Chief Operating Officer - Benenden School

The Head andmembers of the Governing Council of Benenden School inviteapplications for the position of Chief Operating Officer(COO). Please read the information in this job post thoroughly to understand exactly what is expected of potential candidates. Founded in1923, Benenden is one of the leading independent schools in Britainand is situated in 250 acres of beautiful parkland in Kent. Some550 girls benefit from Benenden’s ‘A Complete Education’ (ACE),with the core values of confidence, compassion, courage andcourtesy at its heart. A key aspect of school life at Benenden is its culture of‘stretch without stress’ and its distinctive approach to boarding,which is central to the educational experience for every girl.Motivational teaching and a dynamic, challenging curriculum arefundamental to this experience, encouraging and supporting girls todevelop their interests and excel beyond the classroom. Benenden is fast approaching thecompletion of its Centenary Vision, an exciting development planwhich has recently led the School to its 100th anniversary. TheSchool has constantly sought to develop and improve its educationalprovision, adding an all-weather pitch, sports pavilion, additionalon-site staff housing, state-of-the-art Science Centre and anEco-Classroom to the campus in recent years. The stunning new Halland Music School are also valuable new additions to thesite. Reporting directly tothe Head, the COO will assume overall responsibility for theleadership of all non-educational functions within the School,including finance, estates and facilities, people services, IT andcommercial enterprise activities. As a key member of the SeniorLeadership Team, the COO will play a pivotal role in driving thesuccessful execution of the Strategic Plan and realising theSchool\’s vision for the future. This is a wide-ranging and exciting opportunity for aforward-thinking leader to provide commercial strategy, identifygrowth opportunities and continue to drive a culture ofprofessionalism during a transformative period for the independentschools sector. Applications are encouraged from candidates from adiverse range of professional backgrounds who can evidence strongcommercial and operational expertise and a demonstrable trackrecord of successfully leading multi-disciplinary teams through acollaborative and enabling style. The successful candidate islikely to have a professional qualification in finance, estates orproject management. Sound judgement, strong communication skills,and a deep understanding of the mission and values of BenendenSchool will be essential as the School embarks on its secondcentury of leading and innovative education. Further information on Benenden can befound at: The closing date for applications is9am GMT Monday 3 February. A candidate brief including details of the role andinformation on how to apply can be downloadedbelow. BenendenSchool is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare ofchildren, and applicants must be willing to undergo childprotection screening appropriate to the post, including checks withpast employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS).