Chief Operating Officer

Embark Multi Academy Trust, Derby, DE22 1GB

12 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1 Sept 2026

• Closing date

  21 June 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  9 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £80,000.00 Annually (FTE)

Chief Operating Officer job summary

At Embark Federation, our schools exist to help children and young people love learning, love life. As we continue to grow and strengthen, we are creating a new Chief Operating Officer role to provide strategic leadership across our operational functions and ensure our schools have the systems, infrastructure and support they need to deliver exceptional outcomes for children.

We are looking for someone who can bring clarity, consistency and accountability across a complex organisation. Someone who can see the bigger picture, build strong relationships, challenge where necessary, and ensure operational excellence becomes a genuine enabler of educational success.

Reporting directly to the Trust Leader and working as a key member of the Executive Team, you will lead and coordinate trust-wide operations including compliance, risk, health and safety, IT, communications, contracts, policies and operational improvement. You will provide assurance to the Trust Board, support strategic growth and ensure our schools can focus on what matters most - teaching, learning and children.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation.
• Has a strong track record of leading operational improvement and organisational change.
• Can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.
• Understands governance, compliance, risk and organisational assurance.
• Builds credibility quickly and works effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Has the confidence to challenge, influence and drive high standards.
• Shares our commitment to inclusion, integrity and service.

Experience within education is helpful but not essential. We are equally interested in exceptional leaders from public, private or third-sector organisations who can demonstrate impact, strategic leadership and a commitment to making a difference.

Why Embark?

Embark Federation is a family of schools serving communities across Derbyshire. We are ambitious for our children, committed to our staff and determined to create stand out schools at the heart of our communities. This is an opportunity to join a values-led organisation at an exciting stage of its development and play a significant role in shaping its future. You can find out more about what you can expect in our 'working for us' booklet.

If you are a strategic leader who can combine operational excellence with a genuine commitment to improving the lives of children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

Safeguarding Commitment

At Embark, the safety and wellbeing of children is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to robust safer recruitment procedures, including enhanced DBS checks, online searches, satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds who share our commitment to ensuring every child can thrive.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Embark Multi Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/embark-multi-academy-trust

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