Head of Development

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, Sutton, SM1 1DA

23 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  to be confirmed

• Closing date

  8 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  16 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: Full-time 36 hrs per week, Permanent; 8.45 am – 4.30 pm M-Th and 8.45 am – 4.15 pm Fr
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: OHCAT Management Pay scale, Spine points 24 – 29; £60,218 - £68,570 pa

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious Head of Development to play a pivotal role in shaping the future growth of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust. Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategy and Partnerships, this senior leadership role will lead the development and delivery of strategic growth initiatives, including new provisions, partnerships, acquisitions and expansion opportunities. The successful candidate will be a highly skilled relationship builder with a strong track record of leading complex projects, influencing stakeholders and driving organisational growth within education or the public sector. This is an exciting opportunity to help deliver our Strategy to 2030 and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, development and delivery of strategic growth opportunities, including school and college expansion, acquisitions and new service models.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with the Department for Education, Local Authorities, Multi-Academy Trusts and other key stakeholders.
• Manage a portfolio of development projects, ensuring delivery against agreed timelines, budgets, quality standards and strategic objectives.
• Lead due diligence, onboarding and integration processes for schools and organisations joining the Trust.
• Produce high-quality business cases, bids, proposals and strategic reports to support growth, sustainability and organisational development.

Key Requirements

• Significant experience in a strategic development, programme leadership or growth-focused role within education or a related public sector environment.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex projects, expansions, acquisitions or organisational growth initiatives.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong project and programme management expertise, including experience developing business cases and managing multiple priorities.
• A genuine commitment to inclusive education and improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment

• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)

• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments

• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)

• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Head of Development - Job Description and Person Specification.PDF - 215 KB (opens in new tab)

About Orchard Hill College Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Orchard Hill College Academy Trust website
• Email address: MollyKing@ohcat.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/orchard-hill-college-academy-trust

Orchard Hill College (the College) and Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (the Trust) together form Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT), a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. As an Outstanding provider (Ofsted 2019) and Academy sponsor, Orchard Hill College has a strong track record for making a positive impact within the local communities it serves.

Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs including autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health; profound and multiple disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health needs.

Our ambition is to contribute further to improving the education offer for all pupils and students in our communities, including those with SEND. The College offers specialist educational programmes for students aged 16 and over in College centres and satellite provision in London and the South. The Academy Trust enables us to build on and extend scope of our work in these geographical areas, so that Academy pupils can also benefit from our expertise and access a greater range of opportunities arising from our strong community and stakeholder networks.

Supporting our College and Academies, OHC&AT also operates a range of services and support including Quality and Standards, Learning Support and Business Support.

Head office location

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