Job Description

Regional Director

Department: Regional Office

Region: Central Region

Reports to: Director Operations / CEO (as applicable), Direct Reports Principals / Heads of School, and Regional functional leads, (Academics, Operations, Finance, Marketing / Business Development, Admin)

Job Overview:

The Regional Director is holding full accountability for its commercial success, academic excellence, and operational integrity, they own enrolment growth, financial performance, and the overall health of every school in the portfolio; translating the organisation's vision into measurable regional outcomes. They drive sustainable growth and profitability, build and safeguard leadership succession, foster strong stakeholder and community relationships, and ensure uncompromising standards of quality, safeguarding, and compliance. Above all, the Regional Director ensures that every school thrives; delivering an exceptional student and parent experience while upholding the organisation's mission, values, and brand.

Major Responsibilities:

Shaping & Transforming the Region:

• Own the regional campus expansion and consolidation strategy, approving new sites, relocations and capacity additions, and sponsoring feasibility and investment cases to the Board in line with the five-year growth plan
• Provide final regional authority on major commercial arrangements, including leases, land acquisitions and joint ventures, ensuring terms meet approved financial benchmarks before Board submission
• Conduct ongoing environmental scanning, including PESTLE analysis and local market and competitor research, to identify growth opportunities, protect market share and inform the region's school experience and marketing strategy Develop and efficiently manage the learning environment, resources and facilities of each school in the region to support forecasted growth in pupil numbers over the next 5 years, staying current with changing legislation and evolving practices

Academic Excellence:

• Oversee the delivery and effectiveness of teaching staff, curriculum planning and the annual educational program to uphold quality education standards
• Ensure academic and operational standards align with the SIQA framework, and develop connections with educators and business leaders globally to integrate leading practices into regional plans People, Stakeholder Management & Succession:
• Act as the public face of the region, liaising with the Board, external stakeholders, government bodies, parents, students, media and regional employees to ensure effective communication and quality relationships
• Foster positive relationships with landlords of rented and leased premises to protect business continuity and brand equity
• Continuously scout and develop talent, ensuring clear targets and job descriptions across the region, and build and own the regional succession plan for Principal, Head and key leadership roles to ensure continuity and reduce key person risk

Financial Management:

• Own the annual business plan, long term strategic plan and self evaluation of schools in the region, aligning growth with local demographics and best in class financial benchmarks
• Manage regional Capex, OPEX, P&L and financial ratios to drive profitability, cost optimization and sustainable growth Operational Excellence:
• Establish processes for effective performance management, self evaluation and continuous improvement across all functions
• Identify and mitigate operational risks in a timely manner, and ensure quality management calendar optimization aligned to academic year timelines Quality Assurance & Legal Compliance:
• Ensure the region and all schools meet safeguarding responsibilities, legislative requirements and statutory obligations, and enforce adherence to legal guidelines and in house policies to maintain the organisation's legality, business ethics and governance

Business Growth, Enrolment & Parent Experience:

• Maximise capacity utilisation across the portfolio, own the regional enrolment and revenue targets, and identify new revenue and expansion opportunities aligned to demographic demand
• Champion an exceptional student and parent experience as the primary driver of retention, referrals and brand strength, monitoring parent satisfaction and student outcomes to ensure enrolment stability

Qualification & Skills:

• Master's degree in Education, Public Management, Business Administration or a related field
• Strong analytical skills to interpret KPIs and implement data driven strategies
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Sound commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to manage P&L, Capex and OPEX at a regional level

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in educational leadership, including at least 3 years in a regional or school network management role
• Proven track record of improving academic performance, financial sustainability and operational efficiency
• This position requires extensive travel across the region