We are seeking to appoint an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) who will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our Trust’s strategic vision. The successful candidate will be a values‑driven, highly skilled professional with strong commercial and operational expertise, capable of leading and developing our services to enable educational excellence across our academies.
Working in close partnership with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Trustees and C‑Suite, the COO will ensure the Trust’s operations are efficient, financially robust, compliant and resilient, creating the conditions in which schools and young people can thrive.
The COO will be responsible for the strategic leadership and operational management of the Trust’s non‑educational functions. This typically includes:
- People / Human Resources
- Data Protection
- Estates and Facilities
- IT and Digital
- Insights
- Health & Safety and Risk
- Marketing & Communications
- Public Relations
The role ensures that operational excellence underpins strong educational outcomes.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership of all non‑teaching/operational functions across the Trust (e.g. estates, HR, IT, governance/compliance, and business services) to support the Trust's school excellence strategy.
- Work closely with the CEO and C‑Suite to translate the Trust’s vision and School Improvement Plans into robust operational plans, KPIs and reporting.
- Lead Trust‑wide business transformation and continuous improvement, including the redesign of central and school‑based professional services, operating models and processes.
- Oversee estates and facilities management, including capital projects, health and safety, asset management and long‑term premises planning across all academies.
- Ensure legal, regulatory and policy compliance (e.g. safeguarding processes, health and safety, data protection/GDPR, Freedom of Information, procurement, contractual obligations).
- Lead operational risk management and business continuity planning, including development, testing and review of Trust‑wide resilience arrangements.
- Develop and oversee the People strategy for both school and central teams, working closely with the People Director to support recruitment, retention, talent management and staff wellbeing.
- Manage and develop senior operational leaders and build a high‑performing, collaborative central services team.
- Contribute to financial sustainability through efficient resource planning, value‑for‑money procurement, and monitoring of operational budgets in partnership with the CFO.
- Provide high‑quality reports, insight and recommendations to the Trust Board and its committees to support effective governance.
- Champion a positive, inclusive culture aligned with the Trust’s values and the needs of local communities.
Pay: From £110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free flu jabs
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On‑site parking
- Sick pay
- Store discount
- Transport links
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sheffield S1 4BY
