Chief Executive Officer

A new and rewarding opportunity for an aspirational, inspiring and high-performing leader who can combine the passion and drive to improve educational outcomes and life chances for young people with strategic leadership and effective financial and people management.

The Woodard Academies Trust is part of the Woodard group of schools, which was founded by Nathaniel Woodard in 1848 and includes independent schools, affiliated schools and academies within the Woodard Corporation, and academies within the Woodard Academies Trust. The Trust is geographically dispersed, comprising six academies which educate over six thousand young people from ages three to eighteen; it serves very diverse communities from the North East to the South coast, with some academies situated in areas of significant social disadvantage. Each academy is unique in context and character, but they all share an educational vision which celebrates diversity, nurturing and inspiring young people to contribute to society and make a difference. 

This is a pivotal time for the Trust. The Board of Trustees has been reflecting on the increasing demands of leading a large multi-academy trust and has agreed to create a new post of Chief Executive Officer in order to build capacity. Trustees therefore seek an inspirational professional who will give a strong lead in driving and sustaining improvement, and in setting the strategic direction of the Trust during its next stage of development.

The successful candidate will have a substantial track record in developing and delivering strategy, improving performance, motivating and managing talented and dedicated staff and their performance in an educational setting - and growing an organisation. He or she will possess the expertise, vision and gravitas to command respect, working in partnership with the central team, academy leaders, academy staff and academy councillors, and to ensure effective links between the educational, financial and commercial operations of a geographically dispersed Trust. A genuine resonance with the ethos and values of the Trust is essential.

For more information or an informal conversation regarding the opportunity, please contact:

Nina Lambert on +44 (0)7764 185745 / ninalambert@rsacademics.com

Andrea Berkeley on +44 (0)7894 140301 / andreaberkeley@rsacademics.com

Further information can be downloaded from rsacademics.com

Closing date: Monday 2nd December 2019
Preliminary interview date: Monday 9th or Tuesday 10th December 2019

The Woodard Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, sight of original qualification certificates, satisfactory references and a medical. The post is also subject to a negative response to an enquiry as to whether a prohibition order has been made by the Secretary of State.