Strategy Associate in Preston

The Strategy Associate is a key member of the Learning & Innovation (L&I) team, supporting the development and execution of the L&I strategy through rigorous analysis, cross-functional coordination, and insight-led decision-making. The role contributes to shaping strategic priorities, preparing Learning-related deliverables into Executive and Board forums, and ensuring these are robust, data-driven, and positioned with strategic clarity. The role is also a core driver of alignment between group-level L&I strategy and divisional execution – ensuring L&I initiatives are coherent, accountable, and measurable.

The L&I Strategy Associate plays a central role in translating complex data into actionable insights, supporting decision-making for senior leadership, and ensures L&I stays focused on impact, accountability and student outcomes across L&I initiatives.

• Strategic Support & Governance: Support the design and coordination of the L&I strategic planning cycle, in partnership with GCLIO and key functional leads. Contribute to the development and tracking of governance mechanisms to monitor execution of strategic priorities across the 5 pillars, EdTech & AI and Professional Learning. Prepare high-quality presentations for Board and Executive Committees, ensuring clarity, quality assurance, and alignment to group ambitions. Support mid- and end-of year reporting processes, synthesizing strategic outcomes and performance indicators into concise, insight-rich narratives for senior stakeholders. Conduct in-depth analysis on education trends, performance metrics, and implementation effectiveness to inform strategy adjustments. Collaborate with other central functions (Finance, HR, Data, Marketing), ensuring coordination across priority initiatives. Work closely with divisional Chief Learning Officers to support the successful implementation of group strategies at the school level. Develop insight-led recommendations that identify opportunities, surface risks, and areas for improvement.
• Change Management and Embedding: Support the embedding of L&I strategic initiatives across regions and schools, ensuring clarity of objectives, expectations, and success measures. Contribute to the development of change and engagement plans to drive adoption of key initiatives. Help translate strategy into practical guidance, toolkits, and resources for divisional, regional and school teams. Gather feedback from regions and stakeholders to identify barriers to implementation and inform continuous improvement. Monitor adoption and implementation progress, highlighting gaps and supporting course correction where needed.
• Communication and Engagement: Support the design and delivery of clear, structured communication to facilitate understanding and adoption of strategic priorities. Contribute to the development of clear messaging and positioning for internal and external communications on strategic L&I initiatives. Contribute to stakeholder engagement approaches that drive alignment and behavioural change. Build influence with senior leadership, leveraging data and storytelling to align stakeholders around strategic goals. Foster a culture of strategic discipline, innovation, and continuous improvement across the L&I function.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., business administration, strategy, innovation management).
• 5+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, or innovation environments, with direct exposure to senior leadership.
• Exceptional analytical and synthesis skills, capable of distilling complex data into compelling narratives.
• Experience supporting governance frameworks and contributing to executive reporting processes, ensuring structure, clarity and consistency.
• Strong project management and communication skills, comfortable navigating ambiguity and contributing to shaping strategic direction.
• Familiarity with change management principles (e.g. stakeholder engagement, adoption tracking, behavioural change).
• Collaborative mindset with a natural ability to influence and inspire cross-functional teams.
• Excellent English communication skills, with the ability to craft clear and compelling resources for diverse audiences (executive leadership, school leaders, etc.).
• Passionate about education and committed to making a positive impact across a global school network.

• Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning.
• Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
• Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference.
• Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
• Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us.

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.