Head of Strategic Projects

Escape Studios is one of the UK’s leading animation, games and VFX schools, supplying the industry with studio-ready talent. Our courses are designed and delivered with industry experts within a welcoming, close-knit and successful community.

Our world-class industry partners include Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore, DNEG, Milk VFX, Creative Assembly, Cinesite and Blue Zoo, while our partnership with Epic Games means we’re also one of the UK’s only Unreal Authorised Training Centres.

Approved and endorsed internationally as a Rookies and Houdini certified school, we offer a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and short courses. Our Escapees have worked on award-winning TV series such as Stranger Things and Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Oscar and BAFTA nominated films such as Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Batman, Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick, The Banshees of Inisherin and bestselling games Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted 2 and Forza Horizon.

Every year, students present their work at the celebrated end of year showcase, connecting and pitching directly with leading employers and studios. This combination of industry recognition, studio partnerships and proven outcomes makes Escape one of the most contemporary and influential creative education providers in the UK.

What is the role?

We’ve always thrived on imagination backed by action, and we think our new Head of Strategic Projects should be no different. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, Dan Lawson, with a dotted line to the Principal, Professor Ian Palmer, you will take on a wide-ranging strategic brief to identify, shape, rationalise and deliver the business cases that will define our next chapter.

This is a unique and autonomous role that intersects creativity and business development and strategy. You will track emerging opportunities in higher education and the creative industries, turn them into bold, well evidenced propositions, and guide them through to decision and delivery. Your propositions may take the form of new programmes, new schools, innovative delivery models or other ideas that expand Escape’s reach and influence.

Whatever the case, your work will matter, and you will ensure Escape continues to lead where others follow. Importantly, you will have a seat at the table, advising senior leaders directly on investment decisions, bringing fresh perspectives on business planning, making sure new initiatives are grounded in commercial sense and educational rigour, and much more.

In a nutshell, we want you to take ideas from spark to strategy, and where the opportunity is right, from strategy into delivery. We see this as a genuinely impactful chance to create initiatives that shape not only our future, but also the wider creative industries we so passionately serve.

Our ideal candidate profile:

• An experienced senior candidate, ready for institution wide responsibility.
• A background in the following sectors: higher education, creative industries, corporate strategy or consultancy.
• Entrepreneurial, ambitious and comfortable with ambiguity, desirably with an MBA or equivalent experience.
• Finance-literate and confident in developing business cases and models.
• Experienced in market analysis and proposition development.
• Exceptional communicator with board-level presentation skills.
• Pragmatic and delivery focused with the confidence to challenge constructively, and the ability to influence at high levels.

Terms and package:

• Salary range between £70,000 – £80,000 with KPI-related bonuses and the potential for long term incentives or equity for an outstanding candidate.
• Hybrid working pattern, averaging 2 days per week on site in North Greenwich.
• Pension with 3% employer contribution, and a further option to salary sacrifice.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising by one day per completed year of service up to a maximum of 30 days plus bank holidays.
• Further benefits currently under review include access to dental plan, an employee assistance programme and life insurance
• Start date flexible, from immediate to up to three months’ notice

How to apply:

Please click on the 'Apply' button above to be taken to the application portal. 

Should you also wish to discuss the role further or for details on how to progress your application, please direct all enquiries to our advising consultants:

• Alicja Janowska: alicja.janowska@andersonquigley.com
• Akhil Yerneni: akhil.yerneni@andersonquigley.com

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Escape Studios. A search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisements. The closing date for applications at present is 3^rd October, although shortlisting and initial conversations may take place on an ongoing basis. Whilst all applications before the closing date will be given a fair opportunity and every single applicant will get a response; we do encourage early expressions of interest.