Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

We are looking for an outstanding strategic leader in education who will embrace our vision, values, and ethos, inspire and empower our team, and confidently collaborate with key stakeholders, including the Department for Education, diocesan colleagues, and other school and trust leaders.

This role is flexible to ensure we attract the right person to lead us forward. It could be full or part time or even a secondment. Central to our thinking is ensuring we attract a highly skilled professional with a passion to develop our business and the impact it has on our children and young people, our staff and the wider education sector.

About the Role

The role involves providing strategic leadership and direction through a schools-led approach to ensure the highest standards of education for all children and young people in Surrey, including disadvantaged pupils, those with additional needs, and other vulnerable groups.

The CEO will be responsible for managing SAfE's operations, ensuring efficient delivery, effective practices, and strong financial performance, while maintaining a focus on impactful service.

Additionally, they will act as the principal ambassador for SAfE, fostering relationships with key stakeholders to enhance the company's profile, reputation, and brand.

What does SAfE do?

SAfE was established in September 2019 by the Surrey school community in partnership with Surrey County Council and other stakeholders to take responsibility for the quality of education in Surrey, delivering a school-led school improvement system to serve the whole school community. Its aim was a focus on collaboration in an increasingly fragmented educational landscape to drive improvements in outcomes for all children and young people.

The core business of SAfE is school improvement, which includes direct work with schools, professional learning, leadership development and networks. Supporting an inclusive school system is fundamental to our work and SAfE has a number of different targeted projects to support this. Underpinning all of our work is system leadership: we act as an engine of improvement locally, brokering connections and initiatives across schools, and stimulating innovation. Our aim is to bridge the divide between different types of schools and be the glue in the system.

Interested?

We hope this short description of SAfE excites you and will encourage you to view the recruitment pack on our website which contains the full job description, person specification and application form.

To arrange an informal, confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Liza May by email

Schools Alliance for Excellence is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.