Director of Marketing and Development

Appointment of:
Director of
Marketing and Development
Information for Candidates

ABOUT QUEEN MARY'S SCHOOL

Queen Mary's School is a thriving independent boarding and day school for girls aged 0–16 and co-
educational from 0-8. Set within 40 acres of stunning grounds at Baldersby Park, a Grade I listed building
between Ripon and Thirsk. Founded in 1925, the school is part of the Woodard Corporation and is grounded
in Christian values of integrity, compassion, service and excellence.

The school is on an exceptionally strong footing, financially healthy, recently invested in major facilities, and
led by Headmistress Mrs Fe Beadnell with a clear and ambitious 2025–2035 Strategic Vision. This is a school
at an exciting inflection point: stable enough to invest boldly, and ambitious enough to grow significantly.

We believe education should be both inspiring and intellectually demanding. Equal importance is placed on
what our pupils achieve and on who they become. Our girls are encouraged to think independently, work
ambitiously and develop a genuine love of learning, guided by strong values and moral purpose.

We are a values-led school, co-educational in our Nursery and Pre-Prep, where boys and girls learn and grow
together as part of one supportive Queen Mary’s family. From age 8, we provide a girls-only environment,
informed by research and experience, recognising this as a pivotal stage at which many girls thrive
academically and personally when educated in a setting designed around their confidence, needs and
learning styles.

Within our all-girls’ Prep and Senior environment, exceptional academic standards and consistently strong
outcomes sit alongside outstanding pastoral care.  Every girl is known, supported and inspired to aim high,
think independently and achieve excellence within a culture that is both nurturing and academically
ambitious.

Our happily empowering ethos underpins daily life. We celebrate individuality while fostering resilience, self-
belief, integrity and personal responsibility. Through rich experiences in and beyond the classroom, girls are
equipped with the confidence, character and clarity of purpose to become who they want to be – and to
succeed at the highest level.

THE  COMME RCI A L O PPO RT UN IT Y

This is not a conventional school marketing role. Queen Mary's is seeking a commercially ambitious leader to
drive revenue growth, lead a transformational capital campaign, and build the school's income from a portfolio
of outstanding facilities, all while protecting and amplifying the school's distinctive ethos and culture.

−  Lead the capital campaign for the Maryan Centre and market-leading Equestrian Arena — flagship

philanthropic and commercial investments in the school's future

−  Grow non-fee income from world-class facilities including a 15m swimming pool, full-size all-weather

pitch, stabling and paddocks, and boarding house holiday lets

−  Drive pupil roll growth through an ambitious admissions strategy targeting day, boarding, and

international pupils

−  Build a major gifts and alumni donor programme from the ground up, creating a culture of philanthropy

at Queen Mary's

−  Launch and grow the school's new Nursery provision opening September 2026, expanding the feeder

pipeline from 0–3 years

The successful candidate will be measured against clear commercial targets: pupil roll growth, fundraising
income, facilities revenue, and donor pipeline development. This is a role for someone who sees these goals as
exciting, not intimidating.

THE  RO LE

The Director of Marketing & Development is a Senior Leadership role reporting directly to the Headmistress
and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team. The post holder will lead a dynamic team covering Marketing,
Admissions, Communications and the Front Office, and will hold executive responsibility for the school's
Development Strategy and commercial income.

The role demands a rare combination: the commercial drive and financial literacy to grow revenue, the creative
intelligence to build a compelling brand, and the relational skills to cultivate major donors and strategic
partnerships, all delivered with sensitivity to a school community built on values, trust and care for young
people.

KE Y  RES PO NS IB I LITI ES

1.  Commercial Development & Fundraising

−  Design and lead the school's Development Strategy, including a major capital campaign to fund the

Maryan Centre and Equestrian Arena

−  Build and manage a major gifts programme, identifying, cultivating, and soliciting significant donations

from individuals, trusts, and corporate partners

−  Develop and grow alumni engagement, creating a long-term pipeline of philanthropic support
−  Maximise commercial income from the school's facilities portfolio: swimming pool, all-weather pitch,

stabling, paddocks, and holiday boarding provision

−

Identify and develop new commercial partnerships and sponsorship opportunities consistent with the
school's values

−  Report fundraising and commercial income outcomes to the Headmistress, Bursar and Governors'

Marketing Committee

2.  Admissions & Pupil Roll Growth

−  Own the end-to-end admissions process, with clear conversion targets across day, boarding, flexi-

boarding and international pupil recruitment

−  Develop and execute a boarding growth strategy, working with the Head and pastoral team to

strengthen and communicate the boarding proposition

−  Lead the launch and admissions strategy for the new Nursery opening September 2026
−  Develop the international admissions pipeline in collaboration with agents and partners
−  Oversee UKVI compliance for international pupils and the Admissions Register

3.  Marketing, Brand & Communications

−  Develop and implement an inspirational multi-channel marketing strategy that positions Queen Mary's

clearly in its chosen markets

−  Act as brand guardian, ensuring all communications reflect the school's mission, values and distinctive

character

−  Lead the school's digital presence: website, social media, SEO, and content marketing
−  Manage media relations and PR, including crisis communications and reputation management
−  Oversee the internal communications strategy, keeping the whole school community well-informed and

engaged

−  Conduct regular market and competitor analysis to inform strategy and positioning

4.  Leadership & Team Development

−  Lead, inspire and develop the Marketing, Admissions, Communications and Front Office teams
−  Shape the team structure to meet the school's evolving commercial and reputational needs
−  As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to whole-school strategy and collaborate across

departments

−  Manage the department's budget with rigour and accountability, reporting regularly on performance

against targets

−  Attend termly Governors' Marketing Committee meetings and prepare relevant reports

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The new Director of Marketing and Development will be an innovative and visionary leader with
intellectual acumen and authority, capable of effectively involving pupils, staff, parents, and
stakeholders in achieving the school's objectives.

Desirable:
−  CIM qualification or equivalent
−  Knowledge of facilities or venue commercial

management
iSAMS or equivalent MIS experience

−
−  Experience of international pupil recruitment
−
Fundraising or development qualification

Desirable:
−

Experience of working with a governing body or
trustees
Existing network relevant to philanthropy or
education

−

Qualifications & Experience
Essential:
−
−  Proven track record of income generation against

Educated to degree level

−

−

−

−

commercial targets
Experience of major gifts solicitation or capital
campaign management
Strategic marketing leadership with measurable
brand and growth outcomes
Experience managing and developing high-
performing teams
Strong financial literacy and budget management
experience

Skills, Abilities & Personal Qualities
Essential:
−  Commercial acumen with ability to identify and

−

convert revenue opportunities
Exceptional relationship-builder — with donors,
parents, partners and staff

−  Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
−  Data-driven: comfortable with targets, KPIs and

performance reporting

−  Creative and innovative thinker who can execute as

well as strategise

−  Resilient, adaptable and calm under pressure
−  Genuine empathy with the values and mission of a

girls' independent school

−  Willing to work evenings and weekends as required by

school events

VALUES, ETHOS & SAFEGUARDING

Queen Mary's is a Christian community that values, nurtures and respects every individual. The post
holder will be expected to uphold and actively champion this ethos in everything they do, understanding
that commercial ambition and a values-led culture are not in conflict, but mutually reinforcing.

The school is deeply committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments
are subject to enhanced DBS checks, checks with past employers, and safer recruitment procedures. All
positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The following particulars do not form any part of an offer of employment. They provide guidance, without
prejudice, on the likely main provisions.  Terms and conditions, which will incorporate the Staff Handbook
and Contract of Employment, will be issued in due course to the successful candidate.

Salary

Competitive, commensurate with commercial experience

Contract

Reporting to

Annual Leave

Fee Remission

Pension

Please indicate expectations on application

Full-time, permanent, full year

Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell

28 days plus statutory bank holidays

Significant fee remission available (subject to criteria)

Royal London Defined Contribution Pension

Other Benefits

Free meals during term time; access to outstanding school facilities

Start Date

As soon as possible by mutual agreement

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Closing Date

12:00 noon. Monday, 08 April 2026

Interview Date

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

HOW TO APPLY:

Please download and complete the application form from the vacancies page at: www.queenmarys.org

Please return the completed form to the PA to the Headmistress: head@queenmarys.org

Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date. The school reserves the right to withdraw
the position if an early appointment is made. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

Queen Mary's School is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from candidates
of all backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from those with commercial, corporate, hospitality,
and fundraising backgrounds alongside those with experience in education.

Please be aware that we do not accept curriculum vitaes. Only completed application forms will be
submitted to the shortlisting panel.

RECRUITMENT CHECKS

Queen Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete identity, and qualification checks in line with our
Safer Recruitment Policy, and references will be taken up at this stage.

As part of our safeguarding commitment, candidates will undergo child protection screening appropriate
to the role, including checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. All staff
share responsibility for safeguarding and must adhere to the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection
Policy. The successful applicant must also complete a medical questionnaire before an appointment is
confirmed.

All positions within the school are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Baldersby Park
Topcliffe
Thirsk
North Yorkshire
YO7 3BZ

01845 575000
admin@queenmarys.org www.queenmarys.org