At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital transformation and innovation across a multi-academy trust.
- Company: Dynamic multi-academy trust focused on high achievement and equal opportunities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, local government pension, 33 days holiday, and employee wellbeing platforms.
- Other info: Hybrid working with a weekly presence at the Head Office in Staffordshire.
- 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. A 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 involves reporting to the CEO and leading 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 driving 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 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 being crucial. 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 in Stoke-on-Trent employer: Hays Technology
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 remuneration, generous holiday allowances, and a supportive environment that champions professional growth and well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Digital Officer in Stoke-on-Trent
✨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 organisation.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest tech trends in education! Being knowledgeable about emerging technologies, especially AI, will not only impress interviewers but also show that you're passionate about enhancing teaching and learning through innovation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals who are eager to make a difference in the education sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Digital Officer in Stoke-on-Trent
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:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about digital leadership in education and how your vision aligns with our mission. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact. Use metrics where possible to quantify your success in driving digital transformation and improving learner outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Technology
✨Know Your Digital Transformation Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of digital transformation in the education sector. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led similar initiatives, especially across multiple sites. This will show that you understand the unique challenges and opportunities in this field.
✨Showcase Your Cyber Security Savvy
Given the emphasis on cyber security in this role, be prepared to talk about your experience managing cyber security strategies. Highlight any frameworks or protocols you've implemented and how they improved organisational resilience. This will demonstrate your capability to lead in this critical area.
✨Align with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with the trust's mission and values. During the interview, connect your personal values and professional experiences to theirs. This alignment will help you stand out as a candidate who not only has the skills but also shares their commitment to high achievement and equal opportunities for learners.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about setting priorities and measurable outcomes for digital strategies. Think about how you would approach these discussions and be ready to present your ideas clearly. This will showcase your strategic thinking and ability to contribute to the executive leadership team.
