At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow professional development services for education leaders across the UK.
- Company: Join ASCL, the leading association for school and college leaders in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension contribution.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education while shaping future leaders.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and a passion for education are essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of professional development across the education sector. As Manager of ASCL PD, you will lead and grow a nationally recognised offer that directly supports school, college and trust leaders to thrive. By developing high-quality learning, development and consultancy services, you will influence leadership practice across the UK—helping education organisations navigate complexity, improve outcomes and deliver excellence for their communities.
Why This Role Matters
ASCL PD plays a critical role in strengthening the Association’s impact and reach. This position sits at the heart of our strategic ambitions—ensuring our professional development offer is innovative, financially sustainable, and a “go-to” choice for leaders across the sector. You will bridge strategy and delivery—aligning professional development with ASCL’s wider work, enhancing member value, and driving growth in a competitive market. You’ll play a key role in delivering ASCL’s mission: “Speaking on behalf of members. Acting on behalf of children and young people.”
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a confident and strategic leader who combines commercial awareness with a passion for education and professional learning. You will bring:
- Proven experience leading and developing professional development services or similar commercial offers
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire high-performing teams
- Financial acumen and experience managing budgets and growth strategies
- Excellent communication and influencing skills
- Strong analytical capability, using data and insight to inform decisions
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams and stakeholders
- A commitment to delivering exceptional service and continuous improvement
Experience of the education sector or working with boards or trustees is highly desirable.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Strategic leadership
- Develop and deliver a clear growth strategy, including mission, vision, KPIs and commercial objectives
- Ensure ASCL PD strengthens and complements the wider ASCL offer
- Business and financial management
- Lead budget planning and oversight, ensuring sustainability and growth
- Monitor performance through data, reporting and KPIs to inform strategic decisions
- Programme development and delivery
- Expand and innovate PD products and services
- Oversee delivery of flagship events, including ASCL’s annual conference and leadership programmes
- Leadership and team management
- Lead, motivate and develop a diverse team of specialists
- Manage a network of trainers and consultants
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture
- Partnership and collaboration
- Work cross-functionally to deliver a compelling and differentiated offer
- Engage with marketing, policy and commercial teams to maximise impact and reach
- Performance and continuous improvement
- Evaluate programme impact and refine services based on feedback and insight
- Drive efficiency, quality and innovation across all activity
What We Offer
- Flexible working: Flexible working from home with at least two days office based in Leicester.
- Generous leave: 33 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Pension: 9% employer contribution
- Professional development: Ongoing training and peer support
- Expenses covered: Travel, home-working allowance, and equipment provided
- Inclusive culture: We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.
For this hybrid role the post-holder ideally would live within one hour of ASCL HQ, with a combination of working from home and being in-person at our Leicester HQ at least two days per week and travel across the UK as required. IT and telephone equipment will be provided.
If you’re ready to lead a service that makes a real difference to education leaders and organisations across the UK, we would love to hear from you.
INTERESTED?
The closing date for application is 4pm on Monday 15 June 2026. Interviews will be held in-person, at ASCL HQ in Leicester on Monday 22 June 2026. Start date: Tuesday 1 September 2026 but dependent on individual circumstances.
TO APPLY
To download the job description and person specification, follow the link on the 'Apply here' button above. From there, please complete your email address in the top right-hand box and click on the green 'Apply Now' button and follow the online application process. If you have any queries, please contact Angela Stewart, Workplace and Facilities Manager in the first instance on 0116 299 1122.
The Company
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is the leading professional association and trade union for all school and college leaders. We are proud to support and represent more than 20,500 school and college leaders of primary, secondary and post-16 education from across the UK. Our members are responsible for the education of more than four million young people and children. We work to shape national education policy, provide advice and support to our members and deliver first-class professional development.
Manager in Leicester employer: ASCL
ASCL is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead and innovate in professional development within the education sector. With a strong commitment to employee growth, ASCL provides generous benefits including flexible working arrangements, extensive annual leave, and a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion. Located in Leicester, the role allows for a hybrid work model, fostering collaboration while ensuring a meaningful impact on educational leadership across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Manager in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the education sector. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or mentors. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching ASCL and its mission. Understand their values and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your ability to inspire and motivate others, as this is key for a managerial role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Manager in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We want to see how you can make a difference in this role, so highlight your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Manager, you'll need to inspire and lead a team. Use your application to demonstrate your leadership style and any successful projects you've managed. We love seeing examples of how you've motivated others!
Be Data-Driven:Since the role involves using data to inform decisions, include any experience you have with analytics or performance monitoring. Show us how you've used insights to drive growth or improve services in your previous roles.
Follow the Application Process:Don't forget to apply through our website! Follow the steps outlined in the job posting to ensure your application is submitted correctly. We’re excited to hear from you, so make it easy for us to find your application!
How to prepare for a job interview at ASCL
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into ASCL's mission and values. Understand their professional development services and how they impact education leaders. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership and people management skills. Think of specific instances where you've inspired teams or driven growth in a previous role. Be ready to discuss how you can motivate and develop a diverse team at ASCL.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role requires strong analytical capabilities, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to inform decisions in past roles. Discuss any KPIs you've set and how you've monitored performance to drive improvements.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
ASCL values collaboration across teams, so be ready to discuss how you've worked cross-functionally in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you've engaged with various stakeholders to achieve common goals.
