Schools Engagement Lead, Children\'s Booker Prize in Westminster

We are inviting applications for a new position - Schools Engagement Lead - for the Children's Booker Prize supported by AKO Foundation, which launches this spring. The successful candidate will be on a fixed term contract for one year at the Booker Prize Foundation with responsibility for developing and delivering a schools and education strategy which enables the prize to reach children aged eight to 12. We are looking for an organised, driven and collegiate individual, who has demonstrable experience of working with brands or charities on engaging schools and educational organisations in their work, as well as a passion for children's literature and promoting reading for pleasure among young audiences. They will report to the Children's Prize Manager and have support from the team Administrative Assistant - roles both currently being recruited.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Director of Prizes and the newly appointed Children's Prize Manager to develop and deliver a strategy to engage primary and secondary schools and educational organisations with the Children's Booker Prize to reach children aged eight to 12.
• Oversee the recruitment plan for three child judges, aged eight to 12, working closely with schools, and other partners, to encourage sign-up. The children will be responsible for reading the shortlist of eight books and selecting the winner of the Children's Booker Prize alongside three adult judges.
• Help develop and manage child protection and safeguarding policies.
• Build and manage partnerships with schools, libraries, and educational organisations to integrate the prize into learning environments.
• Manage ongoing liaison with Beano Brain to consult directly with children on the development of the prize.
• Work closely with the Booker Prize Foundation's content team to create resources, programming and digital content that fosters a love of reading among children and encourages them to engage with the books nominated for the Children's Booker Prize.
• Drive school sign-up for resources and for physical and virtual attendance of the prize ceremony, and coordinate any additional schools events/author visits.
• Encourage buy-in of the Children's Booker Prize shortlist and winner in school and public libraries.
• Manage schools and family data in the CRM database.
• Work closely with the Children's Prize Manager on the evaluation of the impact of the prize in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
• Report on engagement results and develop future plans based on learnings.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of developing and evaluating school and education and engagement strategies for brands or charities, with examples of successful campaigns and events they have delivered.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with the ability to engage and motivate diverse audiences, including children.
• The capability to build relationships with school senior leadership, teachers, librarians, young people and delivery partners in the sector.
• A thorough understanding of the UK school system, curriculum and current educational challenges.
• Strong attention to detail, the ability to multi-task and work with multiple teams.
• A strategic and creative approach to audience development with children, their families and educators through marketing, communications and events.
• Up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding procedures, child protection, relevant legislation and GDPR.
• Proficiency in using CRM software and collating and presenting information using Microsoft Office, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues using systems including Asana and Slack.
• Passion for children's literature and for promoting reading for pleasure among young audiences.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the children's publishing sector, as well as current trends in children's literature.

About the Booker Prize Foundation

The Booker Prize Foundation is a registered charity, established in 2002, which is responsible for awarding the Booker Prize, the International Booker Prize and now the Children's Booker Prize. It exists to inspire more people to read the world's best fiction, driven by a simple belief: that great fiction not only brings joy to millions but has the power to change the way we think about the world. Our aim is to foster a love of reading and to support writers and readers of the future.