Professional English Centre Manager

WEEKLY HOURS 35 hours per week (may include some evening / weekend work)

This role is predominately face to face with some flexibility for hybrid working.

REPORTS TO Director of English LINE MANAGER FOR Professional English Operations Manager

CONTRACT Permanent Full Time BASED AT International House London

Purpose of Job

To provide strategic and operational leadership for the Professional English Centre ensuring high-quality programme delivery, strong client partnerships and creating an environment where teachers, operations, academic management and the commercial team work together to deliver outstanding Professional English programmes.

The following duties provide a general outline only and may need to be revised in order to meet the changing needs of the service.

• Oversee the effective running of the Professional English Department.
• Provide exceptional customer service to clients of the Professional English Department and ensure high quality, professional delivery.
• Work in partnership with the Sales and Marketing team to support new business opportunities and the development and retention of existing clients.
• Contribute operational and programme expertise to proposals, client meetings and business development activity led by the Sales and Marketing teams.
• Identify opportunities to enhance, extend or improve existing Professional English programmes and relationships, sharing these opportunities with the relevant Sales colleague.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop and deliver customised training packages, including 1:1 classes, group lessons, and bespoke courses.
• Monitor client satisfaction and feedback, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and sharing outcomes with relevant stakeholders.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and professional culture within the Professional English Centre through clear communication, visible leadership and effective partnership working with teachers, the Operations Manager and the English academic management team.
• In collaboration with the Operations Manager, lead and enhance the student journey from pre-arrival to post-departure.
• Enhance the reputation of International House London and raise the profile of both IH London and IHWO, particularly its expertise in academic and corporate language training.
• Enhance the department's market presence and raise the profile of IH London in professional training circles, in collaboration with the Marketing team.
• Be fully compliant with all Safeguarding requirements and responsibilities.

Main Duties

• Operations and Delivery
  • Oversee the effective delivery of Professional English programmes, working closely with the Operations Manager on timetabling, resource planning and operational coordination.
  • Be part of the team that develops and maintains high-quality, academically rigorous, and profitable Professional Language programmes.
  • Work closely with the Operations Manager and English academic management team to ensure effective teacher matching, balancing client needs, teacher expertise, operational requirements and continuity wherever possible.
  • Ensure regular communication with teachers regarding programme delivery, operational developments and Centre priorities through meetings, briefings and timely updates.
  • Conduct pre-course consultations and needs analyses with clients, identifying language, communication and organisational objectives, and work with the Operations Manager and academic team to ensure programmes are designed and delivered to meet those needs.
  • Collaborate with the Operations Manager to onboard new clients, tailoring operational support to their needs.
  • Stay up-to-date on current trends and methodologies in language learning, particularly within the business English field.
  • Line manage the Professional English Department Operations Manager.
• Business Development and Client Relationships
  • Work closely with the Sales and Marketing team to provide Professional English expertise and operational insight to support the development of new opportunities and client proposals.
  • Support the development and retention of existing corporate partnerships ensuring a high-quality programme and client experience.
  • Work closely with the Marketing team to provide programme insight and content to support relevant marketing materials and campaigns.
  • Support the Sales teams with client meetings, needs analysis, programme development and proposals where Professional English expertise is required.
  • Act as the principal point of contact for the Professional English Centre, building trusted relationships with clients before, during and after their programmes.
  • Maintain a visible presence within the Centre, building positive relationships with teachers, students and clients.
  • Perform any other appropriate tasks required by the role.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience in centre management, operations, account management or sales, preferably within educational, professional training or service-based environments.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to identify opportunities, develop client relationships and support sustainable growth.
• Strong ability to build, maintain and grow relationships with corporate clients and key stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams, fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture.
• Ability to communicate clearly, openly and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, fostering positive and collaborative working relationships.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance client needs, operational priorities and high-quality programme delivery with excellent customer service.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Demonstrate sound judgement, resilience and adaptability when balancing changing client needs, operational priorities and departmental objectives.
• First Degree
• TEFLi Qualification (CELTA or Trinity Cert) or demonstrable experience/qualification in adult education or professional training.

Desirable

• Level 7 qualification or equivalent, i.e. Cambridge Delta, Trinity Diploma TESOL or a Master's Degree in TESOL (applicants who are currently studying for one of these qualifications will also be considered, as will strong candidates who are open to professional development).
• Experience of managing and supporting experienced ELT professionals.
• A specialist qualification in teaching business English such as the Cert IBET.
• Experience of working in a client-focused, needs-driven business.
• Experience of dealing with high level and demanding clients.
• Awareness of soft skills and wider communication skills training.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with database management.

Benefits

• Be part of a respected international organisation, making a global impact through education.
• 30 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays.
• Opportunity to grow your specialism and broaden your expertise.
• Collaborative, supportive, and purpose-driven culture.
• Great perks: Free language courses, Perks at Work, and access to the IH London staff portal.
• Enjoy working from our Covent Garden office in the heart of Central London.

Equal Opportunity

We encourage fairness and equality in our recruitment and selection process. Our shortlisting and interviewing will be carried out by more than one person, and interview questions will be related only to the requirements of the role.

About International House London

IH London opened in 1959. We are the no.1 language school in Central London, judged by the latest British Council inspections and reported in the EL Gazette (2019). Every year we train over 500 new teachers and enable them to embark on exciting new journeys across the globe to inspire and teach others. IH London was started by John and Brita Haycraft, the founders of IHWO, and its classrooms saw the very first CELTA courses back in the 1960s. The premises is very centrally located in Covent Garden. The centre is now a charitable trust, and is most well-known for English language courses and teacher training. We have, from our beginnings, been a leading contributor in the ELT field and we strive to continue to make a significant contribution to the international language education community.

We are based in the beautiful Covent Garden in central London, famous for its shops, cafes, restaurants and West End theatres. Within a short walking distance you will also find the Royal Opera House (home to the Royal Ballet, as well as the Royal Opera), the British Museum (voted one of the top ten museums in the world by National Geographic) and The National Gallery (the story of European art, masterpiece by masterpiece). In the school, the on-site cafe sells a wide range of delicious food, snacks and beverages, from breakfast until the evening. All food is prepared fresh each day. There are 2 supermarkets at the nearby tube stations: Sainsbury's and Waitrose. A meal deal lunch from the supermarket (sandwich, snack and drink £3.00 and a kilo of oranges is £2-3. The school is minutes from two tube stations: Covent Garden and Holborn. We are only two tube stops away from Kings Cross St Pancras International if you take the Eurostar from Paris.

IH Teach English is part of International House World Organisation, founded in 1953, offering teacher training & professional development courses as well as job opportunities worldwide.

All rights reserved @ International House World Organisation

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