Head of Education Strategy in Manchester

Purpose of the Role
This role exists to launch and grow Dataspire ONE - our managed digital maturity and assurance service for UK schools and Multi‑Academy Trusts - into a market that genuinely needs it. You will work directly with the CEO and senior trust leaders to:

• Generate qualified opportunities and run the full sales cycle
• Present Dataspire ONE credibly to MAT CEOs, CFOs and school SLTs
• Personally deliver the first cohort of reference customers
• Build the commercial and delivery team behind you as the service scales

This is not a maintenance role. You are launching something new and will be accountable for whether it succeeds.

Role Overview
We are looking for a senior commercial leader with deep credibility in the UK education sector, someone who has either worked inside schools or trusts at a senior level, or sold strategic services into them, or both. You will own the launch of Dataspire ONE end‑to‑end. In the first six months, that means personally selling and shaping the proposition. Beyond that, it means building and leading the team that takes Dataspire ONE to scale.

The role combines:

• Commercial leadership and revenue accountability
• Senior stakeholder engagement at MAT and school level
• Strategic shaping of the Dataspire ONE proposition
• Team building and leadership as the service grows

Role Responsibilities

1. Pipeline Generation & Opportunity Creation
   Build a qualified pipeline against the Dataspire ONE Ideal Customer Profile, including:
• Direct outreach to MAT CEOs, CFOs and school SLTs
• Activation of CCS framework opportunities (RM6103, RM6098)
• Sector events, conferences and trust networks
• Referrals from existing Dataspire accounts and partners
• Work alongside marketing to shape campaigns, content and events
• Own the prospect list and the cadence of engagement
2. Selling & Closing
   Run the full commercial cycle from first conversation to signed contract. Tailor the Dataspire ONE pitch to:
• MAT-level strategic priorities
• School-specific risk and compliance pressures
• Procurement realities (frameworks, governor approval, term cycles)
3. Service Delivery & Client Outcomes
   Personally lead the delivery of Strategy & Assurance work for the first cohort. Translate the Dataspire ONE methodology into credible client outputs. Adapt the proposition based on:
• What clients actually buy
• Where the methodology breaks down in practice
• What competitors and DfE expectations are doing
4. Senior Stakeholder Credibility
   Operate as a peer with:
• MAT Chief Executives
• Trust Chief Operating and Financial Officers
• Headteachers and School Business Managers
5. Translate digital and commercial decisions into:
• Educational and safeguarding impact
• Board and ESFA‑relevant language
6. Hold your position when challenged on cost, scope or methodology. If senior leaders do not take you seriously in the room, the rest of the role does not work.

1. Commercial Expansion & Account Growth
   Identify follow‑on improvement, infrastructure and assurance work within Dataspire ONE clients. Coordinate with Dataspire delivery teams to scope and price proposals. Drive renewal and retention of Dataspire ONE subscriptions.
2. Team & Function Building
   Document the playbook as you sell, so it can be transferred to the team you build. Define, hire and lead the Dataspire ONE commercial and delivery team (4–6 people across 18 months). Set the operating rhythm, KPIs and standards the team will be held to.

Key Outcomes
Success in this role will be measured by:

• Signed Dataspire ONE customers and contracted recurring revenue against agreed targets
• Quality of reference customers secured and case studies produced
• Pipeline coverage and conversion rates against the Dataspire ONE ICP
• Expansion revenue and retention within the Dataspire ONE client base
• Credibility of the proposition with MAT and school leadership in the market
• A documented, transferable playbook and the team built to deliver it

Experience Required
Senior commercial or leadership experience in, or selling into UK education. Track record of carrying and hitting a number on advisory or managed services. Strong working understanding of:

• Digital and IT estates within schools and trusts
• Cybersecurity, safeguarding and DfE digital standards
• MIS, cloud platforms (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace) and edtech

Proven ability to:

• Open senior conversations from a standing start
• Influence MAT CEOs, CFOs and Headteachers as a peer
• Build commercial functions, not just sell within them

Person Profile
You are:

• Senior, credible and comfortable in MAT boardrooms
• Commercially literate
• Comfortable building from zero and accountable for the outcome

You are not:

• A pure account manager looking after a warm book
• A consultant who wants someone else to find the deals
• Someone who needs a finished playbook before they will start

How to Apply
If you have the experience, commercial focus, and leadership capability this role demands, we would welcome an application. Please send your CV and a covering note outlining your suitability to careers@dataspire.co.uk. Dataspire is a Mental Health at Work Committed organisation and a Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to an inclusive recruitment process.