Director of External Relations
Full-time | Senior Leadership Team Appointment
Ampleforth College invites applications for the post of Director of External Relations, a pivotal strategic appointment within the Senior Leadership Team.
Founded in 1802 and situated within 2,000 acres in the Howardian Hills of North Yorkshire, Ampleforth is widely recognised as the world’s foremost Catholic boarding and day school. Educating boys and girls aged 11–18, the College is rooted in the Benedictine tradition and guided by values of respect, hospitality, stewardship and integrity. Its distinctive House system, strong academic profile and rich co-curricular life create a deeply formative educational experience.
In response to a rapidly evolving independent school landscape, the College has created a unified External Relations portfolio which brings together Admissions, Marketing, Communications and Development under a single strategic lead for the first time.
The Director of External Relations will be responsible for shaping and delivering a comprehensive strategy that secures sustainable pupil recruitment, strengthens national and international market positioning, and expands philanthropic support. The postholder will oversee the full admissions journey from enquiry to enrolment, ensure a coherent and compelling brand narrative across all communications channels, and lead the growth of a structured and diversified fundraising programme.
The College has maintained pupil numbers in a competitive market and benefits from a loyal alumni body and significant heritage. However, the next phase of development requires deeper integration across teams, enhanced use of data and CRM systems, broadened donor engagement and thoughtful long-term planning. This role offers the opportunity to lead cultural as well as strategic transformation.
The successful candidate will bring senior leadership experience within external relations, advancement, education marketing or a comparable mission-led environment. They will demonstrate a proven track record of driving recruitment growth and philanthropic income, together with the ability to align operational delivery with strategic ambition. Strong financial literacy, data competence and experience of leading and developing professional teams are essential.
Above all, the Director of External Relations will be an accomplished ambassador and relationship-builder, capable of engaging confidently with parents, alumni, donors, trustees and senior colleagues. They will combine clarity of thought with attention to detail, and strategic vision with delivery focus.
Empathy with and respect for the Benedictine Catholic ethos of the College is essential; practising Catholic faith is not a requirement.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a historic and internationally recognised boarding school at a significant moment in its development.
To download further information on the role or to apply, please visit https://plusportal.perrettlaver.com/ quoting ‘8341’. The closing date for applications is 08:30 GMT on Tuesday 7th April 2026.
St Laurence Education Trust and Ampleforth College are committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people. They expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and will ensure that all recruitment and selection practices and procedures reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) along with other relevant employment checks.
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