Ruthin School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.
The post of Deputy Head (External Relations) is part of the Senior Leadership Team.
The purpose of the role is to work closely with the Head and colleagues, both in Ruthin School and Ruthin Education Limited, to lead, develop and promote a culture of excellence in school marketing and admissions, enterprises and commercial activity. The work will follow agreed strategic objectives and be completed within a framework of deadlines.
Duties and Responsibilities
The following list is not exhaustive, but the main responsibilities of the role are:
Leadership
Implement an effective UK and international student recruitment and retention strategy,
including the identification of potential new markets and relationships
Employ innovative strategies in market analysis for the benefit of recruitment & commercial
enterprises, and accurately measure the impact of strategies employed
Direct commercial and enterprise initiative, including those with Ruthin Education Limited.
This will involve collaboration, detailed planning, staffing and logistics.
Job Description
Communication and Marketing
Ensure that Ruthin School’s reputation for excellence is recognised & valued in both the local & international recruitment market. Work closely with the Head, Board and marketing team to oversee the development of promotional literature for recruitment & commercial enterprises Build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders including alumni feeder schools, senior schools, current and prospective parents/agents and also business & enterprise groups ensuring a strong presence in a range of key markets Represent the School, and summer camps where necessary, to support marketing and sales activities, both in the UK and overseas, at recruitment fairs and exhibitions to facilitate the recruitment of students at all entry points. This will involve playing a key role in the planning of some and attendance at others Demonstrate confidence and vision in promoting the school’s ethos & values to the business sector, ensuring a full range of commercial opportunities are achieved Develop and implement a strategy to increase engagement of alumni with Ruthin School through effective relationships, attendance at meetings, mentoring of current students, improved communication and events Keep abreast of current research, trends and issues relevant to education in general, and to the international sector in specific, ensuring constant monitoring of relevant guidelines, compliance regulations and best practice Play a positive & active role at Board & senior leadership level, contributing to decision making and the implementation of these decisions across the whole school community Work closely with the Head, Bursar and Board to identify fundraising priorities, manage gift restrictions & gift phasing, accommodate tax-efficient giving in the UK & from overseas, & develop ambitious donor development and contact strategies to secure major gifts & legacies.
Staff Management
Lead & develop the Marketing & Admissions, Development & Enterprise teams as a unified department, ensuring drive to achieve the current and future strategic aims Line manage and lead the Head of Marketing and Admissions; to ensure the successful recruitment of students in line with agreed targets and that support, processes and systems are in place to manage this effectively and efficiently In conjunction with the Registrar, analyse and forecast student numbers regularly and identify trends and emerging recruitment challenges/opportunities to the Head and Board Line manage and lead the Enterprise Manager, once appointed Constantly monitor staff performance and manage annual staff appraisals for your team Oversee any budgets assigned to you Chair marketing meetings, ensuring accurate minutes are kept.
Job Description Other
Display high standards of professionalism, having a student-centred approach, effective administration and close adherence to School policy and procedure Take a collective leadership responsibility for maintaining a culture of realising potential, focus and ambition in the School Be familiar with and work in accordance with the latest versions of statutory regulation and update SLT members when required Assist the Head and HR with interviewing applicants for relevant posts and to advise on the appointment of staff Assist the Head and Registrar in interviewing prospective students Involvement with formal complaints, disciplinary and grievance procedures Undertake additional duties that are appropriate to the role as directed by the Head.
The following duties are ones which all staff are required to perform:
Always observe health and safety procedures and work safely
Be responsible for your own continuing professional development, undertaking training as appropriate with developments in your role
Promote and safeguard the welfare of children for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact, and undertake regular training in this area Undertake any other duties as required in order to meet the changing needs and demands of the school and your role
Conduct yourself with professionalism, tact and diplomacy at all times as a
representative of Ruthin School.
This job description should be seen as enabling rather than restrictive and will be subject to regular review as the needs of the school evolve. Undertake other comparable duties as required.
Terms and Conditions
Working hours:
The core working hours are 0800-1700, Monday to Friday, but given that this is a key strategic
role, the post holder will be expected to work the hours necessary to fulfil the responsibilities of
the position, which will include working some weekends and evenings to support school functions
and regular travel to international events.
Holiday entitlement:
The holiday entitlement is 30 days plus bank holidays.
Pension:
The school offers a workplace pension scheme.
Notice period:
1 term.
Ruthin School is committed to creating a diverse workforce. We’ll consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.
(E) Essential (D) Desirable
CRITERIA QUALITIES
Qualifications and
training
Degree level qualification or equivalent professional qualification(s) (E)
Recognised qualification in leadership and management, financial management,
commercial development and/or marketing (D)
Evidence of continuous professional development in a relevant area (D)
Experience Proven, successful record of leadership and management in an education
environment or other relevant context (E)
Developing, and working in, high performance teams (E)
Employing innovative strategies in marketing and recruitment (E)
Securing improvements and maintaining excellence in a team (E)
Proven commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (E)
Effective resource management (E)
Preparation and delivery of presentations and workshops to staff, students and
other stakeholders (D)
Knowledge and
understanding
Safeguarding, welfare and care of students in a residential setting (E)
Independent schools and national and international marketing opportunities (E)
Effective inter-department management and communication (E)
Achieving high levels of performance within a culture of excellence (E)
International recruitment, agents, networks and markets (D)
Importance of maintaining schedules within annual marketing and recruitment
frameworks (D)
Skills and
Attributes
Strong leadership and negotiation skills with a strategic approach (E)
Ability to work effectively towards clearly defined outcomes (E)
Ability to build strong and effective relationships across teams (E)
A collaborative approach to working with key members of the leadership and
management teams, building trust and inspiring confidence (E)
Ability to set and work under tight deadlines (E)
Calm, effective communicator (E)
Resilient, independent, with a pro-active attitude (E)
Flexible and confident (E)
International perspective (D)
Commitment to providing opportunities and excellent outcomes for a range of
young people in education (D)
Application Process
Candidates should submit the following as part of their application:
A completed Application Form (available on the school’s website)
A covering letter, addressed to the Head
Applications should be electronically submitted to hr@ruthinschool.co.uk by midday on 16th February 2024, stating DH(ER) application in the title line.
Longlist activities will take place in the week commencing 19th February 2024 either remotely or in school depending on proximity. Final interviews will take place over two days in the week
commencing 26th February 2024 and will require attendance in person at Ruthin School.
Referees will be approached prior to shortlisting unless you expressly request otherwise.
The applicant will take up the role from September 2024, or sooner if available.
Candidates who are not shortlisted will not be offered feedback. Those who are not appointed following the interviews will be offered a telephone conversation with the Head.
If you would value an informal conversation with Victoria Gamble (Head) or Sue Frencham (Deputy Head), please contact their PA, Sian Williams, on williamsse@ruthinschool.co.uk to arrange a mutually convenient time.
If you have any questions or enquiries regarding the application process, please contact Fiona Winstone, HR Manager, on hr@ruthinschool.co.uk or 01824 702543.
The School website www.ruthinschool.co.uk provides a comprehensive overview of the School.
