Your new role
1. Job title: Policy Consultant - UK Education / EdTech
2. Sector/organisation type: Not-for-profit
3. Contract: Interim, part-time
4. Start: ASAP
5. Duration: 6 months (initial)
6. Rate: £750–£850/day (outside IR35)
7. Working pattern: 2–3 days per week
8. Hours/Leave: 7 hours per day
9. Office location: Hybrid (Oxford – 1 day per week)
10. Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 24th
The opportunity
11. This is a high-impact opportunity to take on a senior role shaping how an organisation understands, engages with and influences the UK education policy landscape.
12. You will act as a trusted adviser to senior leadership, bringing deep expertise, strong networks and a credible external voice. You will ensure the organisation is not only responding to policy developments, but actively shaping the conversation — particularly across areas such as curriculum and assessment reform, AI in education and wider system change.
13. You will operate at the intersection of policy, public affairs andmercial strategy. A key part of the role is translatingplex and evolving policy developments into clear, actionable insights that inform product strategy, partnerships and long-term positioning.
14. This is a highly visible role, requiring someone who can operate confidently at senior levels acrossernment, regulators and the wider education ecosystem, while also influencing internally across aplex organisation.
Duties and responsibilities
15. Develop and lead a clear UK education policy strategy aligned to organisational priorities
16. Identify and prioritise areas where the organisation should engage, influence and take a visible position
17. Build and maintain senior relationships acrossernment, regulators, system leaders and sector bodies
18. Represent the organisation externally as a credible voice in policy discussions, roundtables and industry forums
19. Shape and oversee delivery of thought leadership, including policy papers, consultation responses and publicmentary
20. Translate policy developments into actionable insights for product, strategy and market positioning
21. Identify and support partnership, innovation, funding and tender opportunities
22. Work closely withmunications, research, product andmercial teams to align messaging and activity.
23. Provide clear, evidence-based advice to senior stakeholders on risks, opportunities and emerging trends
About you
This role is suited to someone who:
24. Brings deep expertise in UK education policy and understands how policy is shaped in practice.
25. Has an established and credible profile, with strong networks acrossernment and the wider education sector.
26. Isfortable influencing at senior level, both externally and internally.
27. Enjoys turningplex and ambiguous issues into clear, actionable insight
28. Has a strongmercial and strategic lens, linking policy developments to business opportunities.
29. Works collaboratively, building relationships across different teams and functions.
30. Brings confidence, sound judgement and credibility in a fast-moving environment.
Essential criteria
31. Significant senior-level experience in UK education policy, public affairs orernment relations.
32. Deep understanding of the UK education system, policymaking processes and current reform agenda.
33. Proven ability to influence and engage credibly with senior stakeholders acrossernment and regulatory bodies.
34. Strong external networks across the education ecosystem (ernment, inspectorates, system leaders, sector bodies, EdTech).
35. Demonstrable experience shaping and delivering policy strategy with tangible impact.
36. Track record of producing high-quality thought leadership and influencing external debate.
37. Excellentmunication skills, with the ability to translateplex policy into clear, practical implications.
38. Strongmercial awareness, with experience linking policy insight to strategy, growth or product development.