Adviser

New Schools Network New Schools Network (NSN) is an independent charity improving the life chances of young people by supporting the creation and long-term success of new schools. NSN finds talented people and organisations, supports them to establish new free schools across the country and, through the Academy Ambassadors Programme, places high-calibre business people as non-executive directors on boards of multi-academy trusts. The organisation is particularly focussed on supporting new schools in areas of high economic and social disadvantage and low educational performance. By offering advice, guidance and support, the charity has been instrumental in helping hundreds of groups of parents, teachers, charities and schools to establish new schools, and has placed over 1,500 non-executive directors on boards of multi-academy trusts. Over the last three years, NSN has expanded its activities to support the 800 or so free schools that are open or have been approved to open. This is an exciting time to join NSN. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in shaping and supporting the next generation of new, high performing schools in England.  NSN is currently recruiting for three advisers to work with free school groups in the Advisory and Delivery Teams. The Advisory Team NSN’s Advisory Team offers support and guidance to free school applicant groups. This includes researching which groups are best placed to set up specific types of schools, generating leads, engaging with applicants at the earliest stage of their thinking and throughout their journey until they submit their free school application to the Department for Education (DfE). The Delivery Team NSN’s Delivery Team offers free services to the 500 open free schools, and a mixture of free and paid-for services to approved free schools. The aim of NSN’s free services, available to all open and approved free schools, is to identify and share good practice on setting up and running a new school amongst NSN’s network of new schools. NSN’s paid-for services, which were launched in late 2017, are for free schools that require additional support during the period between approval and opening – the ‘pre-opening’ period. The Delivery Team also works to build networks between senior leaders in free schools and multi-academy trusts, including the delivery of a pilot mentoring programme for CEOs of multi-academy trusts. Adviser This will be a challenging but rewarding role. You will be directly responsible for your own set of free school applicant groups or schools in pre-opening but will also contribute to the development of the overarching package of support we provide. As part of a growing, dedicated staff, you will have the opportunity to gain experience of a range of disciplines and be involved in one of the most exciting and fast moving areas of public policy. The Advisory and Delivery teams work closely with NSN’s Academy Ambassador and External Relations Teams to support the delivery of all of NSN’s services. You will be joining a small team of other advisers who have come from a range of backgrounds, including recent graduates, former teachers, campaigners and those with a background in the third sector. As part of a small organisation, you will have the opportunity to gain experience across NSN’s work and be involved in one of the most exciting and fast moving areas of public policy.   Key responsibilities · Researching, identifying and cultivating free school applicant leads in priority areas. · Marketing NSN’s support to open and approved free schools to ensure broad uptake. · Liaising directly with proposer groups to answer specific questions about the free school application or pre-opening process. · Managing multiple projects by proactively working with proposer groups to develop their free school applications and deliver those plans in pre-opening. · Providing high-quality written feedback on draft free school applications and pre-opening plans. · Advise open schools on the specific challenges of running a brand new school, including supporting networking amongst existing new schools to share best practice. · Provide efficient and accurate advice for applicant, approved and open free schools via phone and email, or refer them to the appropriate advice and support within NSN. · Producing written guidance on a range of subjects related to establishing a school. · Supporting the organisation and delivery of training and networking events. · Developing NSN’s strategy.   Strong candidates will be able to demonstrate the following key skills: · A strong academic record. · Excellent writing, interpersonal and presentation skills. · Experience of managing and developing small projects. · Excellent organisation and time-management skills. · Experience of working in a customer/client focussed environment. · Ability to show initiative and design creative solutions. · Ability to review information and use it to inform strategy and practice. · A passion for improving education. · Support for, and understanding of, the free schools policy.   Expertise or experience in any of the following will be an advantage · Minimum one-year experience working in a relevant organisation. · Experience working in or with schools, in particular free schools or academies. · Project management.   Further details   Salary £22,000-27,000 per annum, dependent on experience   Contract Full time Closing date 5pm,20th April Benefits Include cycle to work scheme, interest free travel loan, generous annual leave allowance, additional pension contribution, governance/study leave allowance and flexible working hours. Location London How to apply To apply for this role, please e-mail with your CV and a covering letter, explaining why you are the right person for this job. Please also include details of your current salary and notice period.   Please note: We are keen to appoint as soon as possible so will be interviewing and may appoint for this position before the deadline. Candidates are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.