Chief Executive Officer Full Time

• SEAX Trust
• Address: Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9DA
• Salary: £120,000 – £130,000 per annum
• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent, required to start 1 January 2026
• Reference: 7752

SEAX Trust are looking to appoint a CEO (Chief Executive Officer).

About the role

As the CEO, you will be responsible for the education of all the young people in the Trust’s academies.

You will also:

• lead the Executive Team, ensuring the Trust and all its schools are successful over time in a sustainable way
• provide high level strategic leadership and management across all aspects of the Trust’s activities
• ensure that the Trust provides high quality education for all its pupils through the effective and efficient use of resources and people.
• represent the Trust with a wide range of stakeholders and partners and enables the Trust to fulfil its civic responsibilities
• be the Accounting Officer for the Trust, responsible for ensuring the Trust meets its statutory and legal requirements
• demonstrate consistently high standards of principled and professional conduct uphold and embody The Principles of Public Life (The Nolan Principles)
• serve in the best interests of the Trust’s pupils, conducting themselves in a manner compatible with their influential position in society.

Your responsibilities

As CEO, you will:

• establish and sustain the SEAX Trust’s values, culture, and strategic direction in partnership with the Trust Board
• provide leadership that enables the Trust to achieve its strategic objectives and secure its future sustainability
• develop operational objectives that are appropriate, deliverable and aligned to the Trust’s strategic direction
• create a safe, inclusive and positive culture across the Trust and its schools
• enable the Trust’s organisational design and operational systems to meet its current and future requirements and manage change effectively.

What you will need

• Level 7 qualification / Masters-level qualification in a related academic area, with extensive experience in the relevant specialist areas of work, or a wider range of areas or evidence of the equivalent level of knowledge gained through work experience in complex organisations
• Proven track record of successful business planning and financial management
• Extensive senior management experience of a successful commercial organisation or educational establishment at executive level.

What we will offer you

SEAX Trust is a growing partnership of Special Academies within the community of Essex, which:

• Puts no limits on what we believe young people can achieve; creating opportunities and meeting individual needs so that our young people can live rich and fulfilled lives.
• Values our staff and is committed to providing an environment which creates opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Has the courage and drive to challenge and champion change to enable equal opportunity and equity for all.
• Influences, respects, listens and acts and which in turn is known as a voice to listen to, act upon and respect.

Our greatest asset towards achieving our Vision is our body of highly valued staff and, in recognition, we implement a wide range of strategic and person-centred reward practices in all of our Trust Academies. By becoming part of a team of outward-looking professionals, where you can influence the future.

Progress with us:

• A focus to provide high quality professional development opportunities for all staff
• An extensive range of training and development opportunities, including Challenge Partners
• Experienced and dedicated practitioners who are keen to help you learn
• A range of exciting internal career opportunities.

Be inspired by us:

• Challenging roles and recognition of achievement
• A motivational strategy towards both education and business
• Staff involvement in wider decision-making
• Teachers who stay in the profession

Be reassured by us:

• A strategic aim to ensure a fair work/life balance
• A highly supportive organisational culture
• A firm commitment to the strengths of equality and diversity
• A sense of cohesion and belonging
• A policy to raise matters of concern
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme for all staff, offering a range of services including same day GP appointments, face-to-face physio and counselling

For more information

Please read the Key Information (pdf), Person Specification (pdf), Recruitment Policy (pdf) and Privacy Notice (pdf) documents.

To find out more about the Trust, please read About the Trust (pdf) or visit our website.

For an informal discussion, please contact Kate Stannard, Director of HR, by calling 01245 963006 or by emailing jobs@seaxtrust.com.

How to apply

Please complete an Application Form (Word) and submit to Kate Stannard by email at jobs@seaxtrust.com.

Alternatively, please return by post to SEAX Trust Office, c/o Grove House School, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9BZ.

Closing date: 12pm, 15 September 2025.

Interview date: 23 and 24 September 2025.

SEAX Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to satisfactory medical checks, enhanced DBS clearance and references.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

C1EO