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Unity Schools Partnership is a family of 40 primary, secondary and special schools across East Anglia and north-east London, united by a shared ambition to transform lives through education. With a new Chief Executive in post and a reshaped Executive Team, this is a pivotal moment for the Trust as it enters its next phase of development.
The newly created Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) role sits at the heart of this ambition, responsible for shaping and delivering the Trust’s strategy and ensuring that Unity’s deep expertise, evidence-informed practice and moral purpose are translated into clear priorities and sustained improvement at scale. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the CSO will play a central role in guiding strategic choices, supporting mindful growth, strengthening the Trust’s use of data and insight, and leading how Unity communicates internally and externally as it continues to build momentum and impact.
The successful candidate will be a highly credible strategic leader with a strong track record of turning ambition into delivery within large, complex and distributed organisations. You will bring clarity, discipline and pace to implementation, with a deep understanding of what good strategy execution looks like and how accountability is built through others. Intellectually sharp and highly organised, you will be comfortable working across strategy, data, communications and growth, and adept at building effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.
While experience of the education sector and public policy environment will be valuable, Unity is equally interested in leaders who bring transferable expertise, strong ethical judgement and a personal commitment to making a positive difference for children and young people. You will lead with integrity, inspire high-performing teams, and thrive in a values-driven organisation focused relentlessly on impact.
Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people at all times. You will be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children with whom you come into contact, in accordance with the Trust’s and the schools’ Safeguarding policies. The post holder is required to hold a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Unity Schools Partnership on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference RBQPE. Alternatively, email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com.
Applications should be received by 5pm on Monday 15 June 2026.
C1SO
