Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Up to £145k dependent on experience • Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Start date September 2023

Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust is a strong, caring and ambitious multi-academy trust located in the Harrogate and Craven areas of North Yorkshire. We are responsible for the wellbeing and education of around 3,800 children, and our annual turnover is nearly £24m. Our nine thriving schools (both Church of England and community) share common values, interests and purpose, and we place pupils at the heart of everything we do. Our culture is caring and inclusive, combining high expectations with high levels of support, and we have a strong reputation within the locality and the region.

The new full-time role of Chief Executive Officer has been designed to respond thoughtfully to the changing educational landscape of recent years – it’s a fundamental element of what we’ve called our ‘Chapter 2’ strategy. We recognise that a school-led, learner-focused organisation striving to ‘provide education that is ambitious’ needs the non-teaching aspects of its operations to be managed with as much care, creativity and rigour as the educational. We are further investing in central capacity to ensure we continue developing as a strong and flourishing school trust, and this role will lead the task of realising this ambition. This appointment provides that rare opportunity for the successful candidate to be instrumental in shaping and defining the key leadership role within our organisation – identifying how the Chief Executive can best support our schools and Trust to thrive and then putting this into action.

We would like to meet candidates, whether from a teaching background or not, who have led organisations through both success and challenge. This latter point is important, because we believe that experience of adversity tests judgement, decision-making, and leadership. You’ll deeply appreciate our Christian foundation and feel comfortable making your own contribution to it. An outstanding strategic planner, with the ability to manage complex and fast-changing demands, you will also be highly personable and understand the power of building strong, authentic relationships. As a natural servant leader, you’ll have an instinctive appreciation of our philosophy of good stewardship and will understand the vital place of strong civic services at the heart of flourishing communities. With a current knowledge of the educational sector, particularly in relation to school trusts, you will be passionate about ambitious education for all and committed to improving outcomes and opportunities both for pupils within our schools and for those who work with us.

Visit www.ycst-ceo.co.uk to find out more or contact David Gooda or Raymond Kelly at Navigate NDC on 01625 800862 for a confidential discussion.

Closing date: Monday 6 March 2023. Interviews are expected to be held on 28/29 March 2023.