Project Coach (BSEIW)

Project Coach (BSEIW)

Full-Time 40500 £ / year No working from home possible
Institute of Physics

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Co-design and deliver initiatives to enhance physics education in Wales.
  • Company: Join the IOP, a friendly and inclusive organisation dedicated to physics education.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working, and a generous benefits package including private medical insurance.
  • Other info: Flexible working model with opportunities for professional development and growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on physics education while collaborating with passionate educators and stakeholders.
  • Qualifications: Experience in teaching physics or facilitating science CPD is essential.

We’re currently looking for a Project Coach (BSEIW) working on a fixed term basis until 31st May 2028, to help us deliver our mission. This is a 0.6 FTE position, working 3 days a week.

What’s it like working at the IOP? The IOP is a friendly, inclusive and ambitious organisation. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work. We focus on supporting our people to thrive, offering competitive pay, great development opportunities and a generous benefits package. Some of our benefits include:

  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Private medical insurance, life assurance, dental insurance and a healthcare cash plan
  • Eye care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long service awards and access to an employee assistance programme
  • 25 days’ annual leave as a standard, in addition to floating bank holidays
  • Flexible working opportunities

The Role

What will I be doing? You’ll be responsible for a range of activities, including:

  • Co-design and deliver initiatives: Collaborate with the IOP and wider partner teams (Royal Society of Chemistry and Science Made Simple) to deliver core project activities including:
    • Welsh Physics Teaching Network
    • Easy Teach professional learning sessions
    • Physics Forums
    • Resource Round-Ups
    • Whole-School Inclusion and Equity Network activities
    • Primary and Secondary Science Days
  • Professional development delivery: Deliver evidence-based CPD, mentoring, and coaching to support practitioners, particularly early-career and out-of-field teachers, to build subject knowledge and confidence in teaching physics in line with the Curriculum for Wales.
  • Equity and inclusion: Contribute to equity-focused interventions that explore and address systemic and school-level barriers to post-16 physics participation, including unconscious bias and science capital gaps.
  • Monitoring and reporting: Track and evaluate programme delivery, capturing data on participation, feedback, outcomes, and impact. Contribute to quarterly monitoring reports and support external evaluation.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with schools in Wales, education stakeholders, and fellow partners. Represent the IOP in local networks and act as a regional champion for physics education.
  • Continuous learning: Develop and maintain your expertise in science education, curriculum reform, inclusion strategies, and subject-specific pedagogy to ensure interventions are current, effective, and aligned with practitioners' needs.

Projects you may work on include:

  • Boosting Science Education in Wales
  • Welsh Physics Teacher Conference

Who will I work with? You’ll work closely with a range of colleagues and stakeholders, including:

  • Colleagues across Membership and Inclusion, Education, Workforce and HE Directorates
  • Project partners including Royal Society of Chemistry and Science Made Simple
  • School leaders, teachers and technicians across primary and secondary schools in Wales
  • Regional education partners and networks
  • Teacher professional learning networks and subject communities

Ideally, we hope you’ll apply if you bring:

  • Essential: Experience teaching physics or facilitating science CPD at a secondary level. Delivering or supporting science education, CPD, or curriculum-aligned science communication. Coaching, mentoring, or training teachers or education professionals. Working with schools in Wales and understanding the Welsh education landscape. Leading or contributing to inclusive practice and equity-based initiatives.
  • Nice to have: Welsh language skills are desirable to support bilingual communications across the project. Understanding of barriers to STEM progression, particularly for underrepresented groups, and strategies to promote science capital.

At the IOP, we know that great candidates don’t always tick every box. If your experience looks a little different, but you bring enthusiasm, curiosity and a willingness to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

How to apply: Alongside your CV, please include a cover letter explaining how you meet the person specification.

How will I be working? We operate a flexible, trust based working model that gives colleagues autonomy over how, when and where they work, while recognising the value of in person collaboration. You will be assigned a base office, with hybrid working offered as standard. You will engage in regular in person collaboration with your team (as operational appropriate), as well as with colleagues across the wider organisation, to ensure effective operational alignment and to support our inclusive approach to working. As an organization we meet in person once a quarter at our Head Office in Kings Cross, London.

Why join the IOP? The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. As a charity, we’re passionate about increasing public understanding of physics and supporting a diverse and inclusive physics community. We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know we’re always happy to help.

Please note whilst we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, we warmly encourage applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK and Ireland.

Project Coach (BSEIW) employer: Institute of Physics

The IOP is an excellent employer that prioritises a friendly, inclusive, and ambitious work culture, making it an ideal place for those passionate about physics education. With competitive pay, a generous benefits package including private medical insurance and a robust pension scheme, as well as flexible working opportunities, employees are supported in their professional growth and well-being. The organisation fosters collaboration and continuous learning, ensuring that team members can thrive while contributing to meaningful projects that enhance science education across Wales.

Institute of Physics

Contact Details:

Institute of Physics Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Project Coach (BSEIW)

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those involved with physics or STEM. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the IOP and its projects. Show us that you’re genuinely interested in our mission and how you can contribute to initiatives like the Welsh Physics Teaching Network.

Tip Number 3

Practice your coaching and mentoring skills! Think of examples from your experience where you've successfully supported teachers or students. We want to see how you can bring that expertise to our team.

Tip Number 4

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 take the initiative to connect directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Project Coach (BSEIW)

Teaching Physics
Facilitating Science CPD
Coaching
Mentoring
Training Teachers
Understanding of Welsh Education Landscape
Inclusive Practice

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Project Coach. Use specific examples from your background that demonstrate your skills in teaching physics and supporting education professionals.

Show Your Passion for Inclusion:Since equity and inclusion are key to our mission, share your thoughts on how you've contributed to these areas in your previous roles. We want to see your commitment to making a difference in the education landscape!

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your qualifications shine through without unnecessary fluff.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and can consider you for this exciting opportunity.

How to prepare for a job interview at Institute of Physics

Know Your Physics Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your physics knowledge, especially the curriculum for Wales. Be ready to discuss how you've taught or facilitated CPD in the past, and think of specific examples that showcase your expertise.

Showcase Your Coaching Skills

Prepare to talk about your experience in coaching and mentoring teachers. Think of instances where you've helped others build their confidence in teaching physics, and be ready to share how you approach equity and inclusion in education.

Understand the Welsh Education Landscape

Familiarise yourself with the current challenges and opportunities within the Welsh education system. Being able to discuss these insights will demonstrate your commitment to supporting schools and educators in Wales.

Engage with Stakeholders

Think about how you would build relationships with various stakeholders, including schools and education partners. Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with different groups in the past, as this role requires strong collaboration skills.