At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital transformation and innovation across a multi-academy trust.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking multi-academy trust committed to equal opportunities for all learners.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, pension scheme, and employee wellbeing support.
- Other info: Hybrid working available with a focus on collaboration and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education through technology and drive positive change.
- Qualifications: Experience in digital transformation at an executive level, ideally in education.
The predicted salary is between 115000 - 125000 € per year.
Your new company is a forward-thinking and rapidly growing multi-academy trust with a strong commitment to ensuring high achievement and equal opportunities for every learner, with academies based in both Staffordshire and Greater Manchester. The trust oversees a diverse family of academies and is driven by the belief that no child's ambitions should be limited by background or ability. Its mission centres on raising aspirations, accelerating progress and enabling ambitious life goals for all pupils, underpinned by a values-led culture and a clear focus on quality, inclusion and consistency across its schools.
As the trust continues to expand, digital leadership plays an increasingly critical role in supporting school improvement, operational excellence and learner outcomes. With a strong emphasis on school support, talent development and continuous improvement, the organisation is well-positioned for a senior digital leader to modernise systems, drive innovation from an AI perspective and shape a trust-wide digital transformation strategy.
The Chief Digital Officer will join an ambitious Executive Leadership Team, committed to using technology to remove barriers, strengthen organisational capability and deliver consistently high standards across all academies.
Your new role
Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Digital Officer will lead the development and delivery of a trust-wide digital and IT strategy, setting clear priorities, investment plans and measurable outcomes. You will maintain oversight of the Trust's digital landscape, establishing a transformation roadmap and drive the transition to a coherent enterprise architecture across platforms, integrations and data flows, working closely with the wider team at head office and in individual academies. The role will champion innovation and modernisation across schools and central services while ensuring all technology decisions support educational priorities and safeguarding expectations. This includes providing strategic advice to the CEO and Trustees, overseeing core systems and infrastructure to ensure they are secure, resilient and scalable, and driving value for money through effective procurement and vendor management.
You will lead the Trust's cyber-security strategy, embedding strong risk management, incident response and digital resilience, while promoting cyber awareness across the organisation. The Chief Digital Officer will also establish and embed a trust-wide data governance framework, ensuring high-quality, consistent and accessible data to support informed decision-making. They will take a responsible and forward-thinking approach to emerging technologies, with a strong emphasis on AI, identifying opportunities to enhance teaching, learning and organisational effectiveness. Working closely with education leaders, you will ensure digital platforms and tools meet the needs of schools and have a positive impact on teaching and learning, setting high standards trust-wide.
As a senior executive leader, you will provide regular updates to the CEO and Board, lead major digital transformation programmes and support the professional development of IT and digital teams across the Trust. Please note this role does offer hybrid working, however you will need to have a weekly presence at the Head Office based in Staffordshire.
What you'll need to succeed
In order to be successful in securing this role, you will be working at an executive level in relation to digital transformation, ideally with education sector experience. You will have spearheaded a digital transformation previously, working across multiple sites and working closely with a wider executive team to deliver change. Ownership of a digital or technology strategy will be essential, with experience developing and leading on cyber security and managing a team will be essential. From an individual perspective, you will have a passion for working in the education sector and understand the impact of technology on the education sector and on learners individually.
What you'll get in return
In return, you will be joining this executive leadership team where you will become an integral part of the organisation, all working together towards a common goal in this rewarding environment. You will receive a competitive salary of between £115,000 and £125,000 dependent on experience and will also receive a local government pension scheme and an attractive benefits package. This includes 33 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and access to a retail discount scheme, a cycle to work scheme and employee wellbeing platforms.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Chief Digital Officer employer: Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
Join a forward-thinking multi-academy trust that prioritises high achievement and equal opportunities for every learner. With a strong commitment to innovation and digital transformation, this organisation fosters a collaborative work culture where your contributions will directly impact educational outcomes. Enjoy competitive benefits, including a generous holiday allowance and a local government pension scheme, while being part of a dedicated team focused on shaping the future of education in Staffordshire and Greater Manchester.
Contact Detail:
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Digital Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Chief Digital Officer role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your digital transformation success stories! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, be ready to share specific examples of how you've led digital initiatives in the past. This will help them see the value you can bring to their trust.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest trends in educational technology and AI. Being knowledgeable about current innovations will not only impress interviewers but also show that you're passionate about enhancing teaching and learning through tech.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We make it super easy for you to submit your application and get noticed by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our mission to improve education for all learners.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Digital Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Chief Digital Officer role. Highlight your previous digital transformation projects and any relevant education sector experience to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about digital leadership in education. Share specific examples of how you've driven innovation and improved outcomes in past roles, so we can see your vision for our trust.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a senior executive, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead teams and manage change. Include examples of how you’ve successfully led digital initiatives and supported team development, as this is key for us.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
✨Know Your Digital Stuff
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest trends in digital transformation, especially in education. Brush up on your knowledge of AI and how it can enhance learning outcomes. Being able to discuss specific technologies and their impact will show you’re the right fit for this role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led digital transformation initiatives in the past. Highlight your experience working with executive teams and managing cross-site projects. This will demonstrate your capability to drive change and inspire others within the organisation.
✨Understand Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with the trust’s commitment to high achievement and equal opportunities. Be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to raising aspirations and improving learner outcomes through technology.
✨Prepare for Cyber Security Questions
Given the emphasis on cyber security in the role, be prepared to discuss your experience in this area. Think about how you’ve implemented risk management strategies and promoted cyber awareness in previous roles. This will show you take digital resilience seriously.
