Location: Slough, Berkshire and surrounding commissioning areas.
Start: Following completion of POFAS commissioner-readiness work
Campaign period: Autumn 2026, ahead of the planned January 2027 learner opening
Remuneration: To be agreed; consultancy retainer and/or performance-linked structure
Primary objective: To secure funded school and commissioner placements for POFAS ahead of opening.
About POFAS
POFAS is a vocational Alternative Provision being developed in Slough for young people who may benefit from a small-group, practical route back into meaningful education. Our proposed offer combines hair and beauty education with regulated qualification opportunities, customer service, employability, personal development, progress monitoring and progression support.
Before this assignment begins, POFAS will have completed a separate operational and commissioner-readiness project. The successful School Partnerships & Commissioning Consultant will therefore be taking a defined, documented provision to market rather than developing the educational model from scratch.
The Assignment
We are seeking an experienced education commissioning, partnerships or business-development professional who understands how schools, academy trusts and local authorities purchase Alternative Provision. The central purpose of the assignment is to build a high-quality commissioning pipeline and convert suitable opportunities into funded learner placements.
Our priority is to establish commissioner relationships and secure placements in sufficient time for POFAS's planned January 2027 learner opening.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute POFAS's initial school and commissioner acquisition strategy.
- Identify suitable schools, academy trusts, local authorities and other authorised commissioners in Slough, Berkshire and relevant surrounding areas.
- Identify named decision-makers, including SENCOs, Inclusion Leads, Alternative Provision Leads, Heads of Year and commissioning/procurement contacts.
- Build and maintain a qualified commissioner lead database.
- Prioritise commissioners whose learner needs align with the POFAS offer.
- Identify approved-provider lists, frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems and other relevant procurement routes.
- Make structured introductions to prospective commissioners by email, telephone and other appropriate professional channels.
- Arrange and support commissioner meetings, presentations and provision discussions.
- Present the POFAS learner offer, outcomes framework, qualifications, SEND arrangements, reporting model and placement packages accurately.
- Manage follow-up activity and maintain momentum with prospective commissioners.
- Respond to commissioner questions and coordinate required information from POFAS.
- Support provider due-diligence, onboarding and approved-provider applications.
- Support preparation of placement proposals, quotations and commissioner documentation.
- Develop relationships with schools and commissioners that can generate repeat referrals.
- Progress suitable opportunities towards signed Placement Agreements and funded learner placements.
- Maintain a live pipeline showing lead source, decision-maker, contact activity, meeting status, referral status, proposal status and outcome.
- Provide regular written reporting on pipeline activity, barriers, conversion opportunities and recommended next actions.
Performance Measures
The assignment will operate against agreed measurable KPIs. These may include:
- Number of qualified schools and commissioners identified.
- Number of named decision-makers identified.
- Number of meaningful direct approaches completed.
- Response rate and qualified expressions of interest.
- Number of commissioner meetings secured.
- Number of referral discussions generated.
- Number of due-diligence or approved-provider processes commenced/completed.
- Number of placement proposals or quotations issued.
- Number and value of funded placements secured.
- Number of commissioner relationships retained in the active pipeline for future placements.
Person Specification
We are particularly interested in candidates with demonstrable experience in:
- Alternative Provision commissioning.
- School partnerships or education business development.
- SEND or inclusion commissioning.
- School, academy-trust or local-authority procurement.
- Generating learner referrals for education providers.
- Converting school relationships into funded placements or contracts.
Highly desirable:
- Existing professional relationships with schools, academy trusts, SENCOs, Inclusion Leads or local-authority commissioners.
- Knowledge of the Slough, Berkshire and surrounding AP commissioning landscape.
- Previous responsibility for buying, selling or managing Alternative Provision.
- Evidence of successfully securing funded education placements or contracts.
- Understanding of AP due diligence, safeguarding expectations, SEND and commissioner reporting.
This is not a generic lead-generation role. Success means creating credible commissioner relationships and progressing appropriate opportunities towards funded learner placements. A list of school names alone will not constitute successful delivery.
By the planned January 2027 opening, POFAS aims to have a viable pipeline of commissioner relationships, referrals and contracted placements, with clear follow-up activity for additional placements during the remainder of the academic year.
Remuneration
POFAS is open to agreeing an appropriate consultancy structure for this assignment. This may include a defined retainer and a carefully structured performance element linked to agreed outcomes. Final terms, KPIs and payment triggers will be agreed in writing before commencement.
How to Apply
- Current CV / Two relevant references..
- Summary of relevant AP, SEND, school-partnership or commissioning experience.
- Examples of education placements, contracts or commissioner relationships previously developed.
- Details of relevant local or sector networks.
- Proposed approach to building the POFAS commissioning pipeline.
- Proposed consultancy/remuneration structure.
