Application pack

December 2025

Director of Projects

December 2025

Dear candidate,

Director of Projects Baker Dearing is the charity that established and continues to support the national network of 44 employer-led technical schools, known as University Technical Colleges (UTCs). UTCs are now successfully delivering on their original mission of providing young people with an employer- guided, blended academic and technical education that equips them for future careers.

To build on this strong track record, Baker Dearing has recently launched an ambitious growth strategy to complement the ongoing support it provides to UTCs. We are seeking a dynamic Director of Projects to join our team and oversee the successful delivery of a range of initiatives, both for UTCs and as part of our growth programme.

Supported by the experienced Baker Dearing team, the successful candidate will take ownership of high-profile projects aimed at transforming the lives of young people across the country.

If you would like an informal discussion about this role, please do not hesitate to contact me.

With best wishes,

Kate Ambrosi

CEO

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About Baker Dearing and UTCs Over the past 15 years, Baker Dearing has been the driving force behind new UTC openings and has provided ‘top-down’ direction to the UTC programme, supporting new and existing UTCs to ensure the programme’s continued improvement and to embed UTCs firmly within the English education system.

The charity sits at the centre of the UTC network and is uniquely placed to provide co- ordinated support to, and advocacy for, UTCs, as well as communication within the network and to a broader audience.

UTCs are government-funded schools for students mainly aged between 14 and 18, which offer a distinctively different educational choice: students study both academic and technical (e.g. engineering) subjects; learning is stretched and deepened through the contribution of employer partners; pupils leave ‘work ready’, professional, and with well-developed employability skills; and UTC leavers secure progression to ambitious destinations such as technical subjects at university or high-quality apprenticeships.

Our strategy

2026 marks the start of a bold new strategic phase for Baker Dearing. Having supported the launch and growth of UTCs between 2010 and 2018, and strengthened the network over the last six years, our 44 UTCs now have a proven record of transforming young lives through high-quality technical education.

Building on this success, the charity wishes to grow its impact beyond UTCs, and is launching a twin-pronged “strengthen and grow” strategy to realise the ambition: to empower every young person with employer-guided technical education that equips them with the skills, attributes, and opportunities to thrive in life and work.

Key new initiatives include:

• Professional development programmes for specialist UTC teaching staff. • Embedding technical education in Greater Manchester schools and colleges. • Pilot UTC Sleeves, mini UTCs within mainstream schools. • Scaling the Baker Award to celebrate key elements of a UTC education. • Launching a UTC affiliate network for schools with similar profiles. • Supporting the introduction of apprenticeship training in UTCs.

While some projects are already underway, all will scale and expand in 2026 and beyond.

The groundwork for this next chapter was laid in 2025 with the appointment of CEO Kate Ambrosi, Chair of Trustees Stephen Phipson (CEO of Make UK), and a majority of new trustees. The charity secured significant funding to deliver this ambitious strategy.

Establish (2010-18)

Improve (2018-24)

Transition 2025

Strengthen & grow

(2026+)

Baker Dearing Educational Trust: advancing and informing technical education 4

About the role Baker Dearing is a small but highly influential charity with a national reputation for delivering high-quality technical education to school-age students through UTCs.

We are seeking a Director of Projects to take a lead role in driving a portfolio of ambitious new initiatives as part of our “strengthen and grow” strategy. The charity’s relatively small size means you will need to work independently, or in small teams, taking ownership of projects, making decisions, and taking initiative without relying on extensive layers of management.

You should be comfortable adopting a hands-on approach, actively managing tasks, coordinating with colleagues and external partners, and stepping in wherever needed to ensure successful delivery. This role requires a proactive mindset, the ability to anticipate challenges, and the flexibility to adapt quickly in a fast-moving, high-profile environment.

The successful candidate will also need strong communication skills to keep both internal and external stakeholders fully informed of progress and developments, and to use standard project management tools effectively.

You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the trustees, ensuring that projects align with the charity’s strategic priorities and uphold its reputation for excellence. While not essential, experience working with schools and colleges – key stakeholders for many of Baker Dearing’s current and upcoming initiatives – is desirable.

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a tangible impact on the future of technical education in England, shaping initiatives that directly influence the learning and career outcomes of young people.

The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking, operational expertise, and a passion for educational innovation, thriving in a fast- moving, high-profile, mission- driven organisation where their contributions will be highly visible and impactful.

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Director of Projects Contract length: Fixed until 31st December 2026. Opportunity to extend should

follow on support prove successful.

Contract type: Consultancy basis, fully IR35 compliant.

Location: Homeworking, but you will be expected to travel across England on a regular basis. All reasonable expenses for travel will be reimbursed.

Start date: Flexible, ideally from the start of January 2026.

Remuneration: £600 per day – 3 days per week.

Line management: Chief Executive Officer

Key responsibilities As Director of Projects, you will take full ownership of a portfolio of ambitious projects that are critical to Baker Dearing’s next phase of growth. The key responsibilities are:

• Lead a portfolio of high-impact projects, taking full ownership for delivery, performance, and alignment with Baker Dearing’s strategic ambitions.

• Plan, manage, and monitor multiple projects to ensure timelines, budgets, risks, and milestones are consistently met.

• Work proactively and independently to drive progress, solve problems, and secure meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.

• Act as a senior representative of the charity, building influential relationships with UTCs, schools, employers, regional partners, and sector bodies.

• Provide strategic insight and practical guidance to shape and evolve initiatives based on evidence, feedback, and emerging opportunities.

• Collaborate closely with the CEO and central team, sharing analysis, recommendations, and intelligence to inform decision-making.

• Manage project resources effectively, maximising impact within a small, agile organisational environment.

• Coordinate and/or deliver workshops, consultations, and engagement activities to support project participation and strengthen the charity’s profile.

• Ensure clear, timely, and consistent communication across internal teams and external partners to maintain alignment and momentum.

• Lead evaluation and continuous improvement activities, identifying best practice, learning, and opportunities for refinement or scaling.

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Person specification

Attributes Essential Desirable Qualifications

• Educated to degree level. • Project management training or certification. • High level of English language proficiency. • Proficient with Microsoft Office, or similar.

Experience • Proven track record of managing and delivering multiple projects simultaneously.

• Experience working independently or in small teams, taking ownership of project delivery from inception to completion.

• Experience of schools or colleges.

• Experience of UTCs or technical education.

Skills • Strong project planning, organisational, and time-management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action.

• Ability to manage risks, solve problems and make sound decisions independently.

• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively.

• Competence with project management tools and digital platforms (e.g. tracking systems, collaborative tools, CRM software).

• Innovative problem solver.

Personal attributes

• Highly self-motivated, proactive, and able to work autonomously with minimal supervision.

• Hands-on, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a small, fast-moving organisation.

• Confident, credible, and professional. • Resilient and solutions focused.

• Sense of humour.

Other attributes

• High standard of personal presentation. • Ability to relate to young people. • Available to work flexible hours.

• Car driver and owner.

Further information Baker Dearing’s website can be found at https://bakerdearing.org/

How to apply Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your suitability for the role to director@bakerdearing.org.

Closing date: 12th December 2025 Interviews: w/c 15th December 2025