head of growth jobs

Head of International Growth

About the role:

The Head of International Growth will provide strategic and operational leadership for ASDAN’s international growth, ensuring that expansion is ethical, sustainable, financially responsible and firmly aligned with ASDAN’s charitable purpose and commitment to equity in education.

The postholder will lead ASDAN’s international development activity from initial market intelligence and relationship development through to partnership, onboarding, implementation and sustainable growth.

They will lead a small, geographically distributed international team, creating the structures, systems and accountability required to ensure that ASDAN presents a consistent, high-quality offer internationally.

This is not a traditional sales-led role. It is a relationship-driven, system-aware growth leadership role requiring the postholder to balance ambition and commercial awareness with educational quality, regulatory confidence, cultural understanding and long-term impact for learners.

The Head of International Growth will be expected to develop opportunities while also exercising judgement about where, how and with whom ASDAN should grow..

About us:

ASDAN is an education charity and awarding organisation providing courses, accredited curriculum programmes and regulated qualifications to engage, elevate and empower learners with diverse needs.

Our goal is to engage learners through relevant and motivating courses to achieve meaningful learning outcomes, which elevate them to go on to further education, training and work, and empower them to take control of their lives. We do this by developing courses with an accessible and practical pedagogy for learners; and by supporting our partner educators to foster the personal, social and work-related abilities of learners with diverse needs. We believe that learners should have the opportunity to discover, develop and make use of their abilities to affirm their identities, contribute to society, and challenge educational and social inequalities. For further information about ASDAN, please visit our website: asdan.org.uk.

Conditions and how to apply:

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: Full time 37.5 hours

Salary: £57,800

Pension: Scottish Widows. Post-holder has option of two levels of contribution: employee 3% employer 6% employee 6% employer 9%

Leave entitlement: Starting at 27 days per annum, rising an additional day per year to maximum 32 days, in addition to statutory bank holidays.

Location – This is a hybrid role, minimum 50% office attendance at our St. George, Bristol office, including our core day, Tuesday, plus international travel as required..

How to apply:

To apply for this position, please visit the vacancies section of the ASDAN website www.asdan.org.uk/vacancies,where you will find the job description and application form. You are welcome to submit a CV alongside your completed application form, however only applications made using the application form will be considered. Within your application form, please include a clear outline of why you feel you would be suitable for the position, including examples of your skills and experience, referring to the person specification as appropriate.

It would be appreciated if you could complete ASDAN’s equalities, diversity and inclusion (EDI) monitoring form at the time of your application. This information will be treated as confidential for monitoring purposes only and kept separate from your application.

Key dates:

Applications close: 20 October 2026

Interviews: w/c 26 October 2026

Interviews will be held at ASDAN’s main office in Wainbrook House, St George, Bristol.

Please contact personnel@asdan.org.uk for an informal conversation about this opportunity. For further information about ASDAN please visit our website: asdan.org.uk.

Job description

Accountable to: CEO

Responsible for: Education Development Partner – UK-based, Education Development Partner – MENA region (future phase), Education Development Partner – APAC region (future phase), International Development Administrator

Liaison with: CEO, Quality, Education Innovation & Research, Finance, Membership Growth and wider operational teams

Job purpose

The Head of International Growth will provide strategic and operational leadership for ASDAN’s international growth, ensuring that expansion is ethical, sustainable, financially responsible and firmly aligned with ASDAN’s charitable purpose and commitment to equity in education.

The postholder will lead ASDAN’s international development activity from initial market intelligence and relationship development through to partnership, onboarding, implementation and sustainable growth.

They will lead a small, geographically distributed international team, creating the structures, systems and accountability required to ensure that ASDAN presents a consistent, high-quality offer internationally.

This is not a traditional sales-led role. It is a relationship-driven, system-aware growth leadership role requiring the postholder to balance ambition and commercial awareness with educational quality, regulatory confidence, cultural understanding and long-term impact for learners.

The Head of International Growth will be expected to develop opportunities while also exercising judgement about where, how and with whom ASDAN should grow.

Key responsibilities

1. International Growth Strategy

2. Leadership and Team Management

3. Strategic Partnerships and External Influence

4. Growth Delivery with Integrity

5. Internal Alignment and Organisational Insight

6. Monitoring, Reporting and Governance

Key duties

The postholder will be responsible for delivering the following:

1. International Growth Strategy

• Develop and deliver ASDAN’s international growth strategy, aligned with organisational strategy, charitable purpose, capacity and values.
• Translate strategic ambitions into a clear international growth roadmap, with defined priorities, milestones, measures and accountabilities.
• Identify and assess priority countries and regions, including opportunities across MENA and APAC.
• Develop appropriate models for different markets, recognising that international growth may involve individual schools, school groups, delivery partners, ministries, regulators and other strategic partners.
• Undertake appropriate market and system analysis before significant investment or expansion.
• Develop phased approaches to new markets, including test-and-build activity, pilots and clearly defined review points.
• Ensure decisions about international expansion are evidence-informed, ethical, financially sustainable and consistent with ASDAN’s commitment to equity and inclusion.

2. Leadership and Team Management

• Provide visible, consistent and values-led leadership to ASDAN’s international team.
• Lead and coordinate the work of Education Development Partners across regions, ensuring clarity of roles, priorities and accountabilities.
• Line manage the International Development Administrator and other International team members within the agreed structure.
• Set clear objectives, performance expectations and development priorities.
• Establish effective ways of working across different locations, cultures and time zones.
• Build a cohesive international team in which information, intelligence and relationships belong to ASDAN rather than sitting with individual members of staff.
• Ensure effective communication, collaboration and handover between international development, onboarding, membership, quality and education teams.
• Support the professional development of the international team as ASDAN’s international presence grows.

3. Strategic Partnerships and External Influence

• Develop and maintain senior-level relationships with international schools, school groups, education organisations, ministries, regulators and other strategic partners.
• Represent ASDAN confidently in international meetings, events, conferences and sector discussions.
• Lead or support discussions relating to qualification recognition, equivalency, regulatory requirements and inclusive educational pathways.
• Develop relationships that strengthen ASDAN’s credibility, reach and long-term impact rather than focusing solely on short-term membership growth.
• Ensure ASDAN’s purpose, educational approach and expectations are communicated consistently across all markets.
• Work with the CEO and senior colleagues on strategically significant government, regulatory and system-level relationships.

4. Growth Delivery with Integrity

• Take responsibility for developing a healthy and transparent international pipeline, from initial enquiry through to established partnership.
• Ensure opportunities are appropriately assessed, recorded, progressed and reviewed.
• Maintain clear oversight of prospects, existing members, strategic partners and emerging opportunities through ASDAN’s agreed CRM and organisational systems.
• Ensure international correspondence, intelligence and relationship history are appropriately captured within ASDAN systems to support organisational continuity and oversight.
• Establish clear processes for the movement of opportunities from development through to onboarding and ongoing membership support.
• Work with colleagues to onboard international members effectively through ASDAN’s agreed systems and processes.
• Oversee international delivery models to ensure they are financially viable, culturally appropriate and aligned with ASDAN’s pedagogy, quality expectations and charitable purpose.
• Work closely with Quality and Education colleagues to develop appropriate pilots, phased implementation and quality assurance arrangements.
• Ensure that growth does not move ahead of ASDAN’s capacity to provide high-quality support, moderation, training and member experience.
• Identify and escalate emerging delivery, reputational, financial or regulatory risks

5. Internal Alignment and Organisational Insight

• Act as a key bridge between Growth, Quality, Education Innovation & Research, Membership and operational teams.
• Ensure international development is integrated into wider organisational planning rather than operating as a separate function.
• Bring international market intelligence and member feedback into product development, qualification development, research and policy discussions.
• Work with Finance to understand the financial performance, investment requirements and sustainability of international activity.
• Work with Membership Growth colleagues to ensure an effective journey from prospect to established ASDAN member.
• Provide structured updates, recommendations and insight to the Director of Education and Impact and CEO.
• Contribute to organisational planning and strategic discussions where international growth has implications for capacity, investment, risk or reputation.

6. Monitoring, Reporting and Governance

• Develop appropriate measures for international growth, including pipeline, conversion, member retention, partner maturity, income and impact.
• Maintain accurate and timely information within ASDAN’s CRM and other agreed systems.
• Monitor performance against agreed international objectives and budgets.
• Produce regular reports identifying progress, emerging opportunities, risks, dependencies and decisions required.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of contracts, agreements and partnership commitments, working with Finance and other professional advisers where required.
• Ensure appropriate due diligence is undertaken before significant international partnerships are established.
• Contribute to organisational risk management and governance processes relating to international activity.
• Ensure international growth complies with relevant ASDAN policies, regulatory expectations and safeguarding, data and quality requirements.

This job description may change as ASDAN develops, following discussion and agreement with the post holder. The post holder will be expected to adopt a flexible approach to ensure the efficient and effective running of ASDAN. The post holder will have full opportunity to discuss and be active in changes or developments.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £57,800.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Sick pay

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bristol BS5 7HY