Associate Director - Schools Team in London

About Public First, an SHGH Company

Public First is a specialist consultancy that helps charities, philanthropists, public sector bodies and global brands to improve public policy. Based in London, we have worked in more than thirty international markets. We are part think tank, part strategic consultancy, part research company, and part communications agency. In practice, we bring together the disciplines that make policy change happen: research and analysis, political insight, strategy and communications. Our team includes former senior civil servants, political advisers, campaigners, researchers and journalists. Many of us have worked at the most senior levels of government, Parliament and political campaigns, and we continue to be active across the political spectrum.

Education at Public First

Education sits at the centre of some of the biggest political and social debates in the UK – from standards and accountability to inclusion, funding and social mobility. It is also one of Public First’s defining strengths. Many of our senior team have spent the past two decades working in and around education policy in government and opposition. Between us, we have advised Prime Ministers, Leaders of the Opposition, Education Secretaries and their Shadow teams, as well as numerous Ministers across the Department for Education. We work across the full education lifecycle, partnering with multi‑academy trusts, universities, charities and foundations, local and national government, trade associations, and education‑facing businesses to shape policy, influence debate and drive reform.

Our education practice is organised into four broad areas:

• Schools: Working with schools, multi‑academy trusts, charities and foundations on issues across the schools policy landscape.
• Higher education: Working with universities and mission groups on post‑18 education, research and innovation policy.
• Skills: Working across the skills system with large corporates, regional bodies and national organisations.
• Social policy: Working with charities, foundations, trade unions, corporates and non‑profit organisations to understand public opinion and policy formation across social policy issues.

The Role

We are recruiting an Associate Director to play a senior role in shaping and growing our Schools Team. The role is suited to someone with 7+ years’ experience in schools policy or a closely related field, who combines strong subject expertise with strategic judgement and the ability to lead complex work and client relationships. You will oversee major projects, act as a senior adviser to clients, and contribute meaningfully to the development of new work. You will work closely with Directors and Partners to strengthen our intellectual leadership and external profile in schools policy.

What we’re looking for

We are particularly interested in candidates who have had substantive exposure to schools policy at system level – for example in Department for Education (DfE) or another central government department, in Parliament, in a multi‑academy trust, a think tank, foundation, regulator, or specialist consultancy. The successful candidate will:

• Bring deep expertise and credibility in the English school system.
• Provide intellectual leadership.
• Lead substantial projects and programmes of work.
• Act as a senior client adviser.
• Develop and manage colleagues.
• Contribute to business development.

Example day‑to‑day responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership of projects.
• Senior client leadership.
• Research and analysis oversight.
• Advocacy and engagement.
• Team leadership and development.
• Business development.

Location and Salary

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and particularly encourage applications from candidates with disabilities and candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds. We operate a hybrid working model, with a mix of home and office working. Our main office is based in Victoria. Many of us, including the founders, have young children and we work hard to be genuinely family‑friendly. Salary will depend on experience. For this role we expect salary to range from £62,000‑75,000 for an Associate Director, depending on candidate experience. We also offer a bonus programme, 5% pension contribution, 25 days annual leave, and private healthcare.

How to apply

Please apply below by submitting your CV and a covering letter (of no more than 600 words) setting how you meet the criteria for the role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage early applications. Interviews will either be online or in person at our office in Victoria, London. Closing date: Noon on Monday 23rd March 2026.