Senior Project Lead - SEN School Development

Full-time Permanent Southeast England

Salary: £65,000 - £72,000 (DOE)

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Senior Project Lead to support the development and delivery of new Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, guiding each project from early planning through to operational mobilisation.

This role is ideal for a senior professional with strong project-delivery experience in education, SEN, or children's services who can coordinate multiple workstreams, manage stakeholders, and ensure each school opens safe, compliant, and ready for learners.

The Role

As Senior Project Lead, you will play a key role in the successful development of new SEN schools. You will:

• Lead day-to-day project management across planning, design, regulatory submissions, and mobilisation
• Coordinate feasibility studies, timelines, risk logs, and delivery plans
• Work closely with architects, contractors, local authorities, and internal teams
• Support the development of operational frameworks, staffing models, policies, and systems
• Ensure compliance with SEND Code of Practice, safeguarding requirements, and Ofsted expectations
• Prepare project documentation, progress reports, and readiness assessments
• Support recruitment, induction, and pre-opening activities
• Ensure each school is delivered on time, within scope, and to the required quality standards

About You

You will bring:

• Experience delivering complex projects in education, SEN, social care, or a related field
• Strong understanding of SEND legislation, commissioning, and regulatory processes
• Excellent organisational and project-management skills
• Confidence working with multi-agency partners and senior stakeholders
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach
• A commitment to inclusive, child-centred practice

Why Join Us

This is a unique opportunity to help shape new SEN provision from the ground up. You will join a forward-thinking organisation committed to high-quality, inclusive education and positive outcomes for children and families.