Education Strategic Projects Lead in Kingston

A achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. This is an important, and exciting, opportunity to contribute to a real difference for children, young people, and families within the local education sector.

Please note this role offers hybrid working, a mix of remote and office-based days.

• Operational area: Kingston and Richmond
• Primary place of work: Guildhall 2, Kingston upon Thames KT1
• Appointment type: Fixed Term
• Length of contract: 24 months
• Business area: Education
• Full time/Part time: Full-time
• Salary from: £52,194 (SCP38) to £55,323 (SCP41)
• Hours: 36
• Estimated Interview date/s: 19/02/2026 (in person)
• Closing Date: 11/02/2026
• Ref No: 2239

The Education Strategic Project Lead will work across Achieving for Children, liaising with senior officers, colleagues and key stakeholders such as headteachers, governors and school business managers, fostering good relations and working flexibility to achieve what is needed. They will need to have excellent interpersonal skills, organisational ability and IT skills. Good numeracy and writing abilities and experience of project management is needed as is an interest in and knowledge of schools / education. The role offers significant variety, requiring you to utilise different skills on a daily basis. One day you may be working with finance colleagues and a school to review their projected budget forecast; the next you may be presenting various school organisation options to headteachers; and on another, you may be drafting a briefing report on specific education projects for elected members.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact hiring manager Henry Kilpin, Associate Director for School Place Planning.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly organised individual with the below:

• Degree-educated project management professional with strong stakeholder management and data analysis skills.
• Knowledge and experience of the education sector and finance would be beneficial.
• Experience of using, and undertaking and/or managing research, to understand best practice and inform options appraisals.
• Experience of keeping and maintaining records (in accordance with local policy) and producing accurate reports, presentations and written updates to a range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience of schools finance / data (preferred but not mandatory).
• Knowledge and experience of day to day running of schools or a relevant educational professional e.g. school improvement work, schools admissions (preferred but not mandatory).

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

• 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
• Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
• Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
• Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of staff benefits and discounts
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

Important Information:

• Start dates: Achieving for Children have meaning successful candidates join on a set date in each month. Candidates are advised to prepare for this should a job offer be accepted to ensure eligible continuous service is not affected.
• Right to work: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the for right to work guidance.
• Equality: We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams. Achieving for Children are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognizing that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
• Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.