St Leonards School - Director of External Relations

Scotland
St Leonards School
Full-time

Summary

We are currently seeking to fill the position of Director of External Relations.

Detail

St Leonards School in St Andrews, Scotland has been at the forefront of pioneering education since it was founded in 1877. As we look forward to celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2027, we remain focused on our fundamental purpose: to educate young people for life.

We are seeking an outstanding, creative Director of External Relations with excellent business insights to develop, build and lead our long-term strategy, grow our School, enhance our income streams, and extend our local and global reach.

The challenges and opportunities in the years ahead are energising us as a School as we know we must remain as innovative, as ambitious and as visionary as ever in all we do. Equally, we remain committed to nurturing every single individual in our warm, welcoming, diverse and inclusive community, and ensuring that our young people are educated with rigour, aspiration, relevance and purpose, such that they are able to flourish in every aspect of their lives.

This key role supports and shapes the School’s clear vision, mission and strategy, and will suit a strategic professional with experience of admissions, development, communications and marketing. As our School’s brand ambassador, the ideal candidate will be a key collaborative member of the School’s Executive Leadership Team and will combine demonstrable people skills with a coaching-led leadership style.

Key Responsibilities:

Actively participate in the Executive Leadership Team, shaping the School's priorities.
To Develop and implement a strategic business plan aligned with School priorities, translating the strategic plans into operational targets and KPIs.
Monitor, evaluate, and report on progress to achieve agreed targets within the External Relations department.
Lead, manage, mentor, and provide guidance to direct reports and team members.
To work closely with the Registrar team, Marketing team and the wider School to deliver all aspects of the External Relations strategy.
Keeping abreast of all matters related to education in general and to the independent sector, in particular ensuring constant monitoring of relevant guidelines, compliance regulations and best practice (e.g. Tier 4 and compliance with
UKVI)
Provide regular reports on all aspects of the School’s Development and External Relations operations for the Executive and the Board of Governors.
Efficiently manage budgets for all External Relations departments.

Further details and particulars of the role can be found in the candidate pack.

Benefits include

Generous remission on school fees for children of staff.
St Leonards Pension Scheme
Free lunches in school restaurant during term time
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme

About St Leonards

St Leonards is a friendly and forward-looking independent, coeducational, boarding and day school situated on an historic campus at the heart of the university town of St Andrews. The school enjoys an unrivalled location - there are sandy beaches, world-class Links golf courses, and historic sites on its doorstep.

St Leonards delivers the inspiring, globally-recognised International Baccalaureate curriculum (which has been praised by university admissions officers for its focus on deepening learning learning, offering wider subject options, and enriching minds) for pupils aged five to 18, and was the first school to be accredited as an all-through IB school in Scotland. It is one of just two schools in the UK to actively offer all four IB programmes, ensuring a seamless learner journey. The youngest pupils follow the Primary Years Programme, which goes hand-in-hand with the vibrant Outdoor Learning programme at St Leonards. This is followed by the Middle Years Programme and (I)GCSEs. In the Sixth Form, pupils choose between the Career-related Programme and the Diploma Programme.

St Leonards enjoys a rich sporting heritage, and continues to boast a strong record of achievement with pupils representing the school nationally in golf, rugby, lacrosse, hockey, horse riding, and small-bore rifle shooting. The leading five-tier Golf Programme continues to go from strength to strength, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the fastest growing of all Scottish independent schools, and an exciting calendar of trips and activities ensures pupils leave St Leonards equipped with the skills required to succeed in today’s ever-changing world. Truly an education ‘Ad Vitam’ (for life).