Head of Placements & Referrals

Compass Associates; West Midlands; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Associates is launching an ambitious new Alternative Provision organisation and seeks a commercially minded, relationship-led Head of Placements & Referrals to shape growth from day one. Location: Flexible with focus Midlands and South.

You will lead the placements strategy, build referral pipelines and partnerships with commissioners, schools and authorities to drive occupancy growth. This role suits someone who understands the AP market commercially and operationally, can open doors,

Qualifications

• Strong sector relationships and commercial awareness.
• Track record of generating referrals within education.
• Experience securing referrals and managing placement pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Developing and leading the placements and referrals strategy
• Building relationships with local authorities, schools, SEND teams, and commissioners
• Driving occupancy across AP provisions
• Identifying areas of demand and supporting growth decisions
• Representing the organisation externally across the sector
• Working closely with operational leadership to ensure appropriate student placements
• Supporting site launches and local market engagement
• Creating referral pathways and partnership frameworks from scratch

Job description

Head of Placements & Referrals – Alternative Provision

Location: Flexible but focus areas are Midlands and South

Do you know how to build trusted relationships that genuinely drive referrals?

We are launching an ambitious new Alternative Provision organisation and are seeking a commercially minded, relationship-led Head of Placements & Referrals to help shape the growth of the business from day one.

This is an opportunity to join at the very start of an exciting journey building referral partnerships, filling provisions, and becoming a key part of a fast-growing education venture with national ambitions.

The Opportunity

As Head of Placements & Referrals, you will lead the strategy for student placements and local authority engagement across new AP centres.

You will be responsible for developing strong referral pipelines, building trusted partnerships with commissioners, schools, and local authorities, and ensuring provisions achieve sustainable occupancy growth.

This role is ideal for someone who understands how the AP market works commercially and operationally. we are looking for someone who can open doors, build credibility quickly, and convert relationships into long-term partnerships.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Developing and leading the placements and referrals strategy
• Building relationships with local authorities, schools, SEND teams, and commissioners
• Driving occupancy across AP provisions
• Identifying areas of demand and supporting growth decisions
• Representing the organisation externally across the sector
• Working closely with operational leadership to ensure appropriate student placements
• Supporting site launches and local market engagement
• Creating referral pathways and partnership frameworks from scratch

About You

We are looking for someone with strong sector relationships, commercial awareness, and a track record of generating referrals within education

You may currently work in:

• Alternative Provisions
• Specialist Education

You will bring:

• Experience securing referrals and managing placement pipelines
• Existing relationships with local authorities and education stakeholders
• A strong understanding of the AP landscape
• Confidence operating in a start-up or high-growth environment
• Excellent communication and influencing skills

This is a role for someone who enjoys building networks, creating momentum, and making a visible impact.