Education Recruitment Consultant

Overview

Location: Sunderland

Salary: £27,000 - £33,000 + commission

Type: Full-time

* If your salary expectations do not meet our banding, please do still apply - salary banding is based on transferable skills, tenure, industry experience, and interview performance

Zen Educate is an online platform that gives schools instant access to fully vetted teachers and support staff. Since launching in 2017, we’ve already saved schools over £30 million, that’s gone straight back to where it matters most. AK Teaching are one of the largest, fastest growing agencies in the North East over recent years. We’ve joined forces and are here to disrupt the market in the region even further.

This isn’t your standard “manage a few accounts and send a few emails” kind of job. As an Account Manager at Zen, you’ll be:

• Owning relationships with key schools helping them hire smarter and faster.
• Leading school leaders through recruitment processes with a consultative approach.
• Picking up the phone and building genuine relationships (yes, there’s outbound calling, but it’s about helping, not just selling).
• Collaborating closely with Sales, Ops, and our Tech team to make sure schools get the best possible experience.
• Rolling up your sleeves and diving into whatever’s needed - no two weeks look the same.

Here’s a typical snapshot of what you might do in a week:

• Chat to a Headteacher about how they can save £10k this term by switching to Zen.
• Source a teacher who is a perfect match for your school.
• Follow up with a school that’s already using Zen and find ways to expand their usage.
• Share feedback with our product team about what schools really need in the platform.
• Work with our Ops team to make sure a tricky booking gets sorted.
• Jump into a quick brainstorm with the team to improve how we build pipeline.

You don’t have to tick every single box, but we think you’ll thrive here if you’re:

• Naturally enthusiastic and curious (we’ll train you on everything else!).
• Confident picking up the phone, handling objections, and building trust fast.
• Someone with a proven track record of hitting sales targets (or smashing similar KPIs).
• A team player who loves being part of a close-knit group.
• Passionate about having a positive social impact (bonus points if you care deeply about education).
• Someone with a growth mindset is always looking to learn and improve.

Every company has its tradeoffs, so here’s some real talk to help you decide if this is the right fit for you.

• You might love it if: You want a role where your work has a tangible social impact.
• You like fast-paced environments where things are always evolving.
• You’re excited about the idea of working in a mission-driven startup that’s scaling rapidly.

• You might find it tricky if: You prefer highly structured corporate environments with fixed processes.
• You don’t like ambiguity. Sometimes we’re building the plane while flying it.
• Picking up the phone and having conversations with decision-makers feels uncomfortable.

• Meaningful work – this isn’t just another SaaS tool; you’re literally helping schools save money and pay teachers more.
• Competitive salary + ownership in the company.
• 25 days holiday + all the usual UK public holidays.
• A central Sunderland office with perks like fresh fruit, bike parking, showers, an on-site gym, and a café.
• 1-1 coaching to keep you growing personally and professionally.
• Life & Health Insurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Electric Car Scheme.

We like to hire fast and onboard well. Here’s what you can expect:

• Quick chat with our recruiter – to get to know you and cover the basics.
• Role-focused conversation – we’ll talk about how you approach account management, building relationships, and hitting targets.
• Practical Task and role play – to see how you’d think on your feet with a realistic school conversation.
• Culture chat with the team – making sure it’s a good fit both ways.
• We’re direct and transparent. If it’s a yes, great! If it’s a no, we’ll let you know quickly.

At Zen, we strive to build a culture of equity and inclusion, where…