Chief Executive Officer

Main Responsibility
The Chief Executive Officer will be an outstanding strategic leader, who is able to develop and articulate the vision, values and ethos for the SFAET and who will inspire and empower others to share in achieving it. The CEO will be accountable and take responsibility for the performance of all academies within the Trust: a driven leader who will be committed to creating the optimum educational opportunities for all students across the Trust.
Key Accountabilities:
Strategic
Develop and facilitate the Trust in accordance with the Trust Board’s and Academies stated aims, objectives and values
Develop and implement an effective corporate environment that allows the Trust and its constituent academies to achieve excellence
Take responsibility for the Trust’s long term strategic plan, self-evaluation and improvement plans of the Academies; and in particular lead the growth and development of the Trust in line with the local demographic
Together with the Trust Board ensure robust and appropriate proactive risk mitigation and management for the Trust and that the risk strategy is aligned to local academy risk strategies
Create a culture of constant improvement and be an inspirational leader, committed to the highest achievement in all areas of the Trust’s work
Develop and maintain effective relationships with the Regional Director (RSD) and Department for Education (DfE), Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Local Authority, Trustees, Headteachers and committee members in order to ensure the success of the Trust and its academies
Maintain an outward facing role with the local community on behalf of the Trust to further its external relationships, future growth and development and also in support of the individual academies within the SFAET.
Leadership and Management
Be proactive and drive the strategic priorities ensuring that the Trust Development Plan is fully aligned and in tune with the local academy plans
Lead & manage all operations through the agreed organisation structure and accountability matrix, and through the development, implementation and review of Trust level policies to achieve the Board’s stated objectives
Ensure the effective capture of all data to meet statutory and legislative standards
Provide motivational and inspirational leadership at all levels of the organisation
Ensure the Trust’s management and organisational structures are fit for purpose and facilitate continuous improvement
Support the Chair of the Trustees in their strategic role of leading and supporting the Local Governance Committee Chairs.
Ensure that there are clear quality assurances systems embedded across the Trust that drive consistency and improvement in performance.
Achieve effective communication, both internally and externally to the Trust, including liaising with all stakeholders and the local and national media.
Resources / Change Management
Develop and effectively and efficiently manage the learning environment, resources (people/assets/finances) and facilities of each academy within the Trust; with particular emphasis on the planning and development required to support the forecast growth in student numbers at the academies.
Accountable for large scale asset management across the estate including the oversight of major capital projects.
Work closely with the Local Authority and local academy leaders in the school design and development.
Ensure the Trust effectively manages its talent through strategic and local CPD and succession planning.
Be responsible for meeting the demands of changing legislation, new initiatives and changing practice.
Lead, oversee and advise on the allocation of resources across the Trust.
In line with the agreed Trust models of delegation - select, train, develop, empower and motivate the senior staff of the Trust; appoint associate consultants as appropriate; and support academy headteachers in local academy recruitment and staff development.
Teaching & Learning/School Improvement
Be accountable for all aspects of Teaching and Learning and Standards across the Trust, set high professional standards and ensure the education vision is understood and embraced.
Be responsible for developing and leading the process for improvement across the Trust, providing quality assurance and accountability; this will be achieved through a rigorous and robust system of target setting which will be reviewed regularly by the CEO, who will report progress to the Trust Board.
Provide dynamic and strategic direction and leadership for Teaching and Learning across the academies
Lead a Trust-wide improvement function that will ensure that the requirements in each academy’s performance are identified and analysed, appropriately costed and prioritised solutions are developed and secured. This includes the commissioning of internal resources through academy-to-academy support and/or external support from a range of providers or individuals who meet strict and agreed criteria for quality, including evidence of effectiveness and impact.
Finance and Procurement
The CEO will be the Accounting Officer for the Trust ensuring that it works to the standards set out in the Academies Handbook.
Ensure the long term financial sustainability, by confirming that proper financial systems are established and effectively monitored, that appropriate action is recommended to address problems identified and to ensure that the Trustees are presented with accurate and timely financial reports.
Develop and maintain a strong and effective relationship with the DfE, ESFA and relevant funding bodies to ensure the funding streams are secured that support the forecast growth.
Review and approve annual budgets of each of the academies in the Trust.
Ensure that all budgetary targets are met by individual academies and efficiencies are maximised.
Through the most appropriate agreed roles within the Trust structure, to negotiate and agree optimum prices with various service providers in order to achieve economies of scale, and to adopt the appropriate procurement process.
Develop and implement strategies for the generation of additional revenue and resources for the Trust.
Compliance
Ensure that Trust meets all legislative and statutory requirements, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and those required by Companies House and the Charity Commission, Data Protection and the Master and Supplementary Funding agreements.
Partnerships
Develop and lead a partnership strategy that ensures the Trust and its academies participate in local, national and international education networks.
Identify key agencies, individuals and groups that could enhance the delivery of the Trust’s strategy at local level and build relationships locally, nationally and internationally to secure their support in partnership with the relevant personnel from the academies.
Share skills expertise and capacity across the Trust and its academies and embed system leadership practice.
Build and maintain strong relationships with parents/carers, students, staff, directors and governors across the Trust.