Job Description
Your new company
This is an exciting time to join a thriving and ambitious multi-academy trust comprising 5 secondary schools, 5 primary schools, and a teaching school. The trust has experienced significant growth over the past two years, doubling in size and now serving nearly 8,000 pupils aged 3-18, supported by over 900 dedicated staff. With further expansion planned-particularly within the primary sector-the trust remains firmly focused on its mission: to provide exceptional education, care, and nurture for every young person. Rooted in the core values of ambition, excellence, and community, the trust fosters a strong culture of collaboration and shared purpose, clearly evident in every interaction across its schools. In response to this pivotal phase of development, the trust is creating a new role: Director of Operations. This senior leadership position offers a unique opportunity to shape and drive operational strategy, ensuring all schools are connected, supported, and empowered to thrive. This is a rare and rewarding opportunity for an experienced education leader to join a values-driven organisation where your expertise will be recognised, your voice will be heard, and your impact will be felt.Your new role
Reporting to the Deputy CEO, this role will oversee key operational risk and compliance areas as well as driving strategic alignment and compliance for:
* Communications
* Information Management & Data Protection
* Business Analysis & Continuity
* Operational Compliance
* Estates & Facilities
* Health & Safety
* Contracts
As Director of Operations, you will be a key ambassador for the trust's vision and values, playing a central role in delivering its strategic objectives. You'll work closely with senior leaders across the organisation to drive forward operational priorities, ensuring that action plans are implemented effectively, and that professional development remains a continuous focus. With oversight of compliance, governance, estates, contracts, and risk management, you will lead the trust's operational functions with clarity and purpose. You'll design and embed scalable systems and processes that support school improvement, harness data to inform decision-making, and cultivate a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence-helping to shape the future of the trust.
What you'll need to succeed
This is a senior leadership role at the heart of the trust's future success. We're seeking an experienced operational leader from the education sector-ideally with a background in multi-academy trusts-who brings strategic vision, a proactive mindset, and a passion for making a difference. You'll understand the broader impact of operational leadership in education and be confident in challenging existing practices to drive innovation and continuous improvement. Your ability to think strategically, lead with purpose, and deliver operational excellence will be key to shaping the trust's next chapter.
What you'll get in return
In return, you'll join a growing and forward-thinking trust at a pivotal stage in its development. This is a unique opportunity to shape a newly created role, working closely with an experienced CEO, Deputy CEO, and a highly committed senior leadership team. You'll have the freedom to bring fresh ideas, take ownership, and make a lasting impact as the role evolves. The salary for this position is £75,000 - £85,000 and will be dependent on your experience in the sector, and you will receive an industry-leading benefits package which includes up to 35 days holiday (dependent on service and plus bank holidays), a local government pension scheme and access to an employee assistance programme.
What you need to do now
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