At a Glance
- Tasks: Launch and grow a new digital service for UK schools, driving sales and building a team.
- Company: Join Dataspire, a forward-thinking organisation committed to education and mental health.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and the chance to shape a new service.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant career growth and to build a legacy in the education sector.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while leading a dynamic team and driving innovation.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in UK education or selling strategic services, with strong commercial skills.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 75000 € per year.
Location: Hybrid (Home/Head Office - M27 6DB)
Salary: £65,000 – £75,000 (dependent on experience)
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
- 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
- Marketing-supported demand generation
- Work alongside marketing to shape campaigns, content and events
- Own the prospect list and the cadence of engagement
- 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)
- Negotiate scope and commercial terms within agreed pricing parameters
- 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
- Build the case studies and references that fuel future sales
- Senior Stakeholder Credibility
- Operate as a peer with:
- MAT Chief Executives
- Trust Chief Operating and Financial Officers
- Headteachers and School Business Managers
- Translate digital and commercial decisions into:
- Trust-level risk
- Educational and safeguarding impact
- Board and ESFA-relevant language
- Hold your position when challenged on cost, scope or methodology
- 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
- 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 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.
Head of Education Strategy & Sales in Manchester employer: Dataspire Solutions
At Dataspire, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while our commitment to employee growth ensures that you will have ample opportunities to develop your skills and advance your career in the education sector. Join us in making a meaningful impact on UK schools and Multi-Academy Trusts with our cutting-edge services, all while enjoying a supportive environment that values mental health and inclusivity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Education Strategy & Sales in Manchester
✨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 MAT CEOs and CFOs on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Tailor your pitch! When you get the chance to present yourself, make sure you’re speaking their language. Highlight your experience in the education sector and how it aligns with what Dataspire ONE is all about. Show them you understand their needs and can deliver results.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive in following up! After meetings or networking events, drop a quick email to thank them for their time and reiterate your interest. This keeps you fresh in their minds and shows you’re genuinely keen on the opportunity.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and ready to take on the challenge of launching Dataspire ONE.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Education Strategy & Sales in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role. Highlight your experience in the UK education sector and any relevant commercial achievements. We want to see how you can bring value to Dataspire ONE!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past successes and how they relate to launching new services in education.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves building and leading a team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. We want to know how you've successfully managed teams and driven results in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dataspire Solutions
✨Know Your Product Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you fully understand Dataspire ONE and its value proposition. Be ready to discuss how it meets the needs of MAT CEOs, CFOs, and school SLTs. This will show your deep credibility in the education sector and your commitment to the role.
✨Prepare for Senior Stakeholder Engagement
Since you'll be interacting with senior leaders, practice articulating your thoughts on digital maturity and assurance in a way that resonates with their strategic priorities. Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've successfully engaged with similar stakeholders.
✨Showcase Your Sales Strategy
Be prepared to outline your approach to generating qualified opportunities and running the full sales cycle. Discuss specific tactics you would use to tailor pitches to different audiences, and how you plan to build a pipeline against the Dataspire ONE Ideal Customer Profile.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Highlight your experience in building and leading teams, especially in a commercial context. Share examples of how you've documented processes or created playbooks in previous roles, as this will be crucial for scaling the service and ensuring team success.
