2 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    1st September 2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter - we are prepared to wait for the right person)

  • Closing date

    8 May 2026 at 9am

  • Date listed

    14 April 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Other leadership roles

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

£93,424.00 - £105,595.00 Annually (Actual) Pay award pending Sep-26 - exact terms and conditions to be confirmed

Deputy Chief Executive Officer job summary

Following the relocation of our wonderful Deputy CEO for family reasons, we are seeking an exceptional system leader to become our next post holder, working alongside our experienced and visionary CEO. We need a values‑driven professional, with relentless energy, who will inspire improvement, champion inclusion and safeguarding, and secure excellence across a diverse Trust serving a wide geographical area.

Rooted in a strong Christian vision and ethos, our Trust exists so that every child and adult in our schools can learn, grow and flourish. As Deputy CEO you will bring significant experience of influencing improvement in multiple settings, strategic clarity, moral purpose and practical know‑how to translate this vision into sustained impact for pupils and staff every day.

The difference you will make

  • Raise standards across our schools: Lead the Trust’s improvement strategy and quality assurance, ensuring rapid, secure improvement wherever it is needed most.
  • Champion flourishing in our church schools: Be an inspirational example of our distinctive Christian ethos—supporting deeply Christian provision, governance and recruitment—and strengthen our partnerships across the Diocese.
  • Lead safeguarding culture Trust‑wide: Serve as the Trust’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring our policy, training and practice meet the highest standards and current legislation.
  • Develop people and leadership: Line‑manage and coach Regional Directors of Education and the Academy Improvement Team; support and challenge Headteachers; nurture professional learning and wellbeing.
  • Build thriving collaboration: Extend best practice across hubs and schools; work confidently with Trustees, diocesan partners, Ofsted, DFE, LAs and training providers.

About you

You are a proven school‑improvement leader with successful headship or senior executive experience across more than one school. You combine incisive use of performance data with high expectations, credibility with senior leaders and governors, and a leadership approach that empowers others. You understand Ofsted and SIAMS (maybe as an inspector, although not essential), can hold to account as well as coach, and you bring resilient optimism and integrity that model our values. A strong personal alignment with the Christian ethos of our Trust is essential.

What we offer

  • A compelling opportunity to shape outcomes for thousands of children across contrasting communities, within a supportive, values‑led Trust.
  • Serving within a dynamic and committed senior leadership team, providing support to and influencing the work of the CEO.
  • A platform to lead and develop further our Trust Improvement Model, the safeguarding and work of the Trust Standards and Ethos Committees, working directly with the CEO and Trustees.
  • Committed colleagues, purposeful partnerships and a culture that invests in your growth as a system leader.
  • Engagement with senior colleagues in other Trusts and at regional and national levels.
  • The opportunity to make a real difference, whilst advancing your career in a significant way.

Travel: This role covers schools across Wiltshire and Dorset; substantial travel across the Diocese of Salisbury is essential and should energise rather than deter you.

Please also look at our website www.dsat.org.uk to find out much more. We would love to help you find out more.

For an informal conversation with our CEO, Mark Lacey, please contact Nicki Summerill on 01722 548519 or by email nsummerill@dsat.org.uk.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. We are an equal opportunities employer and warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community.

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.

View advert on external website (opens in new tab)

About Diocese Of Salisbury Academy Trust

Type
Multi-academy trust
See more jobs
teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/diocese-of-salisbury-academy-trust

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