At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop high-performing shared services across Governance, Compliance, and Operations.
- Company: Join Place Partnership, a dynamic organisation merging two successful Trusts in Yorkshire.
- Benefits: Generous leave, competitive salary, enhanced pension, and extensive professional development.
- Other info: Enjoy a collaborative culture prioritising wellbeing and staff recognition.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on education by driving innovation and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Degree and proven leadership experience in operations or related fields required.
The predicted salary is between 86162 - 95196 £ per year.
Place Partnership – an ambitious organisation representing the voluntary merger of two strong and successful Trusts in South and West Yorkshire, Maltby Learning Trust and Accord Multi Academy Trust – is looking for a Chief Commercial & Operating Officer to lead and develop scalable, high-performing shared services across Governance, Compliance, Estates (including PFI), ICT, Data and operational risk.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing strategic and operational leadership across the Trust’s shared services, implementing scalable and responsive systems for Governance, Compliance, IT and Estates.
- Ensuring operational services are aligned to Trust priorities to enable high-quality educational experiences for all children and young people.
- Driving efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement across all operational functions by automating routine tasks, where possible, and optimising processes through data-driven insights.
- Leading the development and implementation of operational strategies that support Trust growth and sustainability.
- Providing independent assurance on the effectiveness of shared services through oversight of the catalogue of services and individual SLAs.
- Ensuring all operational services meet statutory, regulatory, and Trust policy requirements.
- Leading on risk management for operational services, identifying and mitigating potential issues.
- Providing executive leadership for business continuity and disaster recovery across the Trust, ensuring that robust plans, testing cycles and recovery arrangements are in place and capable of maintaining operational resilience in the event of disruption.
- Ensuring all academies and shared services align to Trust-wide continuity standards and that critical functions have clear recovery priorities, escalation routes and communication plans.
- Leading the Trust’s operational risk register, ensuring all service areas – including ICT, estates, governance and compliance – are accurately risk-assessed, monitored and escalated, providing clear assurance to the CEO and Trust Board.
Skills and Experience
- Degree in a relevant field.
- Proven track record of leading large-scale operational functions and managing complex workforce challenges.
- Experience of working at Executive or Board level and reporting to Trustees or Governors.
- Substantial senior leadership experience in operations, estates, or facilities management or related fields, ideally in the education or public sector.
- Experience of leading teams and driving service improvement.
- Deep understanding of health & safety compliance, cyber security, data protection and risk management.
- Commercially astute and growth-minded, spotting opportunity, building strong partnerships and securing sustainable value that benefits frontline education.
- Digitally confident, viewing technology as an enabler of better services, smarter processes and stronger organisational resilience.
- Analytical and evidence-led, comfortable using insight, risk intelligence and performance data to inform decisions and prioritise resources.
Generous annual leave entitlement. Corporate paid healthcare cash plan through Westfield Health. Competitive salary with incremental progression. Enhanced pension scheme. Extensive professional learning and development. Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental leave. Collaborative working culture. Staff recognition programmes celebrating excellence, dedication, and positive impact. Supportive, inclusive environments where wellbeing and belonging are prioritised. Access to Reward Gateway offers.
Salary: £86,162 – £95,196 per annum (SPOT salary to be agreed subject to skills and experience).
Contract and Hours: Permanent, Full Time, Full Year.
Location: Place Partnership Trust.
Closing date: Friday 5 June 2026 at 12 noon.
Chief Commercial & Operating Officer in Bradford employer: Point 13 Jobs
Place Partnership is an exceptional employer that prioritises the professional growth and wellbeing of its staff, offering a collaborative work culture and extensive learning opportunities. With a competitive salary and generous benefits, including enhanced family leave policies and a corporate healthcare cash plan, employees are supported in achieving a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful educational outcomes for children and young people in South and West Yorkshire.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Commercial & Operating Officer in Bradford
✨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 Commercial & Operating 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
Prepare for interviews by researching the Trust's values and recent initiatives. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around operational efficiency and risk management. We want to see that you’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've led teams through change or improved services. Highlight your ability to drive innovation and efficiency, as these are key for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Commercial & Operating Officer in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities mentioned in the job description. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to the role!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role is all about leading and developing services, don’t forget to include examples of your past leadership experiences. We love to see how you've driven efficiency and innovation in previous roles!
Be Data-Driven:Mention any experience you have with using data to inform decisions and improve processes. We’re looking for someone who’s analytical and can leverage insights to enhance operational functions.
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 Place Partnership!
How to prepare for a job interview at Point 13 Jobs
✨Know the Trust Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Place Partnership's mission, values, and recent initiatives. Understanding their goals will help you align your experience with their needs, especially in areas like governance and compliance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've led large-scale operational functions. Highlight your experience in managing complex workforce challenges and driving service improvements, particularly in the education or public sector.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to talk about how you've used data-driven insights to inform decisions in previous roles. Discuss any tools or methodologies you've employed to optimise processes and drive efficiency, as this aligns with their focus on continuous improvement.
✨Emphasise Risk Management Expertise
Given the importance of risk management in this role, be prepared to share your approach to identifying and mitigating potential issues. Discuss your experience with operational risk registers and how you've ensured compliance with health & safety and data protection standards.
