National Thought Leader - Phonics (Twinkl Australia)

Job Introduction

Location: Australia, work from home (must be based in Australia)

Contract: Contractor agreement, 12-month fixed-term (self-employed contractor, responsible for own taxes, no benefits) 

Hours: 20 hours per week, flexible working around core meetings

Pay rate: $33+ AUD/hour (DOE)

Hiring Manager: Rebecca Usherwood

Recruiter: Charlotte Harris

The Role:

We are looking for a fast-paced, go-getting and creative marketeer who will thrive on the challenge of taking our phonics content line to the next level of awesomeness to ensure every single educator in Australia knows and loves it.

As the National Thought Leader in your expert field of Phonics, you will bring strong experience and expertise in leading phonics across early years education, primary schools or a trust. Your role will be crucial in developing and executing strategies to create content that raises attainment in phonics and early intervention in reading. You will oversee and manage the performance of specific Phonics educational content within the Twinkl Brand, driving growth and ensuring alignment of brand goals with market opportunities. You will identify opportunities, prioritise resources, and collaborate closely with marketing and school teams to communicate and sell your content category. 

This role is perfect for you if…

• You're a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of your subject area of phonics.

• You excel at driving growth and improving performance through data-driven decisions.

• You build strong, lasting relationships with stakeholders and partners, making an impact.

Responsibilities & Key Performance Indicators:

Category Strategy Development:

• Collaborate with our experienced team of Educational Content Leads (ECLs) to develop and implement comprehensive Phonics category strategies that connect educational content seamlessly and align with overall brand objectives and market trends.

• Identify growth opportunities and create plans to capitalise on them.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive strategy execution.

Market Analysis:

• Conduct thorough market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks.

• Analyse sales data, consumer behaviour, and market dynamics to inform category strategies.

• Monitor industry developments and adjust strategies accordingly.

Product Management:

• Oversee the product lifecycle from ideation to launch, ensuring timely and successful product introductions.

• Work closely with the product development team to guide new product development and innovation.

• Manage SKU rationalisation and optimise product assortments.

Brand Positioning and Promotion:

• Manage key partnerships and accreditations for the Phonics category, making sure we’re hitting all the right notes and giving educators the assurance that our content is top quality.

• Influence the market by promoting our content through thought leadership.

• Stay on top of market trends and ensure we're always in a strong position.

• Develop and execute marketing plans and campaigns to promote category products.

• Collaborate with the marketing team to create compelling content and messaging.

• Ensure consistent brand positioning and messaging across all channels.

• Be a thought leader in the area of Phonics.

• Manage strong partnerships and resource accreditation.

Sales Support and Collaboration:

• Work with the sales team to provide category insights and support sales strategies.

• Develop sales tools and materials to aid in effectively promoting the Phonics category products.

• Conduct training sessions for sales teams to enhance product knowledge.

Financial Management:

• Develop and manage category budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.

• Monitor and analyse category financial performance, identifying areas for improvement.

• Provide regular reports and updates to senior management on category performance.

You’ll work closely with the following people:

• Rebecca Usherwood - Australia Country Manager and Head of APAC (your line manager)

• Nick East - Australia Product Manager

• Australia’s Educational Content Leaders (ECLs)

• Australia Segment Managers (SMs)

• Lots of other wonderful Twinklers across the business

• Twinkl members!

To succeed in the role, you will have the following skillset:

• Bachelor’s degree in education/subject area.

• 5+ years of experience in leading and developing Phonics in a primary school or across a trust.

• Proven track record of developing and executing successful Phonics strategies to improve attainment.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and market trends.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

• Highly organised with strong project management skills.

• A commercial thinker who is comfortable taking calculated risks and being held accountable for successes and failures.

We want to talk to you if you:

• LOVE marketing and education and the experience to go with it!

• Thrive in a fast-paced environment where targets drive your actions.

• Efficiently prioritise your workload, so all tasks are completed by deadlines.

• Are positive, optimistic, and thrive working within a close-knit team.

In return for everything you can bring, we can offer you an exciting role in a fast-growing and dynamic business, with plenty of career opportunities.

Here are some of the things that make Twinkl a great place to work:

• A friendly, welcoming, and supportive culture. We believe work should be fun, and we always put people before the process. 

• Flexible work-from-home around core meetings.

• Diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Our Network Program includes working groups for LGBTQ+, People of Color, Disabilities (visible and invisible), Women in Tech, and Working Parents. 

• Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Our ever-evolving program includes progression reviews, Twinkl’s Management Scheme, commercial awareness training, leadership coaching quads, career chats, and mentoring. 

• Collaboration across continents! You’ll plug into a global team working to help improve the lives of educators around the world.