Chief Executive Officer (based at Trust Hub in Garden Fields JMI School)

We are seeking an exceptional and inspirational Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our vibrant, ambitious and successful Multi-Academy Trust. This is a defining opportunity to lead the whole Trust strategy for the Ambition Education Trust (AET), driving sustainable improvement, innovation and leadership development at scale. In this role you will shape the future of our schools and the quality of education for thousands of pupils.

The Opportunity

As our new CEO, you will implement the agreed strategic direction as determined by the Trust Board into impactful reality, ensuring exceptional educational outcomes, sustainable growth, and robust financial health. You will oversee all aspects of the Trust’s performance, including educational standards, people leadership, financial management, and external partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to lead Trust-wide school improvement across both primary and secondary phases, while shaping and refining the Trust’s overarching approach to teaching, curriculum innovation, and inclusion.

The Role

The AET CEO is responsible for the education of all the young people in the Trust’s academies. Leading our dedicated executive team, you will ensure sustainable success for all schools, providing high-level strategic leadership and management across all Trust activities to achieve high-quality education through efficient use of resources and staff. As a system leader, the CEO, together with stakeholders and partners, will enable civic and moral responsibilities, and, as the Accounting Officer, ensure all statutory, financial, and legal requirements are met.

The role encompasses:

• Strategic Governance & Ethical Leadership: Securing robust oversight, legal accountability, educational excellence, and an inspirational, safeguarding-first culture.
• High Quality Inclusive Education: Driving ambitious curriculum design, inclusive excellence, exemplary teaching standards, targeted support, and statutory compliance.
• Finance, Risk & Compliance: Upholding rigorous financial accountability, strategic budgeting, risk mitigation, and the long-term sustainability of the Trust.
• Communications & Reputational Leadership: Enhancing the Trust's profile through proactive community engagement, board advisory, and transparent executive reporting.
• People & Culture: Fostering a collaborative workforce, pioneering talent management, championing professional development, and embedding inclusive staff practices.
• Public Benefit & Civic Duty: Acting as an ambassadorial leader who builds collaborative external partnerships and champions ethical standards within the wider education landscape.
• Strategic Growth: Leading managed growth, partnership building, academy conversions, and successful project oversight.

The Person

We are seeking a leader with credibility, expertise and ambition who is passionate about improving education at scale. You will likely bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within schools or a multi-academy trust.
• A proven track record of leading successful school improvement strategies and raising standards.
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple schools or phases.
• The ability to inspire, mentor and develop current and aspiring school leaders.
• A deep commitment to inclusion, equity and improving outcomes for all pupils.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone who applies receives fair treatment and we encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of age, disability, race, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership and caring status. We expect all staff to demonstrate a commitment to advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations.