Director of Enterprise and External Engagement

Summary of the role

The Director of Enterprise and External Engagement will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team at ArtsEd with strategic and operational responsibility for driving the institution’s commercial growth and external engagement. The role is accountable for leading key income-generating and market-facing functions, including Marketing, Development, and Outreach and will also coordinate the institutional strategy for Student Recruitment and Admissions of both the Day School & Sixth Form, and the Higher Education provision. Working closely with the Principal and colleagues across the organisation, the Director will shape and deliver a long-term growth strategy that strengthens the institution’s market position and supports its broader strategic goals.

The post holder will bring deep commercial insight and a track record of delivering sustainable growth in complex environments. They will provide visible, values-led leadership to cross-functional teams, building a high-performance culture and ensuring alignment of activity with institutional priorities. They will promote collaboration across their teams and across the institution.

The Director will work collaboratively across the Executive Leadership Team to embed a commercially informed mindset throughout the organisation, supporting data-led decision-making and customer-focused service delivery. They will also engage regularly with external partners, prospective students, donors, and key stakeholders to enhance the institution’s reputation, reach, and revenue.

Key Responsibilities

Departmental Management & Oversight

• Provide strong, clear, and supportive line management to direct reports, including the Marketing Manager, Head of Development, and Extra Manager. Lead future expansion of the team to include Lettings and Events management.
• Oversee the Recruitment and Admissions strategy across the insitution, situated in both the Day School and Sixth Form and in Higher Education and work with relevant team members situated in those sectors of ArtsEd.
• Champion a culture of collaboration, high performance, and continuous improvement across all commercial departments, ensuring shared ownership of organisational goals.
• Support managers in setting clear departmental objectives, developing budgets, managing resources, and ensuring operational plans are delivered on time and to the highest standards.
• Promote staff development by identifying training needs, encouraging professional growth, and recognising achievement.

Operational Delivery 

• Ensure that departmental strategies, marketing campaigns, recruitment initiatives, development programmes, and outreach activities are integrated, coordinated, and aligned with institutional growth and income targets.
• Work closely with department heads to monitor performance, address challenges, and reallocate resources as required to maximise impact and efficiency.
• Produce regular reports for the Principal and Board of Trustees, providing data-driven analysis of commercial performance, strategic progress, and return on investment.
• Maintain an expert understanding of the independent and private education markets, tracking competitor activity, fee trends, recruitment patterns, and emerging opportunities for diversification.
• Lead the identification and development of new income-generating ventures, including lettings and events, ensuring these are underpinned by robust market analysis and operational planning.

External Relations & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Act as the principal ambassador for the institution’s commercial and external engagement activities, building and maintaining strong relationships with prospective families, alumni, donors, local communities, partner organisations, and relevant industry bodies.
• Represent the institution at key events, conferences, open days, and networking opportunities to enhance its profile and strengthen its reputation in target markets.
• Oversee the development of a compelling and consistent institutional narrative across all external communications, ensuring brand integrity and alignment with the institution’s values and strategic aims.
• Collaborate with the Principal and Development team to cultivate and steward relationships with high-value donors and benefactors, ensuring engagement plans are personalised and impact-driven.
• Build partnerships with businesses, civic organisations, and cultural institutions to expand the institution’s reach, support community and corporate engagement, and create mutually beneficial opportunities.

Innovation & Market Development 

• Lead the identification and assessment of emerging trends, market opportunities, and innovative approaches to enhance the institution’s competitive advantage. 

• Explore and implement new commercial initiatives, products, and services such as lettings, events, summer schools, and international recruitment partnerships, ensuring each is supported by a robust business case. 

• Encourage a culture of creativity and entrepreneurial thinking within commercial teams, empowering staff to contribute ideas and pilot new approaches. 

• Evaluate the impact of innovative projects, measuring outcomes against agreed KPIs, and adapt strategies to maximise success and sustainability. 

• Maintain an active awareness of developments in digital marketing, customer engagement, and fundraising innovation, applying best practice to strengthen performance across departments.