Strategic Projects Director

Benenden School; Benenden; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious independent school in the UK is seeking a Strategic Projects Director to lead its UK and international initiative development. This senior role involves strategic planning and execution of educational projects and partnerships, ensuring high-quality educational standards and governance compliance. The ideal candidate will have substantial leadership experience in education, strong project management capabilities, and familiarity with international educational frameworks. A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Meals provided while on duty

Access to fitness centre and swimming pool

Pension provision

Professional development support

Fee remission, subject to eligibility

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in education or a related field.
• Ability to operate within governance, safeguarding, and quality frameworks.
• Experience in managing strategic initiatives and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Support design and establishment of international schools and partnerships.
• Provide operational leadership for strategic initiatives.
• Define and deliver strategic priorities in collaboration with senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Project Management

International Education Experience

Job description

Help shape the future of one of the UK's leading independent schools in the UK and internationally.

Benenden School is appointing a Strategic Projects Director to play a central role in its next phase of UK and international development. Operating at whole-organisation level and reporting directly to the Group Strategy Officer, the role offers genuine strategic influence and ownership of high-impact initiatives that will shape Benenden's direction for years to come.

The role brings together senior educational leadership, international ambition, partnership development and complex project delivery. It offers a rare opportunity for an experienced leader to apply strategic and operational expertise within a school environment, while working across a broad, group-wide portfolio with both UK and international reach.

Working closely with the Headmistress, Group Strategy Officer and senior leadership team, the Strategic Projects Director will help define and deliver Benenden's strategic priorities. The remit includes international school development, UK-based education initiatives, international summer and revision programmes and cross-school partnerships. The post-holder will take ownership from concept through to delivery, managing risk, budgets and stakeholders, while ensuring that educational quality, safeguarding and governance remain central throughout.

International development responsibilities

Supporting the design and establishment of new international schools and education partnerships, shaping educational models, supporting operational readiness and staff development, and leading quality assurance activity to ensure Benenden's ethos and standards are consistently upheld.

UK operational responsibilities

Providing senior operational leadership for strategic initiatives that contribute directly to the school's long‑term sustainability, reputation and impact.

About you

You will be a senior leader with substantial experience in education or a closely related field, bringing perspective from a school, higher education or international education environment, and the ability to operate confidently within a school context and its governance, safeguarding and quality frameworks. You will be comfortable working independently, developing new ideas and leading others through complexity and change, with credibility at senior level and sound judgement in regulatory and commercial matters. Experience of international education, partnerships or quality assurance would be advantageous.

Working at Benenden

Founded in 1923, Benenden is one of the UK's leading independent day and boarding schools for girls aged 11 to 18. Set within 250 acres of Kent countryside, the school combines academic excellence with innovation, values‑led leadership and a strong sense of purpose. Recent years have seen significant investment in facilities, curriculum and strategic capability, alongside a growing international outlook. The Strategic Projects Director will play a key role in shaping Benenden's future, both in the UK and internationally.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Meals provided while on duty
• Access to the school's fitness centre and swimming pool
• Pension provision and professional development support
• Fee remission, subject to eligibility

Application details

Completed applications should be received by 9:00am on Wednesday 7th January 2026.

First round interviews are likely to take place the week commencing Monday 12th January 2026. Second round interviews will take place during the week commencing Monday 19th January 2026.

Please send any informal enquiries to [e-mail].

Please note CVs are not accepted in isolation.

Equal opportunities

The post-holder will be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children with whom they come into contact. They must ensure compliance with the School's Child Protection Policy Statement at all times, and this appointment will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Benenden School is committed to equal opportunities and equal pay for all employees.