Chief Executive Officer

Schoolsweek; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-academy trust in the United Kingdom is seeking an exceptional CEO to provide strategic and operational leadership across the Trust, ensuring inclusive and high-quality education for all students. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in strategic leadership and possess strong business acumen. You will be responsible for shaping the Trust's vision while ensuring financial sustainability and compliance with legal requirements. This role requires inspiring leadership, with a focus on collaboration and development of staff, driving excellence in educational outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of successful strategic leadership in a complex organizational context.
• Experience in working effectively with Trustees and key stakeholders.
• Commitment to inclusion and high standards in education.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, civic, and operational leadership across the Trust.
• Ensure that resources are deployed effectively to enhance learning outcomes.
• Drive the Trust's vision, values, and strategic direction in partnership with the Board.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational leadership

People leadership

Financial acumen

Understanding of education landscape

Job description

Join Education Village Academy Trust and help to shape the strategic direction of a Trust that delivers outstanding education across mainstream and SEND settings, raising ambition, inclusion and excellence for learners of all backgrounds across Darlington.

About the organisation

We are proud of our Trust. Our schools serve a diverse community, delivering outstanding education from early years to post-16, including specialist SEND provision.

We believe in excellence, ambition, inclusivity, ethical leadership, and teamwork. When you join us, you’ll be part of a culture that values collaboration, supports staff development and ensures every child has the opportunity to succeed.

About the role

As CEO, you will provide strategic, civic and operational leadership across the Trust, delegating to the executive team while retaining overall accountability.

In this multifaceted role, you will balance the educational needs and aspirations of our pupils with running an organisation that is efficient, sustainable and fit for the future. With oversight of £32 million annual turnover and £26 million estates portfolio, which includes PFI, leased and owned properties, you will ensure that all resources are deployed effectively to enhance learning outcomes.

You will shape and drive our vision, values and strategic direction in partnership with the Board, while ensuring that the Trust achieves exceptional educational outcomes and sustainable financial results.

Your leadership will span six interlinked areas: strategic leadership, system and civic leadership, quality of education, operational and financial leadership, people leadership and accountability and governance. You will drive exceptional educational outcomes and Ofsted readiness, while ensuring the Trust remains financially secure, operationally efficient and compliant with all legal, safeguarding and regulatory requirements.

You will enable high-quality teaching, a broad and enriching curriculum and inclusive learning environments where every pupil feels valued, supported and able to thrive. You will build and sustain a culture of collaboration, trust and excellence, ensuring the Trust attracts, develops and retains exceptional staff.

Through visible, inspirational leadership, you will guide EVAT to achieve its ambitious strategic objectives, including digital transformation, SEND provision, sustainable growth, and the creation of resilient, future‑ready schools.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an exceptional leader who will embrace the Trust’s values and ethos, putting children and young people at the centre of every decision. You will be an inspiring, visible CEO, capable of providing strategic and operational leadership across a complex multi-academy trust.

You will have a proven track record of successful strategic leadership, ideally within an education or complex organisational context, with experience at board level and in working effectively with Trustees and key stakeholders.

Experience within the education sector is not essential; however, knowledge and understanding of the education landscape and its challenges are critical. This knowledge, combined with strong business acumen, will be necessary to enable you to evaluate how the Trust operates critically. With this, you will identify opportunities for improvement to ensure sustainable growth and efficiency.

You will be committed to inclusion and equity and will continue to embed high standards and a child-centred ethos across all schools.

Call to action

Please click 'Apply Now’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close: 9 a.m. Wednesday 21st January 2026

Company Profile information:

Company Profile - Peridot Partners

Company email - [e-mail]

Company phone - 07951 920768

Company Website - https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/ceo-education-village-academy-trust/