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- Tasks: Lead operational strategy and ensure excellence across all domains of the Trust.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking educational Trust focused on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of education.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education by transforming operational systems for better learning outcomes.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and a strong background in operational management.
- Other info: Dynamic role with significant influence on the Trust's growth and success.
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 in Sunderland 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 in Sunderland
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨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 as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. The more comfortable you are talking about your skills and experiences, the better you'll perform in the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer in Sunderland
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know the Role Inside Out: Before you start writing, make sure you really understand what the Chief Operating Officer role entails. Dive into the job description and highlight key responsibilities and skills. This will help us see how your experience aligns with what we’re looking for.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter! Tailor your application to reflect how your skills and experiences match the specific requirements of the role. Use the language from the job description to show us you’re a perfect fit.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on your achievements rather than just listing duties. Use metrics and examples to illustrate how you’ve made an impact in previous positions. We love seeing how you’ve driven change and improved operations!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team 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 what they’re looking for in a Chief Operating Officer.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision
Be prepared to discuss how you would lead and execute a Trust-wide operational strategy. Think about measurable objectives you could set and how you would translate the Trust's vision into actionable plans. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate your strategic thinking.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Since financial stewardship is key, brush up on your knowledge of internal controls, audit frameworks, and financial planning. Be ready to discuss how you’ve ensured value for money in previous roles and how you would support the CFO in maintaining financial resilience.
✨Emphasise People and Culture Leadership
The role requires strong leadership in people and culture. Prepare to talk about how you would create an environment that fosters leadership capability and staff wellbeing. Share specific strategies you've implemented in the past to build high-performance cultures and succession pipelines.