Furness Primary School

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Job Description

1. Job Title

Chief Executive Officer

2. Salary

A post-specific salary determined by the Board of Directors applies to this role.

3. Line of Responsibility

The Chief Executive Officer is directly accountable to the Board of Directors of the Multi-Academy Trust.

4. Line Management

The Chief Executive Officer provides leadership and management to headteachers and senior leadership teams across the academies within the Trust.

5. Strategic Purpose

The Chief Executive Officer is accountable to the Board of Directors for leading the strategic direction, educational performance, operational effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the Multi-Academy Trust. The role requires the communication and delivery of the Trust’s vision, values and objectives across all academies, ensuring that pupils receive the highest possible standards of education and care.

Through inspirational leadership, rigorous strategic planning, effective systems and high professional standards, the Chief Executive Officer will promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and ambition across the Trust. The postholder will act as the principal accounting officer for the Trust, in accordance with Department for Education requirements.

The Chief Executive Officer will also serve as one of the Directors of Acorn Manor Ltd, the Trust’s trading subsidiary, and will take personal responsibility for the effective day-to-day operation of the trading arm. This includes ensuring that Acorn Manor Ltd is professionally managed, commercially effective and operated in a manner that generates surpluses for the benefit of the Trust and the schools within it. The Chief Executive Officer will be the only Director regularly based on-site and will have operational oversight of the full trading activity of Acorn Manor Ltd, ensuring compliance, performance, service quality and value for money.

6. Core Responsibilities

• Work with the Board of Directors, local governing boards and staff across the Trust to define, communicate and deliver the Trust’s vision, aims and objectives.
• Provide inspirational and motivational leadership, clear strategic direction, and measurable targets supported by robust development plans.
• Ensure that the Trust’s strategic development plan is informed by strong financial planning and aligned to educational priorities.
• Challenge, support and empower local governing boards and senior leadership teams to secure ambitious outcomes for pupils and communities.
• Promote excellent teaching, learning and assessment across all academies through high professional standards, monitoring and evaluation.
• Oversee curriculum development and assessment strategies that meet the needs of all pupils and support strong outcomes.
• Develop a culture of personal accountability, high expectations and professional growth.
• Build strong and collaborative teams, encouraging openness, respect, innovation and shared practice.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of local and national education developments and ensure senior leaders are prepared to respond to change.
• Ensure effective use of technology to enhance educational provision, operational efficiency and value for money.
• Establish systems for continuous self-evaluation and use them to drive Trust-wide improvement.
• Develop and implement robust policies for recruitment, retention, workforce deployment, appraisal and development.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, partners, stakeholders and the wider community.
• Support the growth and development of the Trust, including the smooth transition of new academies into the Trust.
• Foster strong transition and collaboration between phases and schools where appropriate to support attainment and admissions.
• Promote high aspirations, excellent behaviour, inclusion, strong pastoral support and effective intervention.
• Oversee external communications with communities, media, agencies and partners.
• Ensure effective monitoring and management of Trust budgets, financial systems and returns in accordance with DfE and Companies House requirements.
• Maximise available financial resources, identify additional funding opportunities and secure value for money in all areas of operation.
• Attend meetings of the Board of Directors and local governing boards as required.
• Promote and support a rich extra-curricular programme that raises aspirations and benefits pupils and communities.
• Place safeguarding and child protection at the centre of all decision-making.
• As a Director of Acorn Manor Ltd, ensure the trading arm is led effectively, operates successfully and contributes surpluses to support the Trust’s charitable and educational aims.
• Provide direct on-site leadership and oversight of Acorn Manor Ltd as the only regular on-site Director.
• Take responsibility for the commercial, operational and reputational performance of Acorn Manor Ltd and ensure it operates in the best interests of the Trust.