Director of Projects

Description:

Job: Director of Projects (Education)

Organisation: Baker Dearing Educational Trust

Location: Homeworking, but you will be expected to travel across England on a regular basis. All reasonable expenses for travel will be reimbursed.

Salary: £600 per day

Contract: Consultancy basis, operating outside IR35; 3 days a week; 52 weeks a year; fixed for 12 months. Opportunity to extend should follow on support prove successful.

Start date: Flexible, ideally from October 2026 onwards.

Reporting to: The CEO

Aston Education is proud to be working with Baker Dearing Educational Trust looking for a dynamic part-time Director of Projects to take full ownership of a portfolio of ambitious projects that are critical to the charity's next phase of growth.

The successful candidate will be joiningBaker Dearing Educational Trust at a very exciting time, when families, communities, politicians and young people are acknowledging the importance of technical education.

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of technical education in England, shaping initiatives that directly influence the learning and career outcomes of young people.

Baker Dearing Educational Trust

Baker Dearing is the charity that established and continues to support the national network of 44 employer-led technical schools, known as University Technical Colleges (UTCs). UTCs are delivering on their original mission of providing young people with an employer-guided, blended academic and technical education that equips them with the skills, experiences and opportunities needed to succeed in future careers.

Building on this strong track record, Baker Dearing has launched an ambitious growth strategy to extend its impact, while continuing to provide high-quality support to UTCs across England.

The key responsibilities include:

Lead a portfolio of high-impact projects, taking full ownership for delivery, performance, and alignment with the charity's strategic ambitions.
Plan, manage, and monitor multiple projects to ensure timelines, budgets, risks, and milestones are consistently met.
Work proactively and independently to drive progress, solve problems, and secure meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.
Act as a senior representative of the charity, building influential relationships with schools, employers, regional partners, and sector bodies.
Provide strategic insight and practical guidance to shape and evolve initiatives based on evidence, feedback, and emerging opportunities.
Collaborate closely with the CEO and central team, sharing analysis, recommendations, and intelligence to inform decision-making.
Coordinate and/or deliver workshops, consultations, and engagement activities to support project participation.
Ensure clear, timely, and consistent communication across internal teams and external partners.

Qualifications, experience and skills required:

Educated to degree level
Project management training or certification
Experience working at Director level
Proven track record of managing and delivering multiple projects simultaneously
Experience working independently or in small teams, taking ownership of project delivery from inception to completion
Experience working with schools or colleges
Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively
Highly self-motivated, proactive, and able to work autonomously with minimal supervision
Proficient with Microsoft Office
High level of English language proficiency
Resilient and solutions focused

The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking, operational expertise, and a passion for educational innovation, thriving in a fast-moving, high-profile, mission-driven organisation where their contributions will be highly visible and impactful.

Closing date: Thursday 3rd September 2026 at 9:00am

First Interview: w/c 7th September 2026

Applications: Please contact Tarja Aila at Aston Education to find out more and to apply for this Director of Projects job.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check