Salary: Competitive
Location: Cambridge, UK – Hybrid (minimum two days per week in office, includes international travel)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time
The opportunity
We are seeking an exceptional, future-focused leader in education to join Cambridge University Press & Assessment (CUP&A) as Managing Director for Cambridge Partnership for Education.
CUP&A is a world-leading publishing and assessment organisation which is part of the University of Cambridge. Operating across more than 170 countries and reaching more than 100 million learners globally, Cambridge plays a unique role in shaping the future of learning, assessment and academic research.
The role would lead the Partnership for Education - the part of CUP&A that works with governments, ministries, international development organisations and NGOs to strengthen education systems at scale. The role holds full accountability for the strategy, performance, people, delivery and long-term sustainability of Cambridge Partnership for Education.
The postholder will secure the Partnership's sustainability by growing a strong pipeline of new and repeat opportunities, building disciplined and efficient ways of working, and deepening collaboration across Cambridge International Education.
Operating with significant internal and external influence, the role represents Cambridge at the most senior levels with governments, ministries, international agencies and partners, ensuring the Partnership remains financially resilient, commercially focused and firmly aligned to its social purpose of improving learning at scale.
Key responsibilities
- Strategy, commercial growth and efficiency - Set and lead the Partnership strategy aligned to organisational priorities, with clear accountability for growing the directorates financial contribution year on year. Ensure that growth, balanced with impact and social purpose, advances International Education's strategic aim of making high-quality education accessible to more people.
- Business development, bids and proposals -Oversee the work of the Director of Commercial Strategy, to lead the pipeline of new opportunities across government, donor and multilateral markets.
- Risk, opportunity and compliance Manage risk and opportunity across a complex portfolio of government contracts, donor funding and delivery in fragile and emergency contexts.
- Driving the Ongoing Sustainability of the Partnership - Secure the long-term sustainability and financial resilience of the Partnership for Education.
- Cross-organisational collaboration - Actively explore how the work of the Partnership for Education can support and add value to the wider Cambridge University Press & Assessment, unlocking new opportunities.
- Government and Ministry Partnerships- Steward Cambridge's long-term accreditation and association relationships with ministries of education, Position Cambridge as a credible long-term adviser on system reform.
- People & culture - Lead a global workforce of c.100 specialists, fostering an inclusive, purpose-driven culture.
This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition
About you
To be successful in this critical role, you will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Proven commercial and financial leadership across government, donor and foundation markets, with experience growing financial contribution through new products, partners contracts, and cost-efficiency.
- Deep understanding of education systems internationally, including in low- and middle-income and fragile contexts
- Comprehensive experience of leading a large, multidisciplinary organisation or business unit with full P&L responsibility. Leading and developing diverse teams across cultures and locations
- A strong track record of building and sustaining senior relationships with ministers, governments, donors and multilateral agencies. Converting these into competitive bids, partnerships and funded programmes.
- Directing complex, large-scale education reform or development programmes across multiple jurisdictions
- Leading delivery in emergency or fragile contexts with rigorous governance, risk management and close work with compliance and legal teams
We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, and disclose a disability or a long-term health condition, and who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is not practicable and/or appropriate, we prioritise
those who best meet the minimum criteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.
Rewards and benefits
We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible rewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Group personal pension scheme
- Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
- Green travel schemes
Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.
The closing date for all applications will be Sunday 12th July 2026. We will begin reviewing applications during the advertising period, with interviews taking place during and after the closing date.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.
We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter.
Why join us
Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.
We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.
