Regional Network Lead

**Regional Network Lead - South West**
- **Location**:Home based with extensive travel across the South West region
- **Salary**:£45,000 to £55,000
- **Basis**:Permanent, full-time (37 hours per week)
STEM Learning's vision is for a world-leading STEM education for all young people across the UK - a strong and sustainable Network is critical to achieving this.
Through a deep understanding of local need, Regional Network Leads (RNLs) are integral to the local STEM and school improvement landscape. As the number one go-to resource for stakeholders within their regions, RNLs will lead an infrastructure focused on raising aspirations and educational standards, closing the achievement gap between schools and ultimately more young people pursuing STEM-related education and careers.

**The Role**
RNLs provide strategic leadership to their respective region and are accountable for its success in supporting its economic, social and educational needs. Specifically;
- Developing a comprehensive regional strategy focused on raising STEM achievement and aspiration based on regional needs and context, and leading on the delivery of this strategy.
- Ensuring that all teachers, support staff, schools and colleges within the region are aware of and able to benefit from a broad portfolio of STEM support.
- Increasing engagement of employers regionally in supporting improved STEM outcomes for all that respond to regional need.
- Working with appropriate partners to deepen and embed impact whilst identifying and maximising the positive impacts for teachers, schools, non-school groups, STEM Ambassadors and supporting employers, including appropriate recognition.
- Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of delivery partners with the maturity, capacity and expertise to draw on the whole STEM Learning offer is in place to meet the needs of their region.
- Ensuring STEM support is recognised as a value-adding activity benefitting schools, employers and communities and therefore should be paid for by service users.
- Increasing the financial sustainability of the network through driving the commerciality of the delivery partners, fundraising, and identifying and implementing other commercial products and services aligned to regional need.
- Identifying and building productive relationships with regional and local educational partners and influencers; STEM partners; employers and industry partners; and others, to develop further the efficiency and effectiveness of the Network and its impact on young people.
- Contributing regional insights and impact to inform the ongoing development of STEM Learning's offer and approaches and engagement with policy makers and funders.
**Key Challenges**
- Need to work effectively and collaboratively with a range of colleagues (in a matrix structure) and stakeholders across and beyond the organisation, managing expectations, ensuring delivery of KPIs.
- Time management and dealing with competing priorities and pressures - ability to manage own workload and also communicate clearly and collaborate effectively with colleagues to maximise outcomes.
**_Essential personal skills, competencies & qualities_**
- A proven track record engaging with STEM education across a wide range of education and business sectors.
- The ability to, and experience of, developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including schools, colleges, higher education institutions, employers, youth and community groups and other external organisations.
- Excellent knowledge of STEM education and the skills agenda, including appropriate regional issues, challenges and opportunities
- Experience of working with and influencing employers and the ability to identify opportunities for increasing employer support for the Network's programmes.
- Highly developed communication skills, orally and in writing. The ability to influence effectively, and interact with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience of managing complex projects and programmes successfully - achieving objectives, to timelines and to budget.
- Ability to think analytically and strategically, and respond creatively to challenges.
- Visible and supportive leadership, with the ability to challenge constructively.
- Experience of working remotely from colleagues as part of a high performing team.
**_Desirable personal skills, competencies and qualities_**
- A track record in identifying and developing sustainable financial models for products and services, preferably in an education environment.
- Experience in using technology/digital media to drive school/college improvement through development of teachers and teaching practice.
- Experience of working with the voluntary sector and successfully engaging and retaining volunteers.
**Our Benefits**
- 30 days holidays plus bank holidays
- Access to a fantastic pension scheme, where employer contributions are currently 21.4%
- Access to a salary sacrifice and staff