Reporting lines: Reports to Deputy Director General

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time (35hrs per week), Mon-Fri  

Location: Flexible working – min 2 days per week in Shoreditch office

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Application deadline: 8 April 2022                                                                  

About BESA: BESA, the British Educational Suppliers Association, is the only trade association covering the entirety of the UK educational suppliers sector. It has an 89-year heritage serving the UK education sector, and represents over 400 educational suppliers in the UK, including manufacturers and distributors of equipment, materials, books, consumables, furniture, technology, ICT hardware and digital-content related services to the education market. Combined, they generate upwards of £2 billion of revenue each year.

BESA offers unparalleled support, research, events and advice on both UK and International markets, and the future of the education suppliers industry.  BESA founded the BETT Show in 1985, the Education Show in 1991 and the Education World Forum in 2011 and currently has over 40 education start-ups in its “Launchpad” programme.

We are a small, committed team working in a fantastic sector, where your work can make a real difference to the education of the next generation.

About the role:

Serves as a member of BESA’s senior leadership team reporting to, and supporting, the Association’s Deputy Director General. Provides leadership on the agenda and content of BESA’s events, plus develops digital content that raises BESA’s profile in schools and supports members working in the EdTech and wider education industry.

Job duties:

• Responsible for developing, leading and implementing BESA’s EdTech strategy to deliver the association’s goals and objectives to deliver and accelerate growth.
• Understanding the needs of existing customers to ensure their needs are met within BESA’s EdTech and online activities.
• Monitors the market and advises BESA’s leadership team on trends, developments or initiatives that will impact our commercial and membership activities in the future.
• Helps to develop content for BESA’s online platforms, social media and face to face events, and source speakers for BESA member events including Summer Insight Day and our AGM.
• Meeting and presenting to potential speakers, members, sponsors and partners from all over the world.
• Attending and presenting at conferences/events in UK and overseas.

LearnED Roadshow

The Head of Content will take the lead on the direction and content of the LearnED Roadshow and brand. It is their responsibility to ensure the event meets market need, delivers high quality CPD for teachers, working with the Head of Events to meet financial targets and continuing to develop and grow the brand. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Curating content for LearnED Roadshow events both physical and in person.
• Leading agenda development and identifying and developing new themes and discussion points.
• Recruiting high quality speakers that will attract delegates.
• Contributing to our year-round content programme and supporting our marketing.
• Building the online LearnED community through the use of social media and the website.
• Managing stakeholder and partner relations.
• Liaising with Head of Events and wider events team to ensure the effective organisation and delivery of the Roadshow series.

Bett Futures

Manage the Bett Futures programme including:

• Liaising with Hyve to ensure BESA has a voice in the design of the Bett Futures area and programme within Bett.
• Liaising with Bett Futures companies, running briefing events in person or online. Working with them to ensure they gain maximum benefit from their participation in the programme.
• Being the main contact person for Bett Futures at the event, on hand to offer support and solve queries.
• Liaising with the membership team to ensure all participants are registered as Launchpad subscribers and receive the associated benefits of membership.
• Working to membership team to ensure participants convert to Launchpad subscribers at the end of the programme.

EdTech Exchange

The Head of Content will work alongside the events team to manage the growth and development of the EdTech Exchange community in the UK and internationally.

• Sources speakers, curates content and designs, in partnership with the Events team, the annual events series to include (but not limited to) networking events and supper club meetings.
• Identifies opportunities for networking events at international events BESA will be attending
• Works with our marketing team and partners to build visibility of EdTech Exchange to create more awareness of the programme and to drive membership.
• Helps source and secure sponsorship for events to meet our financial targets.

Other

• Accepts extra duties as situations and needs arise in a small, tight-knit organisation.

Head of Content Key skills:

• Proven track record in leadership, content curation and programme development.
• In depth understanding of the education industry. Experience of teaching or working in schools would be an advantage.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the EdTech market.
• Proven experience working with EdTech start-ups and investors.
• Existing network of contacts within the sector.
• Experience of public speaking and presenting at events.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• A strong influencer.
• Experience of working with international partners.
• A willingness to take on other roles when necessary.

Beyond this, the successful applicant will also be a strong fit within our organisation and have the ability to build and maintain relationships both internally and externally.  To this end, they will need at all times to be:

• Highly motivated, results-oriented and have a clear focus on business growth.
• Positive in outlook with a willingness to support and aid colleagues and members.
• Passionate in offering the best quality of service possible to our membership.
• A natural forward planner who critically assesses their own performance.

The package:

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Training budget and support for lifelong learners
• Performance related bonus scheme
• Wellness activities
• Flexible working arrangements
• Social activities
• Dynamic office in Shoreditch
• The role is a permanent position with a three-month probationary period

Estimated start date: 1 June, although notice periods are fully taken into account.