Specialist Teacher

Ark; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Ark is seeking a Learning and Development Lead to enhance skills and knowledge across their schools. The role involves close collaboration with school operations and managing comprehensive training programs. This is a chance to contribute to the professional development of approximately 4000 colleagues in a dynamic education charity with a presence in 39 schools.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Full office closure between Christmas and New Year

Hybrid working with two days in the office

Access to high-quality professional development

Participation in pension scheme with employer contribution

Qualifications

• CIPD qualified or equivalent required.
• Proven track record in L&D programme design.
• Excellent IT skills, especially in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Develop a vision for enhanced Operations Development offer.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify learning needs.
• Evaluate effectiveness of learning initiatives and ensure continuous improvement.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Leadership

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent L&D/HR professional qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office Applications

Job description

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Location Ark Schools Central Vacancy Description

Ark Institute is the centre of excellence for professional development for Ark – a network of 39 schools. We design and deliver pioneering development programmes to develop all ~4000 colleagues across the entire organisation.

Position: Learning and Development Lead

Reports to: Head of Apprenticeships

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

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 11/03/2024 at 10am

1st round interviews: 14th or 15th March

2nd round interviews: 20/03/2024

Salary: £50,000 to £55,000 (depending on experience)

Join us in our mission to give every young person a great education and real choices in life, irrespective of their background.

Ark Institute is the centre of excellence for professional development for Ark – a network of 39 schools. We design and deliver pioneering development programmes to develop all ~4000 colleagues across the entire organisation. From our Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ initial teacher training programme; to our transformative approach to developing teachers and leaders and the central team; to our mission-driven apprenticeship and operations offer as well as delivery of golden thread qualifications. We also work with over 200+ schools nationally via the work of our Teaching School Hub and strategic partnerships.

About the role:

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Learning and Development professional to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for collaborating closely with schools-based Operations Leads, School Business Managers and Central Support to identify learning needs, develop training programmes, and implement strategies to enhance skills, knowledge, and progression within the organisation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in learning and development, excellent communication skills, and a passion for fostering professional growth.

The Learning and Development Lead will be responsible for the delivery of a comprehensive learning and development plan for the operational staff within our schools as well as the Ark Schools central office team. This will include working with internal and external stakeholders to design, scope, manage, and implement training, ensuring the specific needs of the network and individual schools are met.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop a sector-leading vision for an enhanced Operations Development offer that is based on organisational need with input from key stakeholders, as well as building out a strategy to detail how this will be delivered
2. Collaborate closely with key stakeholders at Schools and the Central Support team to identify and analyse learning needs, aligning programmes with organisational priorities
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of learning initiatives through assessments, feedback mechanisms, and key performance indicators, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with organisational priorities
4. Stay current on sector trends and best practices in learning and development and incorporate innovative approaches into training strategies
5. Oversee the development of a learning and development offer addressing operations skill development needs surfaced by the LNA
6. Work with the Head of Apprenticeships to identify areas where further operations development can be leveraged, utilising apprenticeships as part of the wider operations development offer to create enhanced career pathways
7. Design, develop and deliver engaging training workshops and materials tailored to the specific needs of schools-based operations staff
8. Build and nurture relationships with external training vendors, educational institutions, and subject matter experts to enhance the quality and robustness of the learning offer
9. Create a timeline and communication plan of key milestones for the rollout of the new offer
10. In collaboration with the Communications Team, create a communications plan that helps the organisation understand the value of the offer and how to access it
11. Provide regular reports and updates on the progress of learning and development initiatives as required

Key Requirements:

1. CIPD qualified or equivalent L&D/HR professional qualification or experience
2. Proven track record in designing and implementing successful learning and development programmes, preferably within the educational or operations sectors
3. Proficient in various training methodologies and technologies, with an understanding of learning management systems and e-learning platforms
4. Knowledge of the education sector
5. Good project management skills with excellent attention to detail (multiple projects/stakeholders internal and external)
6. Excellent general IT skills, especially in Microsoft Office applications (PowerPoint for training materials and Excel) and SharePoint
7. Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to collaborate across diverse teams and levels within a multi-site organisation
8. Experience working with subject matter experts and senior stakeholders to support training delivery

View the full job description and person specification here

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 aim to change lives not only within our schools but across education systems through ventures and initiatives.

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

Benefits:

1. 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service up to 30 days after 3 years (pro rata for part-time employees)
2. Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
3. Hybrid working, with two days a week in our West London office
4. Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
5. A flexible approach to work-life balance and personal commitments
6. Participation in the TPT pension scheme with 11% employer contribution; optional contributions for LGPS
7. Access to high-quality professional development and online learning platforms
8. Access to Ark Rewards scheme with discounts at over 3,000 retailers, interest-free loans, gym discounts, and free eye tests