represent excellent value for money.

About You

We are seeking someone with proven experience of managing complex projects and delivering to tight timescales, combined with strong leadership and stakeholder management skills. You will have an eye for detail and be able to spot and work with others to resolve potential issues, often dealing with novel situations. You will be confident providing advice to senior leaders – including Trustees and members of the Executive Team – combining leadership of our strategic aims with disciplined operational management.

You will be a skilled communicator and be able to build effective relationships with colleagues and stakeholders with different professional backgrounds and experience, in schools and our central teams. Your commitment to providing excellent service to schools – from those that are simply exploring their options to those that are in the process of joining United Learning – to promoting a culture of continuous improvement and to bringing out the best in your team will shape the approach you take to your work.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people, their families and the communities they live in, are interested in joining a team that shares your passion, and meet the person specification, we would very much like to hear from you. We are open to offering the role as a secondment and are particularly keen to receive applications from individuals from backgrounds currently under-represented in our senior leadership cadre.

Rewards and Benefits:

· Competitive salary.

· Contributory pension scheme.

· 26 days holiday

· Occupational sick pay, protecting you and your family.

· Competitive maternity, paternity, and adoption benefits.

· Group Life Insurance Scheme

· Westfield Health cash plan and extensive range of employee benefits for eligible staff

· Continuous Professional Development options that will be tailored to your needs

· A supportive team across the country

We are open to requests for flexible working; and we encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.

Further information

This vacancy closes at midnight on 30 September. Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a large volume of applications.

For a confidential discussion about this role or the process, please contact: Anna Paige

Internal applicants should submit their application via their ESS account within the Current Vacancies section. You will be required to submit a personal statement with a summary of your experience that make you suitable for this role. There is a character limit of 4000-character limit (roughly one and a half to two sides of A4).

Where support is better shared

United Learning comprises: UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12. Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.