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Director of Ambition Foundation
Cygnus Academies Trust, Swanscombe, DA10 0BU14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2025
Closing date
24 March 2025 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
25 February 2025
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £66,665.00 - £75,206.00 Annually (Actual)
Director of Ambition Foundation job summary
Post Title: Director of Ambition Foundation
Location: Hybrid
Salary: Leadership Scale L12 £66,665 - L17 £75,206
Contract Type: Permanent | Full-time
Start Date: September 2025
Reporting To: CEO, Cygnus Academies Trust
Advert Closing Date: 24th March 2025 (We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date)
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Empowering communities. Changing futures. Driving innovation.
At Cygnus Academies Trust, our mission is to empower every child to realise their ambitions and thrive in a life of choice and opportunity. Through our core values—collaboration, citizenship, achievement, and sustainability—we are committed to shaping a brighter future.
As part of this commitment, we have established the Ambition Foundation—a pioneering initiative that delivers place-based interventions and systems change to support children, young people, and their families.
We are seeking an innovative, future-oriented leader with a strong sense of civic duty, mutual respect, and exceptional communication skills to drive the Foundation forward as our Director.
About the Role
This is a unique opportunity to design and lead high-impact interventions, convening cross-sector stakeholders to drive systemic change. You will be at the forefront of developing initiatives that make a real difference—breaking down barriers, fostering opportunity, and shaping a cradle-to-career journey for young people.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership – Develop and implement a forward-thinking strategy aligned with our Trust’s mission.
Innovation & Impact – Design interventions that challenge the status quo and deliver measurable outcomes.
Collaboration – Bring together partners across education, health, social care, and community sectors.
Programme Development – Lead on evidence-based, future-focused initiatives that address real community needs.
Advocacy & Communication – Represent the Foundation, championing our mission and values in public forums.
Resource Management – Secure funding, oversee budgets, and ensure long-term sustainability.
About You
You are:
A visionary leader with a proven track record in driving initiatives or community development.
A strategic thinker who sees the bigger picture but understands the power of local action.
A communicator and collaborator, adept at uniting diverse stakeholders behind a shared purpose.
Data-driven and impact-focused, ensuring interventions deliver measurable, lasting change.
Committed to equity, inclusion, and sustainability, ensuring that every child and family can thrive.
Essential Experience & Skills:
- Leadership experience in education, public policy, social impact, or a related field.
- Expertise in systems change methodologies and collective impact initiatives.
- Strong background in programme design, implementation, and evaluation.
- Understanding of challenges faced by children, families, and communities.
Desirable:
Experience in EYFS, childhood development, or SEND.
Advanced qualification in education, social work, or public policy.
Why Join Us?
This role is more than a job—it’s a mission. By joining Cygnus Academies Trust and leading the Ambition Foundation, you will:
🌍 Shape the future – Drive real change for children and families across our communities.
🚀 Innovate with purpose – Be part of a Trust that values fresh thinking and big ideas.
💬 Work with like-minded changemakers – A team committed to equity, opportunity, and progress.
Ready to make a lasting impact? Apply today and help us shape a future where every child thrives.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Danielle Lewis-Egonu on 01322 224201.
Cygnus Academies Trust
Cygnus Academies Trust is a dynamic and values-driven Multi-Academy Trust dedicated to providing high-quality education and opportunities for children and young people. Our work is underpinned by the values of collaboration, citizenship, achievement, and sustainability, ensuring we deliver excellence across all areas.
As part of our commitment to growth and development, we actively support our staff to achieve their potential, offering a collaborative environment where ideas are valued, and contributions make a meaningful impact. Joining Cygnus means becoming part of a team that believes in making a difference, and this apprenticeship will provide a solid foundation for your career in bids and proposals.
For further information about the trust, please visit Cygnus Academies Trust - Welcome from the Chief Executive- Cygnus Academies Trust
We offer:
Employee support services.
Effective CPD opportunities
Collaborative working with other schools
Excellent ICT facilities
Opportunities for flexible working
Safer Recruitment
Cygnus Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. In line with Safer Recruitment guidelines, CVs will not be accepted, and you are required to complete the application in full giving details of all employment, training and gaps in employment. Cygnus Academies Trust reserves the right to reject incomplete application forms and any consistencies or anomalies will be explored at, or prior to, interview. Any offer of employment is subject to pre-employment checks including a satisfactory ‘Enhanced with Barred List Check’ through the Disclosure and Barring Service. We will require two satisfactory references; one of which must be your line manager in your present or most recent employment. References will be requested prior to interview so please ensure that your referees are available to provide a reference.
Equal Opportunities
Cygnus Academies Trust is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and inclusion who welcomes applications from all sectors of the community. All people who work and study at our Trust have the right to be respected and valued within a safe and secure environment and not to be discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Additional Information
References will be requested for shortlisted applicants prior to interview.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete and return a Self-Disclosure form prior to interview.
Online Searches will be carried out on shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any concerns will be
discussed with candidates at interview.
Further vetting checks including an enhanced DBS, incorporating a check of the Children’s Barred List,
will be undertaken on provisional offer.
The Child Protection Policy can be found on the school website.
The Employment of Ex-Offenders Policy can be found on the Trust website
This post is a customer-facing position and falls within the scope of the Code of Practice on English Language Requirement for Public Sector Workers. The school has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the JD/Person Specification. These will be applied during the recruitment/selection and probationary stages.
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 are not accepted.
About Cygnus Academies Trust
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
We are a group of friendly, like-minded schools, working together in the best interest of all our children.
Driven by a desire to collaborate at every level, with an emphasis on staff development and opportunities for all.
Cygnus Academies Trust schools really are a fantastic place to work and learn. Our approach is to allow all schools to retain and celebrate their uniqueness.
While ensuring; great teaching and learning, strong leadership and management, effective local governance, curriculum expertise, visionary business and financial management.
Head office location
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