Work with us

Schools & Education Co-Director

We’re looking for a Schools & Education Co-Director to join Chol at an exciting moment in the development of our schools and education work.

This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for shaping the next phase of Chol’s work with schools, teachers and education partners, while contributing to the wider leadership and direction of the organisation.

Schools and education have been central to Chol’s practice for more than 15 years. Most recently, our four-year Caring & Creative Schools programme enabled us to deepen our work with children, teachers, artists and school leaders, and to develop a rich body of learning around creative pedagogy, teacher development and long-term partnerships.

We’re looking for someone who will value and engage with that learning, while bringing their own expertise, ambition, ideas and critical thinking to help shape what comes next.

The Schools & Education Co-Director will be part of the Chol-Operative – Chol’s evolving collaborative leadership model – working alongside our wider Co-Director team to contribute to organisational strategy, partnerships, sustainability and shared decision-making.

The role

3 days per week / 0.6 FTE

The role combines:

• Schools & Education Leadership
  Leading the development of Chol’s schools and education strategy, programmes, partnerships and practice.
• Partnerships & Development
  Building relationships with schools, Headteachers, Trusts, teachers, cultural organisations, universities and other education partners, while developing future opportunities, commissions and funding.
• Creative Practice, Learning & Evaluation
  Building on Chol’s existing creative pedagogies and the learning from Caring & Creative Schools, while creating space for new ideas, experimentation and reflective practice.
• Organisational Co-Leadership
  Contributing to Chol’s wider strategy, partnerships, fundraising, advocacy, organisational learning and shared decision-making.

The role will also work collaboratively with our Strive Lead and wider Co-Director team to embed Chol’s organisational approach to anti-racism, equity, inclusion and belonging across schools and education activity.

Who we’re looking for

We’re interested in hearing from people with experience across one or more of the following areas:

• Schools and education
• Creative learning or arts education
• Teacher development
• Cultural education
• Education strategy
• Creative pedagogy
• School leadership or partnership development

You’ll understand the realities of working with schools, be able to build strong relationships with teachers, senior leaders and partners, and feel comfortable working both strategically and practically.

You don’t need to currently work in a theatre or arts organisation to be right for this role.

We’re looking for someone who believes in the role creativity and imagination can play within education, values collaborative and reflective ways of working, and is excited by the opportunity to help shape something rather than simply inherit a finished model.

Contract Details

Hours: 3 days per week / 0.6 FTE

Salary: £20,884.50 per annum (£34,807.50 FTE)

Contract: Fixed-term contract for 1 year, with the possibility of extension subject to funding

Location: Kirklees with flexible working, alongside regular travel to schools and partner settings

Application deadline: Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11.59pm

Interviews: Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November 2026

Target start date: Monday 30 November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter depending on notice period

Download the Job Pack

The full recruitment pack includes:

• Information about Chol and the Chol-Operative
• The background to Chol’s schools and education work
• Details about the role and responsibilities
• Person specification
• Contract details
• Recruitment process and application questions

How to apply

Please send us:

1. A CV or alternative summary of your relevant experience

2. Responses to the following three questions:

Why this role, and why Chol?
What draws you to this opportunity?

Tell us about something you have helped to develop or change.
What was your role, how did you work with others, and what did you learn?

How would you approach stepping into this role?
What would you want to understand, explore or prioritise when shaping the next phase of Chol’s schools and education work?

Responses can be submitted in writing, audio or video.

Please send your application to:
jess@wearechol.co.uk

We know people don’t always apply unless they meet every requirement, particularly if they’ve experienced barriers to accessing leadership opportunities.

If this role feels like it could be for you, even if your experience doesn’t fit neatly into one route, we’d really encourage you to apply.

We’re interested in your experience, your perspective and what you could bring to the next phase of Chol’s work.

If you’d like to talk the role through before applying, we’re always happy to have an informal, no-pressure conversation. Email Jess at jess@wearechol.co.uk.