Strategy Manager Part Time

ARK SCHOOLS

Strategy Manager

Reports to: Director of Strategy

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office

Contract: FTC (circa 6 months) would suit a secondment

Pattern: Full time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm or part 0.8 FTE will be considered)

Closing date: 02/04/2024 at 10am

Pre-screening videocalls: 04/04/2024

Interviews (virtual): 11/04/2024 and 12/04/2024

Full Time Salary: £50,000 to £60,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

We are looking for a Strategy Manager to join the Ark team for the next 6 to 12 months. This would be a brilliant secondment opportunity for a someone working in strategy consulting (or an equivalent role) who wants to develop their skills, gain experience of the charity sector, and work in an organisation with a strong social purpose tackling educational inequality.

This role will focus on leading on one or more high-profile strategic projects that support the development and implementation of Ark’s strategy and plans. Potential topics include digital and data strategy, financial sustainability, operational transformation, as well as workstreams to support the development of a new strategy and strategic plan for Ark schools.

It’s an exciting time to be joining Ark as we look ahead to the next decade. The Strategy team is a newly established team, responsible for leading the development of the trust’s new long-term strategy and mid-term strategic plan. This includes developing our underpinning operating plan and the design and implementation of trust-wide planning processes. The team also leads strategic projects to drive improvements in our schools, network, and ventures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and deliver strategic projects from initial scoping through to making recommendations and handover to delivery teams – identifying questions, driving clarity on scope, undertaking research and analysis, commissioning insight where needed, synthesising insights into actionable plans and communicating them
• Facilitate meetings and workshops
• Prepare impactful papers and presentations for a variety of stakeholder groups
• Work collaboratively and flexibly with teams across the trust, building relationships and influencing others
• Contribute to a collaborative and inclusive working culture that values transparency and data-informed decisions
• Deliver ad hoc strategic projects as directed by the Director of Strategy
• Contribute to building capability and effectiveness within and beyond the Strategy team.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent
• Previous experience of developing strategy at pace in a range of organisations – gained e.g. through consulting experience – with the ability to understand the “big picture”, interpret complex information, and translate insight into action
• Numerate, financially literate, and comfortable with modelling and data analysis
• Experience working with and influencing stakeholders and colleagues at a range of levels of seniority
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong project management and planning
• Experience of and interest in the education sector and/or related sectors (desirable)
• Structured problem solver and strategic thinker able to frame complex problems
• Team player, able to work independently, lead, support, listen and collaborate

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20 th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Tuesday 2 nd April 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link .

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link