Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid / Quorum Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne 

This is a hybrid working role, so you’ll need to be able to work from our Head Office a minimum of twice a week

Hours per week: 37

Salary: Up to £63,029, depending on experience

About the role

We’re excited to be looking for a Strategic Lead – Inclusive Education and Skills Innovation to join our Commercial team. This newly established role is designed to lead the development of targeted, data-informed solutions that empower both young people and adults and strengthen the wider education and skills ecosystem.

The core purpose of the role is to identify and respond to the needs of underserved and disadvantaged groups—including, but not limited to, those who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), young parents, individuals with disabilities, and the unemployed—where NCFE, as an awarding organisation, can make a meaningful impact.

This is a unique opportunity for a driven, strategic thinker to shape a high-impact programme from the ground up, delivering real change for individuals and communities across the UK. 

How you’ll make an impact:

• Leading a national strategy to improve outcomes and opportunities for underserved groups
• Shaping inclusive, scalable programmes aligned with NCFEs qualifications and services
• Collaborating on product development and support robust business cases for new solutions
• Securing alternative funding to drive innovation and sustainability
• Building strategic partnerships and influence senior stakeholders across the sector
• Using data and evidence to inform decisions and demonstrate impact

We’d love to hear from you if you offer the following:

• Strategic leadership in education and programme development
• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience securing alternative funding and investment
• Deep understanding of UK education policy and inclusive practice
• Proven ability to lead complex initiatives and drive change
• Excellent communication, data literacy, and decision-making skills
• Experience across schools, FE, or training provider environments

Feeling inspired? Read the full Job Description to find out more.  

What will we offer you in return? 

Below are just some of the fantastic benefits we’ll offer you to support you both professionally and personally. You can also visit our Benefits page which covers financial, physical and mental health support, time off and your development.  

• Annual leave starting at 25 days and increasing up to 30 days with length of service 
• 8 bank holidays and an additional 3 days off during the Christmas closure 
• YOU celebration day to celebrate your birthday or another life event  
• YOU hour allowing you one hour per month to spend time on something that promotes your wellbeing 
• Learning and Wellbeing fund of up to £200 per year 
• £400 towards any NCFE accredited qualifications per year  
• Up to 20 Volunteering hours per year 
• Flexible working culture with a hybrid working approach  
• Early finish on a Friday at 4:30pm to start your weekend early  
• Health cash plan through Westfield to claim towards health costs such as dental and optical  
• Tech and Home scheme with savings at Currys and IKEA  
• Employee Assistance Programme with a confidential helpline and access to face to face and telephone counselling  
• Pension of up to 9% employer contribution when you contribute 3%   
• Death in service payment worth 4 x your salary 

In addition to our benefits package, Our Colleague Experience Charter sets out the unique experience you can expect when working at NCFE, to enable a thriving, engaged culture. You can find out more about our Colleague Experience Charter and working life at NCFE. 

Shape real change with an NCFE career 

Imagine a career where your contributions affect not only what people learn, but the way that learning is developed and delivered.

With over 170 years of education experience our core purpose remains at the heart of the organisation – to promote and advance learning to create a fairer, more inclusive society, making sure no learner is left behind.   

Want to know more? Take a look at our website https://www.ncfe.org.uk/  

How to apply  

Before applying, please note that we require all candidates to be able to demonstrate proof of Right to Work in the UK.

Ready to join us and shape real change? Apply with your CV if you have the commitment to excel in this position.

Closing Date: Thursday 28 August 2025

Interview Date: Thursday 4 September 2025

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) statement  

We're committed to building rich diversity into our workforce at all levels, to ensure that we understand and are representative of the communities and customers we serve. 

We do not discriminate against anyone due to their gender, sexuality, race, age, religion, beliefs, identity, social background, visible or hidden disability, or neurodiversity. Instead, we pride ourselves on our collaborative, vibrant and high-performance culture which embraces everyone, celebrates uniqueness, and enables everyone's voice to be heard.