Leadership and Workforce Specialist

Leadership and Workforce Specialist 

Homebased with travel as required across the UK 

Starting salary £66,091  

Full time  

Permanent. 

Due to an internal promotion, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is seeking to appoint a Leadership and Workforce Specialist. This role will work within ASCL’s policy team, reporting to the Deputy Director. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the most respected and influential organisations in UK education, to lead on a core policy area, to help support school and college leaders, and to help shape the future of school and college leadership and the training, recruitment and retention of education staff. 

ASCL is a trade union and professional association which supports and represents around 25,000 school and college leaders. We work closely with ministers, advisers, civil servants and other organisations to ensure the voices of our members are front and central in policymaking, and to co-construct policy which enhances the lives and life chances of the children, young people and staff in schools and colleges across the UK. 

This role will support the Deputy Director of Policy, leading on school and college leadership and the training, recruitment and retention of the school and college workforce. You will work closely with the DfE and a wide range of other stakeholders to influence and develop national education policy, ensuring that the views of ASCL’s members are fully represented. 

You will also support members who have questions, concerns or queries with varied aspects of school and college leadership and the workforce. You will also be expected to provide ongoing advice to ASCL members about changes to policy in this area. 

You will join a team of highly experienced and effective policy specialists, working closely with the policy leads for funding, pay and conditions, pensions and business leaders. 

The successful candidate will be skilled at gathering, synthesizing and effectively representing the views of ASCL’s diverse membership. You will have a strong knowledge and understanding both of the school and college landscape and of how education policy is made. You will be a clear communicator, a persuasive influencer and an effective and collegiate colleague. 

This is a home-based role, with significant travel required to London, ASCL HQ in Leicester, and across the UK. Reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses are covered. IT and telephone equipment will be provided. 

ASCL is an equal opportunities employer and offers a very generous package of benefits, including 33 days holiday plus bank holidays and a pension scheme to which the association contributes 9%. We encourage applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. 

INTERESTED?  

The closing date for applications is 4pm on Monday 30 June 2025.  

Interviews will be held in Leicester, venue to be confirmed, on Thursday 10 July.  

Start date: As soon as possible but dependent on individual circumstances.