Job Description

Can you help us to help schools and students thrive?

We are COBIS, a global membership network of quality-assured British international schools, education professionals and trusted partners. Our mission is to support and empower schools in their provision of high-quality education.

We connect school communities internationally. With more than 330 members in 86 countries worldwide, representing over 260,000 students and 18,000 teachers, we understand every school operates in a unique context but shares the common goal of developing students who will have a positive impact on society.

If you are looking to work with inspiring, diverse, dynamic school communities from around the world, as part of a supportive, hard-working team, we want to hear from you.

COBIS is looking to appoint an Accreditation Administrative Assistant to join the team from late July 2025 to support with the operations, delivery and continued development of the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme.

This is a rewarding and varied role, working as part of the friendly, dedicated COBIS team, supporting an international network of schools, students, and educational suppliers.

Our Values

Our guiding principles of

inclusivity

,

collaboration

and

ambition

inform all of our practices. COBIS offers a supportive, flexible and friendly working environment, a commitment to staff wellbeing including an evolving range of benefits, and opportunities for professional and personal development. By joining the COBIS team, you join an organisation with clear commitments to safeguarding, wellbeing, staff development, diversity, equity and inclusion, supporting children and young people, sustainability, and being socially accountable and conscious of the impact of our organisation and network.

About COBIS

330 schools - 18,000 teachers - 260,000 students - 86 countries

For more than 40 years, COBIS has supported British international schools in their provision of high-quality education, guided by our principles of inclusivity, collaboration and ambition. The COBIS network is a dynamic and forward-thinking group of schools and companies, committed to raising standards of education around the world and helping students thrive. COBIS represents and supports its member schools through a wide range of services and activities including professional development, quality assurance, student events and competitions, safeguarding, networking, advocacy and lobbying.

To find out more about the work of COBIS and the full range of services and support we offer, please visit www.cobis.org.uk.

How to Apply

Please see below for full application procedure. This is your chance to tell us more about yourself and why you are interested in the role.

Closing date: 2nd July 2025

Job Purpose:

The COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme has grown significantly and is the primary quality assurance route for schools to COBIS membership. It is internationally recognised and highly valued as a rigorous, supportive and collaborative approach to school quality assurance and improvement. All COBIS Accreditation and Compliance school visits worldwide are coordinated by the COBIS Accreditation team based in the UK. The Accreditation Administrative Assistant will play a key role as we continue to grow supporting the effective organisation and smooth delivery of all team visits and with ongoing communication with schools and our many visiting team leaders and members. The postholder will also contribute to ongoing developments and refinements to the work, systems and processes of the Accreditation team.

Accreditation Administrative Assistant Responsibilities:

To provide high-quality administration and user support to potential and current COBIS members connected to the COBIS Accreditation and Compliance scheme and support the effective operation of the Accreditation team.

Support the work of the Director, Assistant Director and Operations Manager, Accreditation.

Compliance and Accreditation Visits/School liaison

Contacting and responding to enquiries from schools

Following up on early contacts with schools including around their eligibility and next steps towards COBIS membership

Supporting with the construction of the Compliance/Accreditation teams including required background checks

Coordinating with schools regarding requirements for flights and logistics for visiting teams including FCDO advice.

Contributing to Single Central record health checks (once trained)

Seeking school and visiting team member feedback and sharing with COBIS Comms team

Accreditation Team support

To work with the Accreditation Operations Manager to ensure that LIPs complete 1-year reviews in a timely and effective manager and to share summaries with Accreditation team.

To support the Accreditation team in preparing the documentation required for the regular QA Committee and the DEIJB Safeguarding Committee as necessary.

To support the Accreditation team in its own reviews and evaluation procedures.

To update the COBIS MIS (Ninox) with required Accreditation data

To create, administer and troubleshoot new school teams on Microsoft Teams

To contribute to all outgoing communications from the Accreditation team, including any webinars, presentations and social media content.

To support the recruitment, background checks and training of new Lead Improvement Partners (LIPs) and Peer Accreditors (PAs)

To support the creation of enhancements to communications with visiting team members - including discussion boards, regional hubs, round tables, case studies, updates and Q&As

To support the Accreditation team in ensuring that all areas of work practice reflect compliance in relation to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and associated good practice and to bring to the attention of the designated COBIS Data Protection Lead and COO/CEO any potential breaches.

To provide support for all other operational aspects of the work of the Accreditation team.

Relationship Management and Customer Service Responsibilities:

Represent COBIS with a high level of professional credibility at internal and external conferences, meetings and events, in the UK and potentially overseas.

Provide outstanding customer service at all times, including responding to enquiries in a timely and professional manner.

Actively promote and support the COBIS commitment to safeguarding, child protection and the welfare of children, young people and adults

Maintain a working environment in which equity, inclusivity and diversity is respected and responded to, and equality of opportunity is promoted

Ensure a positive image to members and other individuals and organisations and promote the COBIS brand, activities and services by whatever means are appropriate and available.

Attend the COBIS Annual Conference in London, in May and provide support as required

These are the key tasks as currently defined. They are not listed in priority order and the successful candidate will be expected to take on such variations as are reasonable for this level of responsibility.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Strong administration and organisational skills, with excellent attention to detail.

Excellent ICT skills with the ability to use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with confidence, and the ability to learn new digital platforms (with training).

Excellent literacy and numeracy skills.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills and experience building positive relationships and providing outstanding customer service

Demonstrate accuracy and clarity in all written and verbal communications.

Able to work effectively with a range of stakeholders within the education sector.

Proven ability to prioritise and manage time effectively and be able to adapt and respond flexibly to the unexpected.

Able to support multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

Committed to safeguarding, child protection and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and to engage in associated continual professional development in this area. Training will be provided.

Able to work as part of a team but also comfortable to work alone and proactively manage own workload in a fast-paced environment.

An eager learner, dynamic, personable, keen to develop, who can quickly pick up and apply knowledge and skills.

Desirable

Educated to degree level or equivalent.

A general understanding and experience working within the UK and/or international education sectors.

Previous experience in a comparable operational and administration role

Renumeration and Conditions of Service

The post is available from 28th July 2025 Salary package is 28,000 per annum. The position is considered a full-time position. Significant part-time (e.g. four days/week) will also be considered Working hours/days are 9:00-5:00 with a half-hour for lunch, but flexibility around hours would be considered. Hybrid/remote working with a flexible working policy The candidate will be required to attend the COBIS Annual Conference and Committee meetings which take place over 4 days in London in May Holiday entitlement of 25 days (pro rata) plus statutory bank holidays Access to pension scheme in line with pension regulations. COBIS employee pension contribution is at 5% of salary Commitment to sustainability and corporate carbon measurement and reduction Access to medical insurance and Employee Assistance Programme Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK

Application Procedure

In addition to a CV, we ask for a covering letter. This is your chance to tell us more about yourself and why you are interested in the role.

Please note, applications that do not include a covering letter will not be considered.

All candidates wishing to be considered for the post are required to submit the following two documents:

1. A covering letter/supporting statement (maximum of 600 words), addressed to the COBIS Director of Accreditation, Mick Smith, explaining their interest in, and suitability for the post, referring to the job description and person specification

2. CV, plus the names and contact details of two professional referees

Closing date for applications

: 2nd July 2025 (early applications are encouraged; COBIS reserves the right to close applications early)

Completed applications are to be submitted by email to:

Mrs Rosie Perry-Sleeman, EA to the CEO - rosie.perry-sleeman@cobis.org.uk

If you have any questions about the position or the role and function of COBIS, please contact Mick Smith, Director of Accreditation at mick.smith@cobis.org.uk on +44 20 3826 7190

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 28,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Health & wellbeing programme Work from home
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

Have you attached a Cover Letter with you CV?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 02/07/2025
Expected start date: 27/07/2025