Purpose of the Role This role exists to launch and grow Dataspire ONE - our managed digital maturity and assurance service for UK schools and Multi‑Academy Trusts - into a market that genuinely needs it.
You will work directly with the CEO and senior trust leaders to:
Generate qualified opportunities and run the full sales cycle
Present Dataspire ONE credibly to MAT CEOs, CFOs and school SLTs
Personally deliver the first cohort of reference customers
Build the commercial and delivery team behind you as the service scales
This is not a maintenance role. You are launching something new and will be accountable for whether it succeeds.
Role Overview We are looking for a senior commercial leader with deep credibility in the UK education sector, someone who has either worked inside schools or trusts at a senior level, or sold strategic services into them, or both.
You will own the launch of Dataspire ONE end‑to‑end. In the first six months, that means personally selling and shaping the proposition. Beyond that, it means building and leading the team that takes Dataspire ONE to scale.
The role combines:
Commercial leadership and revenue accountability
Senior stakeholder engagement at MAT and school level
Strategic shaping of the Dataspire ONE proposition
Team building and leadership as the service grows
Role Responsibilities 1. Pipeline Generation & Opportunity Creation
Build a qualified pipeline against the Dataspire ONE Ideal Customer Profile, including:
Direct outreach to MAT CEOs, CFOs and school SLTs
Activation of CCS framework opportunities (RM6103, RM6098)
Sector events, conferences and trust networks
Referrals from existing Dataspire accounts and partners
Work alongside marketing to shape campaigns, content and events
Own the prospect list and the cadence of engagement
2. Selling & Closing
Run the full commercial cycle from first conversation to signed contract. Tailor the Dataspire ONE pitch to:
MAT-level strategic priorities
School-specific risk and compliance pressures
Procurement realities (frameworks, governor approval, term cycles)
Negotiate scope and commercial terms within agreed pricing parameters
3. Service Delivery & Client Outcomes
Personally lead the delivery of Strategy & Assurance work for the first cohort
Translate the Dataspire ONE methodology into credible client outputs
Adapt the proposition based on:
What clients actually buy
Where the methodology breaks down in practice
What competitors and DfE expectations are doing
Build the case studies and references that fuel future sales
4. Senior Stakeholder Credibility
Operate as a peer with:
MAT Chief Executives
Trust Chief Operating and Financial Officers
Headteachers and School Business Managers
Translate digital and commercial decisions into:
Educational and safeguarding impact
Board and ESFA‑relevant language
Hold your position when challenged on cost, scope or methodology
If senior leaders do not take you seriously in the room, the rest of the role does not work.
5. Commercial Expansion & Account Growth
Identify follow‑on improvement, infrastructure and assurance work within Dataspire ONE clients
Coordinate with Dataspire delivery teams to scope and price proposals
Drive renewal and retention of Dataspire ONE subscriptions
6. Team & Function Building
Document the playbook as you sell, so it can be transferred to the team you build
Define, hire and lead the Dataspire ONE commercial and delivery team (4–6 people across 18 months)
Set the operating rhythm, KPIs and standards the team will be held to
Key Outcomes Success in this role will be measured by:
Signed Dataspire ONE customers and contracted recurring revenue against agreed targets
Quality of reference customers secured and case studies produced
Pipeline coverage and conversion rates against the Dataspire ONE ICP
Expansion revenue and retention within the Dataspire ONE client base
Credibility of the proposition with MAT and school leadership in the market
A documented, transferable playbook and the team built to deliver it
Experience Required
Senior commercial or leadership experience in, or selling into UK education
Track record of carrying and hitting a number on advisory or managed services
Strong working understanding of:
Digital and IT estates within schools and trusts
Cybersecurity, safeguarding and DfE digital standards
MIS, cloud platforms (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace) and edtech
Proven ability to:
Open senior conversations from a standing start
Influence MAT CEOs, CFOs and Headteachers as a peer
Build commercial functions, not just sell within them
Person Profile You are:
Senior, credible and comfortable in MAT boardrooms
Commercially literate
Comfortable building from zero and accountable for the outcome
You are not:
A pure account manager looking after a warm book
A consultant who wants someone else to find the deals
Someone who needs a finished playbook before they will start
How to Apply If you have the experience, commercial focus, and leadership capability this role demands, we would welcome an application. Please send your CV and a covering note outlining your suitability to careers@dataspire.co.uk.
Dataspire is a Mental Health at Work Committed organisation and a Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are committed to an inclusive recruitment process. #J-18808-Ljbffr