Director of Development and External Relations

Required: September 2025

Line Manager: Headmaster

Salary: £65,000-75,000 per annum, according to skills and experience

Location: The King’s School, Gloucester (On-Site)

Closing date: Sunday 23rd March, 12:00 midday

The Role

We are seeking an ambitious and strategic Director of Development and External Relations to shape our long-term vision, expand the School’s reach, and strengthen its financial sustainability. This role is integral to the advancement of the School’s mission and strategy, and is ideally suited to a seasoned professional with expertise in development (fundraising), admissions, marketing and communications, possessing strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.

As the School’s brand ambassador, the successful candidate will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, working under the leadership of the Head. The team also includes the Bursar, Head of Junior School, Deputy Heads (Pastoral, Academic and Operations) and Assistant Heads (Sixth Form and Co-curricular). Close collaboration with the Head, the Bursar and Gloucester Cathedral as a Foundation Partner will be critical to the delivery of the School’s strategic objectives.

The role will involve developing innovative ways to enhance engagement with the broader School community, including alumni, parents, former parents, and external stakeholders. A key priority will be establishing the School’s development efforts, ensuring that fundraising aligns with the long-term vision for bursaries, capital projects, and academic investment.

The School

The King’s School is one of the dozen oldest schools in the country and has a proud heritage dating back to at least 1087, with a re-foundation in 1541. King’s is the Cathedral School in the city of Gloucester, whilst the surrounding county is home to many excellent grammar and state schools, as well as other independent schools. King’s is held in high regard amidst this competitive area; our academic, co-curricular and pastoral attainment is second to none. As a result, the last three ISI reports for King’s have all been classified as ‘excellent’ in every area. Local media brand SoGlos has awarded King’s the title of ‘Independent School of the Year’ or ‘Highly Commended’ in every one of the last five years – a feat unmatched by any other local independent school.

Despite the multiple national-scale challenges of recent years, King’s is thriving; pupil roll is growing steadily, parental satisfaction continues to score very highly indeed, and there have been numerous, resounding co-curricular successes, with our 1st XV set to play a first ever national final at Twickenham on 13th March, and an exciting netball partnership established between King’s and the Birmingham Panthers Super League franchise. With careful investment in the campus and facilities, as well as a continuous focus on improving teaching and learning and developing our outstanding pastoral care, King’s is now seen as a dynamic, forward-thinking and impressive place to study and to work.

Key Responsibilities

As a key staff member and Senior Leader, the Director of Development and External Relations will undertake a range of duties with a focus on Strategic Leadership, Fundraising and Development, Admissions and Marketing, Communications and Public Relations, Alumni Relations, Team Leadership and Budget Management. For full details, please refer to the attached documentation.

Applications

Candidates should apply through TES or by sending a completed School Application Form via email to recruitment@thekingsschool.co.uk. A CV is not required. The deadline for applications is Sunday 23rd March at 12:00 noon.

For further information or an informal chat about the role, please contact our recruiting partner, Mrs Rachel Hadley-Leonard, on 07817 957724 or via email to rachelhadleyleonard@outlook.com.

The King’s School, Gloucester is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references from previous employers and eligibility to work in the UK. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including a prohibition from teaching check (where appropriate) and, in line with KCSIE, an online search for shortlisted candidates only – this will consist of a Google and social media search. The search is looking for anything that calls into question the candidate’s suitability to work with children, or could cause harm to the reputation of The King’s School, Gloucester. Any information discovered will be shared with members of the interviewing panel prior to interview. Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013, 2020 and 2023), which would otherwise mean that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and would not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they were disclosed, employers could not take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974.