Strategic Development Manager | PiXL | £55,000 | Remote, Flexible, Full-Time, Permanent
Do you thrive building executive relationships that shape educational strategy?
Can you influence senior decision-makers across multi-academy trusts and local authorities? Are you motivated by leading complex deals that deliver national impact?
PiXL is the UK's largest education leadership network. For over 25 years, we've worked alongside school leaders to provide evidence-informed strategies, professional development, and collaborative networks that drive sustainable improvement across thousands of schools and colleges. This role is about growing strategic partnerships across the UK's education system — working at the highest level to extend the reach and impact of what we do.
The Role: Develop Reach to Trusts and Local Authorities
- Win and develop high-value strategic education partnerships
- Build executive relationships across trusts, local authorities and partners
- Lead complex commercial conversations from discovery through closure
- Shape strategic growth opportunities across regions and national programmes
- Represent PiXL as a trusted strategic adviser within the education sector
A Day in the Life
No two days look identical, but every day is dynamic and powered by our mission to improve life chances. You'll be involved in:
- Strategic business development — identifying, engaging and developing large-scale opportunities with multi-academy trusts, local authorities and education partners
- Executive consultation — building trusted relationships with Chief Executives, Directors of Education and senior system leaders across the UK
- Complex sales leadership — navigating longer sales cycles, multiple stakeholders and strategic procurement processes with confidence
- Proactive outreach — leading with eminence across the sector, becoming a known figure through thought leadership and direct engagement
- Market intelligence — monitoring policy, educational trends and regional priorities to identify emerging commercial opportunities
- Development ideation — working across policy, education and marketing teams to lead influential campaigns that attract strong leads
What You'll Bring
You will likely have:
- Significant business development experience within education
- Strong understanding of trusts, local authorities and system leadership
- Experience managing complex, high-value sales opportunities
- Confidence engaging executive-level stakeholders
- Excellent commercial negotiation skills
- Strong strategic planning and pipeline management
- Experience developing long-term customer relationships
- Exceptional influencing and communication skills
Bonus, but not essential:
- Existing relationships within the education sector
- Experience selling strategic education services
- Experience working with MAT leadership teams
- Knowledge of education policy and organisational change
- Experience mentoring commercial colleagues
The Character We're Looking For
Beyond skill, we're looking for someone who is:
- Strategic and commercially astute
- Highly credible with senior leaders
- Patient and resilient through long sales cycles
- Entrepreneurial in creating opportunities
- Exceptionally professional
- Driven by improving educational outcomes
What We Offer
- Market-competitive salary of £55,000
- Remote, flexible, full-time and permanent role
- 13% employer pension contribution
- Medical health plan
- 32 holiday days plus 8 bank holidays per year
If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.
PiXL is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. We are an equal opportunities employer, and all recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, skills and potential.