At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business development and commercial growth in our Consulting practice.
- Company: ImpactEd Group, a social enterprise focused on education and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, professional development, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with opportunities for growth and connection.
- Why this job: Shape the future of education while making a real impact in the community.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in consulting and business development within the education sector.
The predicted salary is between 63023 - 70400 € per year.
For full information on this role, including the key responsibilities and person specification, please view the job pack here.
Expected earnings of £75,056-£92,720 (base salary: £63,023-£70,400) with opportunities for performance related pay and annual profit share, dependent on company performance. We are happy to discuss part-time working options. Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 7th June 2026.
The Organisation ImpactEd Group supports education and purpose-driven organisations to maximise and realise their potential. We do this by helping our partners to be consistently impactful and operationally sustainable. Drawing on our domain expertise and technical skills in these areas, ImpactEd Group aims to be the first port of call for leaders across the education ecosystem.
This role exists as a senior leader in our Group and leads the business development and commercial growth of our Consulting Practice. ImpactEd Consulting (IEC) supports school groups, education organisations and government agencies in the following specialist areas:
- Strategy, governance and strategic projects
- Data and AI advisory
- People and culture
- Fundraising and philanthropy
Partners include the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), the Department for Education, Oasis Community Learning, Careers and Enterprise Company, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, The Economist Educational Foundation, Star Academies, Get Further, Reach Foundation and more.
The Opportunity: We are excited to be recruiting for a Principal Director to lead business development and commercial growth within our Consulting practice. This is a new role within the practice. Reporting to our Group Directors, the Director will work as part of a practice leadership team that will oversee all aspects of the Consulting team’s work, with a focus on partnership development, retention and growth. You will provide strategic leadership, represent the organisation both internally and externally, and be responsible for driving the commercial performance of the practice, ensuring that ImpactEd Consulting is positioned well as first port of call for schools and social purpose organisations who want to achieve greater impact and sustainability.
You will lead a number of sales and marketing campaigns, develop key propositions for our partners, provide high level guidance and advice, scan and respond to relevant tenders and work closely with a team of consultants to ensure we are able to continue to bring accessible expertise to our work and partners. The role would be ideal for a proven leader with deep understanding and networks across the education sector, a track record in consulting and business development, and the ambition to shape the direction of a growing social enterprise.
About you: As a team focused on research and evaluation, we would also expect roles at this level to demonstrate:
- Values and people: Alignment with our values and ability to demonstrate them in your work. You will facilitate conversations about professional development for your direct reports and act as a coach and role model for other members of the team.
- Partnership management: Modelling of excellence in partnership management, particularly on proactive driving of partnerships forward, scope management and stakeholder engagement.
- Sales and scope design: Leadership of business development for consultancy engagements to support high-complexity partnerships and support our partners to deliver against their knottiest challenges.
- Proposition development: Understanding of our sector and ability to combine that with our offers as a practice to create propositions that can drive partnership and business development opportunities.
- Reporting and improvement: Ability to listen to and synthesise partner needs to tailor advice and guidance, quality assure others’ outputs, and help partners take action off the back of our work.
Our Head Office is in London, and we have satellite offices in Leeds and Lincolnshire, but our team work from across the country; we are happy to support remote, hybrid or office-based working. For this role we anticipate there to be weekly attendance in London, ad-hoc attendance at sector events and three in-person offsites per year.
Why Us? As well as a commitment to the organisations we work with, we have a commitment to our people and developing the next generation of leaders within the social enterprise, education and evaluation sectors. Our employee experience is organised around four themes:
- Trust: we support hybrid working, provide flexible hours, and provide responsive management.
- Shared ownership: we are an employee owned organisation and look to increasingly share ownership with our employees, including in terms of governance and culture, and realise this in a number of ways such as ownership awards, and transparent governance including an Employee Voice board.
- Connection: we pay for your travel, provide termly company offsites, support informal clubs and societies, and provide opportunities for in-person and digital connection between colleagues.
- Health and fulfilment: we have an extensive professional development programme, provide an annual books and development budget allowance and offer 3 days of CPD leave per year in addition to annual leave. We offer all employees access to a MediCash plan and wellbeing advice, including free therapist support.
Principal Director employer: IMPACTED GROUP
ImpactEd Group is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the education sector. With a strong commitment to flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a culture of shared ownership, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. The London-based office fosters a collaborative environment, ensuring that team members feel connected and supported as they work towards enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of educational organisations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Director
✨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 partners. Building relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your achievements and expertise in business development and partnerships. This is your chance to shine and show potential employers what you bring to the table!
✨Prepare for Interviews
Research the organisation thoroughly and come prepared with insights on their current projects and challenges. Tailor your responses to demonstrate how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in driving commercial growth.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff:Before you start writing, make sure you understand the role inside out. Check out the job pack and highlight key responsibilities and skills that match your experience. This will help you tailor your application to show us why you're the perfect fit!
Be Authentic:We want to see the real you! Don’t just list your achievements; share your story and how your values align with ours. Show us your passion for education and social impact – it’ll make your application stand out.
Tailor Your Application:Generic applications are a no-go! Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Use keywords from the job description and demonstrate how your experience in partnerships and business development can drive our mission forward.
Check Your Details:Before hitting send, double-check everything! Spelling mistakes or incorrect details can give a bad impression. Take a moment to proofread your application and ensure all your information is accurate. We’re excited to hear from you, so let’s make it shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at IMPACTED GROUP
✨Know Your Impact
As a Principal Director, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of how partnerships can drive impact in the education sector. Research the organisation's current projects and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully developed partnerships in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so be prepared to share your approach to managing teams and driving performance. Think about times when you've coached others or facilitated professional development. Highlight your ability to inspire and motivate a team towards achieving common goals.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about strategy and business development. Brush up on your knowledge of current trends in the education sector, particularly around data, AI, and fundraising. Be ready to propose innovative ideas that could enhance the organisation's consulting practice and drive growth.
✨Engage with Their Values
ImpactEd Group places a strong emphasis on values and culture. Familiarise yourself with their core values and think about how you embody these in your work. During the interview, share examples of how you've aligned your actions with organisational values in previous roles, especially in partnership management and stakeholder engagement.
