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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational strategy and drive transformation across multiple domains for educational excellence.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking Trust focused on growth and innovation in education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of education.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on educational priorities and community development.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and expertise in operational management.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
The Chief Operating Officer is the Trust’s key executive leader for all operational domains (People; Estates & Capital; Digital & Technology; Governance & Compliance; Commercial & Business Services). Working with, and deputising for, the CEO, they will ensure that the Trust operates consistently as a data-informed, single organisation; ensuring we are structured, equipped, and ready to deliver on our educational priorities and growth ambitions.
With regard to leading operations; the role is about engineering the conditions for excellence, building a scalable operating model for a Trust with aspirations to grow, and ensuring that every aspect of ESF’s infrastructure, systems and resources strengthens teaching, learning, inclusion, and impact.
You will lead transformation of Trust’s operational architecture, across multiple disciplines to facilitate an agile organization; working closely with executive stakeholders, their direct reports and Trustees to ensure that operational systems and resources (people, data, estates, and digital tools) are aligned to our mission and deliver maximum value for learners, staff, and communities.
Key Responsibilities- Strategic Operational Leadership
- Lead and execute a Trust-wide operational strategy aligned to educational priorities
- Translate vision into measurable objectives and aligned operational delivery
- Shape a long-term scalable operating model
- Provide expert, data-driven, evidence-informed advice to CEO and Trustees
- Deputise for the CEO when required, including external representation
- Financial Stewardship
- Support the CFO in ensuring strong internal controls, audit and risk frameworks enabling the prompt resolution of audit actions
- Deliver value for money and long-term financial resilience within the operational context
- Support Trustees and Audit & Risk Committee with high-quality reporting
- Working with the CFO, support the CEO in their oversight of financial planning, forecasting and sustainability compliance with DfE requirements and the Academy Trust Handbook
- Building an Operating Model for Scale
- Embed service standards and performance frameworks across operational domains
- Enable delivery of data dashboards and real-time performance insight and decision making
- Drive digital-first, automated and collaborative systems
- Enable the development of systems that eliminate duplication and improve cost-to-serve
- Align central and site-based operational functions
- People, Culture & Workforce
- Enable delivery of the Trust’s People Strategy
- Create an environment where leadership capability and succession pipelines are facilitated and enabled
- Strengthen workforce planning and staff wellbeing through the leadership of their team
- Embed a high-performance, high-trust culture
- Digital, Data & Technology
- Enable digital transformation of the Trust and across all areas, including AI deployment, to meet organisational priorities and aligned with national strategy.
- Drive a strategy where cloud-first and automated systems are effective and seen as routine solutions
- Lead and embed a culture that develops a cyber-threat awareness and strengthens resilience
- Ensure appropriate digital tools are selected, procured, implemented and evaluated so that teaching, leadership and governance are facilitated and improved
- Estates, Infrastructure & Capital
- Lead long-term estates and capital strategy
- Ensure compliance, maintenance, sustainability and innovation
- Lead the delivery of capital projects on time and on budget
- Secure external funding (including, but not limited to, SCA.)
- Ensure full statutory compliance across all sites
- Corporate Services & Governance
- Ensure high-quality central administrative and analytics services
- Provide Trustees with assurance, transparency and oversight
- Maintain effective systems to record and document governance decision making and responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with charity law, company law and data protection
- Growth, Integration & Change
- Lead due diligence for prospective schools
- Lead the development of integration success measures on adoption of new schools, supporting their assimilation through effective deployment of operational resources
- Deliver transformational change programmes
- Ensure infrastructure is capable of supporting a growth trajectory
Chief Operating Officer employer: Emmanuel Schools Foundation
Contact Detail:
Emmanuel Schools Foundation Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Operating Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently when it’s your turn in the hot seat.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. So, what are you waiting for? Get your application in!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Chief Operating Officer role. Highlight your experience in operational leadership and how it aligns with our mission at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use data and examples to demonstrate how you've driven transformation and improved operational efficiency in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your writing is easy to follow and free from jargon. This will help us see your potential quickly!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Emmanuel Schools Foundation
✨Know the Trust Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the Trust's mission, values, and recent initiatives. Understanding their educational priorities and growth ambitions will help you align your responses with their goals, showing that you're not just a fit for the role but also genuinely interested in their work.
✨Prepare Data-Driven Examples
As a Chief Operating Officer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to make data-informed decisions. Prepare specific examples from your past experiences where you've used data to drive operational improvements or strategic initiatives. This will showcase your analytical skills and your understanding of the importance of evidence-based leadership.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Think about how you can articulate your leadership philosophy and how it aligns with building a high-performance culture. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered collaboration, developed talent, and created an environment of trust and accountability in previous roles. This is crucial for a position that involves leading diverse teams.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the Trust's challenges. Inquire about their current operational strategies, digital transformation efforts, or how they envision the future of education within the Trust. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the Trust is the right fit for you.