Gemma Davis
Bristol,Bristol
Summary
Senior programme and education leader with extensive experience delivering national education and family-focused programmes that drive organisational growth and measurable impact across schools and communities.
Core strengths include programme development, strategic partnerships, operational leadership and performance improvement, with a strong track record of scaling programmes, leading multidisciplinary teams, and increasing engagement and retention.
Committed to educational equity, safeguarding, and improving outcomes for disadvantaged children and young people.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work history
Programme Director
Learning with Parents
Bristol
2022.09 - 2026.05
- Provide strategic leadership across programme delivery, school partnerships, digital product development, growth and operational planning within a national education charity focused on improving parental engagement and educational outcomes.
- Oversee a national portfolio of school partnerships across 270 schools, leading strategies focused on acquisition, retention, programme quality and long-term partner success.
- Supported organisational growth from 50 to 270 schools, contributing to a long-term strategic target of 500 schools nationally.
- Increased partner retention from 53% to 90% through improved onboarding, relationship management, insight-led engagement strategies and service improvements.
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of 10 across programme delivery, partnerships, curriculum, growth and product functions, embedding accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Translate organisational strategy into operational delivery plans, priorities and measurable programme outcomes.
- Lead the development, launch and scaling of new programmes and resources.
- Provide strategic oversight of the organisation’s digital platform as Product Lead.
- Oversaw the development and scale-up of a national digital reading log to strengthen engagement and support programme delivery across partner schools.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, funders and external stakeholders, including partnership development across five MATs.
- Shape sales, marketing and partnership strategies to support sustainable organisational growth and increased programme reach.
- Oversee budgets and resource allocation across programme delivery, curriculum, school partnerships and growth functions to ensure effective and sustainable delivery.
- Monitor programme performance, impact, risks and operational priorities, reporting regularly to senior leadership and trustees.
- Established and chair the organisation’s Education Committee, strengthening governance, educational insight and strategic oversight.
- Contribute to organisational strategy, operational development and cross-functional decision-making as part of the senior leadership team.
- Ensure safeguarding, quality assurance and compliance processes are embedded across programme delivery and partnership activity.
- Managed complex stakeholder relationships and resolved operational issues sensitively and constructively.
- Used feedback and service issues to inform continuous improvement priorities.
Regional Programme Manager
Action Tutoring
Bristol
2019.12 - 2022.08
- Led regional programme delivery and school partnerships across the South West, overseeing the successful delivery of education interventions supporting disadvantaged pupils.
- Managed and developed a remote team of Programme Coordinators through coaching, performance management and operational support.
- Achieved a 94% school retention rate through strong partnership management and consistent programme quality.
- Expanded programme reach to support over 500 disadvantaged pupils through effective collaboration with schools, universities, businesses, funders and Multi-Academy Trusts.
- Led quality assurance and delivery improvement processes to strengthen consistency, impact and operational effectiveness across programmes.
- Oversaw recruitment, training and management of more than 200 volunteers to support regional programme delivery.
- Supported reporting and impact monitoring processes for schools, funders and external stakeholders.
- Contributed to strategic planning, safeguarding oversight and operational improvement initiatives across the organisation.
- Strengthened volunteer engagement and long-term commitment through improved onboarding, communication, support and feedback processes.
Unseen UK
Bristol
2017.07 - 2019.12
- Led the development and growth of a national training function focused on supporting frontline professionals and public sector organisations.
- Increased departmental profit by 100% year-on-year through programme development, stakeholder engagement and commercial growth strategies.
- Designed and delivered bespoke face-to-face and e-learning programmes for public sector organisations, businesses and frontline practitioners.
- Recruited, managed and coordinated a national network of freelance trainers to increase delivery capacity and programme reach.
- Developed strategic client relationships that secured repeat business and strengthened organisational sustainability.
- Led the development of new training products, refreshed existing provision and secured CPD accreditation.
- Supported the scale-up of a school programme from pilot phase to wider delivery.
- Represented the organisation externally through stakeholder meetings, sector engagement and partnership activity.
Programme Coordinator
This Mum Runs
2016.01 - 2017.01
- Developed and launched new programme products, built volunteer networks, and supported expansion into new regions.
Primary School Teacher & Specialist Support Roles
2008.01 - 2016.01
- Extensive experience working with disadvantaged pupils, SEND and behaviour support, alongside curriculum delivery and intervention design.
Development Manager
Office Response
2004.01 - 2008.01
- Led training and coaching functions, managed teams, and contributed to organisational recognition through industry awards.
Education
PGCE - Early Years Education
University of The West of England
BristolBA Joint Honours - Sociology and Linguistics
University of the West of England
BristolA-Levels - Sociology, History, Music
Henbury School
BristolSkills
- Strategic programme leadership and organisational growth
- National programme delivery and portfolio oversight
- Programme design, scale-up and continuous improvement
- School, MAT and cross-sector partnership development
- Stakeholder engagement, influencing and external representation
- Team leadership, coaching and performance management
- Operational planning, risk management and delivery oversight
- Data analysis, KPI development and impact reporting
- Budget management and resource allocation
- Governance, safeguarding and compliance
- Product and digital platform leadership
- Insight-led service improvement
- CRM and digital platform leadership
- Service delivery and operational oversight
- Relationship lifecycle management
References
References available upon request.
Affiliations
- • Strong commitment to social mobility, inclusion and equity • Experienced in safeguarding, volunteer-led models and working with disadvantaged communities • Interests include running, netball and reading
Timeline
Programme Director
Learning with Parents
2022.09 - 2026.05
Regional Programme Manager
Action Tutoring
2019.12 - 2022.08
Unseen UK
2017.07 - 2019.12
Programme Coordinator
This Mum Runs
2016.01 - 2017.01
Primary School Teacher & Specialist Support Roles
2008.01 - 2016.01
Development Manager
Office Response
2004.01 - 2008.01
BA Joint Honours - Sociology and Linguistics
University of the West of England
A-Levels - Sociology, History, Music
Henbury School
PGCE - Early Years Education
University of The West of England