Principal Design Lead (Maths Mastery Secondary)

Principal Design Lead (Maths Mastery Secondary)

Reports to: Head of Product

Location: Currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office

Contract: Fixed Term (until March 2028 – subject to change)

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 05/09/2025

1st round Interviews: 09/09/2025 & 10/09/2025

2nd round Interviews: 11/09/2025 & 12/09/2025

Salary: £50,000 to £60,000 (depending on experience)

The Principal Design Lead (Maths Mastery Secondary) is responsible for inputting into and implementing best practice and the programme educational vision in new developments in the secondary maths programme. They understand classroom best practice, how the programmes are used in Ark and partner schools, any gaps or needs, and they contribute to the development of the concept, create and revise the resources and create new developments across the components of the programmes. They also select, train and manage a team of high-quality curriculum and assessment writers, including internal design leads, to create content, ensuring adequate briefing and quality control.

Through ensuring the consistent high quality of the secondary maths programme, the Principal Design Lead plays a key role in both its impact and reach.

The Principal Design Lead (Maths Mastery Secondary) will report into Head of Product. This role is currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office on a fixed term basis working full time.

1st round interviews will be taking place virtually on 09/09/2025 & 10/09/025 with 2nd round interviews taking place virtually on 11/09/2025 & 12/09/2025.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create and revise curriculum, teaching content, assessments and professional development materials and teaching ideas.
• Identify and select high quality curriculum and assessment writers to create content, ensuring adequate briefing and quality control.
• Manage relationships with external curriculum and assessment writers including contracting, managing and quality control.
• Lead on identified pan-programme design projects.
• Contribute to and implement the secondary maths programme strategy.
• Work with the Schools Development team to ensure our current partners are well supported.
• Develop and maintain strong implementation plans for new developments, monitoring progress through development, and mitigating any risks to ensure high quality delivery on time.
• Keep abreast of sector and subject developments, legislative changes, research findings and innovative practice on a national and international level and ensure this informs programme design.

Key Requirements:

• Right to work in the UK
• Educated to degree level
• Qualified to teach in the UK and qualified to degree level
• Subject specific qualification/further study desirable
• Understanding of the education landscape and issues affecting education
• At least five years’ teaching experience across at least two key stages
• A proven record in delivering outstanding achievement in secondary mathematics, particularly for pupils with low prior attainment in challenging urban schools.

Benefits:

• Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state-of-the-art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days
• In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 – 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to.
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

About Us:

Ark Curriculum Plus is a not-for-profit education venture set up by the Ark Multi Academy Trust to improve subject outcomes, initially in the Ark network. We’ve now been going for over ten years, using what we learn in Ark to support over 1,000 schools nationally. Our mission is to empower teachers to give every young person, regardless of their background, the subject knowledge and skills that will allow them to succeed.

We now have subject excellence programmes in English, Maths, Science and Geography, at primary and secondary. A team of subject experts work with partner schools to empower teachers to achieve subject excellence using an ambitious curriculum combined with CPD, teaching and assessment resources.

Our programmes, including Mathematics Mastery and English Mastery, have been shown to have measurable impact in evaluations by the EEF, FFT and The Brilliant Club. The DfE is currently providing up to 80% subsidy to eligible schools to promote take-up of our Mathematics Mastery programme at primary.

Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding Statement:

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.