THE ROLE

The SEN Relationship Manager, working as part of a four-strong energetic and ambitious Education Team, will bring SEN-specific expertise in-house to deliver a high quality programme and professional outcomes, while supporting colleagues to produce promotional assets, and - within 2020 and 2021 - promoting our work and pitching to new SEN networks and providers. If successful in securing new business we envisage sustaining the role post-summer 2021 beyond the Esmée Fairbairn-funded project.

The SEN RM will be responsible for :

1. Acquiring and maintaining strong knowledge of all participating SEN schools, developing an intimate understanding of the needs (incl. safeguarding), circumstances, challenges, priorities and creative opportunities in each community

2. Building and managing productive, trust-based relationships with class teachers, children's authors and heritage educators at external sites, supporting them in all aspects of project delivery and steering them to produce the best possible outcomes

3. Evaluating and recognising risks and troubleshooting where necessary, ensuring quality across all relationships, experiences, activities and outcomes

4. Building and sustaining knowledge of current trends, policies, pedagogies, initiatives, challenges and opportunities in relation to literacy teaching and learning in SEN settings, including through consultation and partnership working, and sharing this knowledge in-house

5. Contributing to messaging, design, packaging and promotion of our offer to SEN schools

6. Pitching to secure commissions and contracts from new SEN networks and providers

Under the steer of the Education Manager the SEN RM will:

7. Manage 10 authors' commissions annually

8. Manage the creation, design and production of learning resources in different media and within a set budget annually

9. Manage the planning and delivery of teacher and author CPD activities annually 

Working with the Company Manager the SEN RM will:

10. Support the external evaluator in delivering the evaluation and research components of the project on the ground

11. Evolve a programme for and participate in the Pop Up Lab 2021 event

The SEN RM will be supported by the Education Coordinator who will undertake all programme related logistics including briefs and contracts, schedules and travel, materials and book orders.

ABOUT YOU

You will be an outstanding, fundamentally sensitive and supportive, relationship manager with a proven track record of successfully building and managing multiple relationships - most essentially with SEN schools. We are particularly interested in candidates who have delivered (or supported the delivery of) arts-based learning projects. 

They must have an enthusiasm for creative and social innovation, and the ambition to achieve the highest possible quality experiences for beneficiaries, our funders and partners. Exceptional presentational and speaking skills are ;Energy and a commitment to working fast and to deadline, responding adeptly to risks, challenges and opportunities, are integral.

There will be considerable amounts of travel, including to remote schools and external venues in Kent, as well as between locations. While there is a generous travel budget, holding a current driver's license and access to a car would be a plus. We will consider Kent-based applicants who can commit to an agreed number of days per week in a London office, which will vary according to the project timeline

This role has genuine scope for initiative and ambition as it is our organisational goal to sustain it beyond the end of this fixed-term ;

You will have all of the following essential skills / experience:

1. Working with SEN schools and teachers, in educational and/or arts contexts

2. Relationship management across a range of different organisations and individuals

3. Great standards of and experience in project management

4. Strong writing and presentational skills including for reports and external-facing copy and at conferences and events

5. Knowledge of and interest in SEN pedagogies, policies and trends

6. Outstanding empathy, listening and interpersonal skills

And a minimum three of the following desirable skills / experiences:

1. Experience of working with artists and/or managing artistic commissions

2. Resource production and/or CPD delivery

3. Experience of promotion and provision of services to education sector (ideally SEN sector)

4. Experience of delivering disability awareness or other SEN-related training to adults

5. Ability to/interest in writing articles/producing media content to advocate for our work

6. Knowledge of contemporary children's literature

General Requirements

- Must be eligible to work in the UK, with supporting documentation

- Willingness to work flexibly in accordance with the demands of the project