Chief Executive Officer

Due to the retirement of our current Chief Executive Officer, The Basildon Academies Trust is seeking an exceptional leader to guide our organisation through the next stage of its development and success. This is a rare opportunity to lead a distinctive and ambitious trust that is committed to transforming the lives of young people through high-quality education.

Salary: Academy Pay Scale AL30 £110,225 - AL33 £118,535

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Responsible to: Chair of Trustees

The Trust comprises two specialist secondary academies serving the Basildon community. Our unique structure enables dedicated provision for Key Stage 3 students at the Lower Academy and for Key Stages 4 and 5 students at the Upper Academy, ensuring focused support throughout every stage of a young person's educational journey. In recent years, the Trust has experienced significant growth in student numbers and staffing and secured substantial CIF funding delivering transformational improvements to learning environments, specialist provision, and educational facilities across our academies.

Our vision of Success Beyond Circumstance underpins everything we do. We are committed to ensuring every student attends, engages, and succeeds through high-quality teaching, a strong culture for learning, inclusive practice, and early intervention. This commitment is demonstrated through significant investment in specialist support, including Engage, our enhanced provision centre, Bridge, our SEND provision centres, and Evolve, a Local Authority-funded partnership providing cross-phase support for vulnerable young people across the wider community.

Working in partnership with the Board of Trustees, the successful candidate will provide inspirational leadership across all aspects of the Trust's work. They will secure educational excellence, drive continuous improvement, ensure financial sustainability, develop an exceptional workforce and strengthen the Trust's role within the local community and wider education sector.

As Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer, the post holder will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards of educational performance, governance, compliance, financial stewardship and public accountability. They will lead the Executive Team and work collaboratively with Trustees, staff, students, parents and external partners to deliver the Trust's strategic ambitions.

We are seeking a leader who:

• Has a proven record of successful senior leadership within education
• Demonstrates a relentless commitment to improving outcomes, inclusion, and life chances for young people
• Has significant experience of strategic planning, organisational improvement, organisational growth and leading sustainable change across complex educational organisations
• Has experience of developing strategic partnerships, collaborations and growth opportunities that strengthen organisational capacity and improve outcomes for young people
• Demonstrates strong system leadership, working beyond their own organisation to influence educational improvement across local, regional and national networks
• Understands the importance of inclusion, safeguarding and removing barriers to achievement.
• Can lead and inspire a talented workforce whilst promoting wellbeing, professional growth and accountability
• Has strong financial, operational and governance expertise
• Builds positive relationships and partnerships at local, regional and national levels
• Has the vision and influence to position The Basildon Academies Trust for future success and sustainable development
• Demonstrates the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and public service consistent with the Nolan Principles

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of young people and the wider community. You will be supported by a committed Board of Trustees, a skilled leadership team and dedicated staff who are united by a shared belief that every child deserves an exceptional education.

The successful candidate will build upon strong foundations and shape the future strategic direction of the Trust, ensuring that The Basildon Academies Trust continues to thrive and deliver excellence for generations to come.

Closing Date: Midday Monday 28th September

Interviews to be held on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th October

Position available from January 2027

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, please download and complete our application form, and on a separate document, please demonstrate how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the Key Responsibilities criteria on the job description (1500 words maximum).

If you have any questions, please contact Olivia Faustino Recruitment and Cover Coordinator - [email removed]

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications or are able to fill the position faster than originally anticipated.