Senior Education Manager

Are you an experienced Education Manager ready to shape the future of education? The Royal Society of Arts is the home of creativity for the common good. Since 1754 it has championed ingenuity and innovation, and turned possibility into progress. From pioneering invention and design to shaping social change, we are a place for action and connection, where the brilliance of people drives change. And today, this organisation is more vital than ever.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an education manager to help develop education, skills, and lifelong learning projects for social impact. This role is based at RSA House in London for at least three days per week, with hybrid flexibility for the remaining days.

What you’ll do:

• Manage the co-design and production of learning assets, case studies, and Fellow and public-facing outputs (briefings, campaign and event content, educator resources and CPD).
• Work with schools, colleges and related policy partners and professionals to explore, convene and test assumptions.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships across the UK education and skills ecosystem (practice, policy, activism, thought leadership), anticipating uncertainty and managing expectations.
• Support partnership development and funding by shaping propositions, contributing to bids and stewarding partner/funder requirements with colleagues.
• Manage the investigation of new ideas in education, skills, SEND and lifelong learning, working with researchers to generate insight and shape a strong strategic pipeline for Fellowship engagement and growth.

Who you are:

• Creative, innovative, and passionate about education and social impact.
• A clear and effective communicator able to build and sustain trusted relationships across the UK education and skills ecosystem.
• Inclusive, supportive and people-focused leader.
• An analytical thinker able to collect and interpret data to translate into new ideas, generating impact.

Your key experience:

• Degree level or equivalent professional experience required, postgraduate qualification in education or related discipline, desirable.
• Significant experience (5+ years) in the education sector, including time working in or closely with UK schools or colleges, plus experience across the wider education, skills, policy and lifelong learning ecosystem.
• Knowledgeable of the UK education and skills landscape and associated policy and funding.
• Sound working knowledge of programme delivery disciplines, and ability to work effectively within a programme management structure.
• Demonstrable experience with complex, cross-disciplinary initiatives and budgets—taking ideas from investigation and framing through to delivery, learning and influence.

Apply

In order to apply, please click ‘quick apply’ on our recruitment page and submit your CV. You will also be required to answer a series of questions, including two written questions focused on your experience and motivation. You do not need to submit a cover letter. The closing date for receipt of applications is 29 May 2026. However, screening and interviews will be ongoing, so we may close the vacancy early if sufficient exceptional candidates apply. Please get your application in as soon as possible. Please note that we cannot accept late, incomplete applications, and we can only consider candidates who apply through the online application process. If invited to interview, we will share the format of any tasks in advance so you can prepare fully.

Inclusion Statement

As a social change organisation, we believe everyone, regardless of visible or invisible differences should feel welcomed and able to contribute to creating a better future. You can read our full inclusion statement on our website. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations, for example, additional time or an alternative format.