Specialist Teacher

Ark Institute is the centre of excellence for professional development for Ark – a network of 39 schools. We design and deliver pioneering development programmes to develop all ~4000 colleagues across the entire organisation.

About the role:

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Learning and Development professional to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for collaborating closely with schools-based Operations Leads, School Business Managers and Central Support to identify learning needs, develop training programmes, and implement strategies to enhance skills, knowledge, and progression within the organisation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in learning and development, excellent communication skills, and a passion for fostering professional growth.

The Learning and Development Lead will be responsible for the delivery of a comprehensive learning and development plan for the operational staff within our schools as well as the Ark Schools central office team. This will include working with internal and external stakeholders to design, scope, manage, and implement training, ensuring the specific needs of the network and individual schools are met.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a sector-leading vision for an enhanced Operations Development offer that is based on organisational need with input from key stakeholders, as well as building out a strategy to detail how this will be delivered.
• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders at Schools and the Central Support team to identify and analyse learning needs, aligning programmes with organisational priorities.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of learning initiatives through assessments, feedback mechanisms, and key performance indicators, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with organisational priorities.
• Stay current on sector trends and best practices in learning and development and incorporate innovative approaches into training strategies.
• Oversee the development of a learning and development offer addressing operations skill development needs surfaced by the LNA.
• Work with the Head of Apprenticeships to identify areas where further operations development can be leveraged, utilising apprenticeships as part of the wider operations development offer to create enhanced career pathways.
• Design, develop and deliver engaging training workshops and materials tailored to the specific needs of schools-based operations staff.
• Build and nurture relationships with external training vendors, educational institutions, and subject matter experts to enhance the quality and robustness of the learning offer.
• Create a timeline and communication plan of key milestones for the rollout of the new offer.
• In collaboration with the Communications Team, create a communications plan that helps the organisation understand the value of the offer and how to access it.
• Provide regular reports and updates on the progress of learning and development initiatives as required.

Key Requirements:

• CIPD qualified or equivalent L&D/HR professional qualification or experience.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing successful learning and development programmes, preferably within the educational or operations sectors.
• Proficient in various training methodologies and technologies, with an understanding of learning management systems and e-learning platforms.
• Knowledge of the education sector.
• Good project management skills with excellent attention to detail (multiple projects/stakeholders internal and external).
• Excellent general IT skills, especially in Microsoft Office applications (PowerPoint for training materials and Excel) and SharePoint.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to collaborate across diverse teams and levels within a multi-site organisation.
• Experience working with subject matter experts and senior stakeholders to support training delivery.

About Ark: We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference, and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country.

Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service up to 30 days after 3 years (pro rata for part-time employees).
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• Hybrid working, with two days a week in our West London office.
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit.
• A flexible approach to work-life balance and personal commitments.
• Participation in the TPT pension scheme with 11% employer contribution; optional contributions for LGPS.
• Access to high-quality professional development and online learning platforms.
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme with discounts at over 3,000 retailers, interest-free loans, gym discounts, and free eye tests.