Chief Executive Officer

Peridot Partners; Belmont; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An education institution in the North East is seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead strategic initiatives and drive community-based impact. The ideal candidate will have a proven record in educational leadership, be committed to addressing local challenges, and possess strong financial acumen. This role emphasizes building partnerships to enhance regional transformation while cultivating a motivated team. A deep commitment to the North East and its communities is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven record of delivering impact in further education.
• Experience in managing multi-million-pound budgets.
• Strong understanding of community challenges and aspirations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic vision and delivery of EPNE’s Strategic Plan 2025.
• Build partnerships with employers and civic organisations.
• Act as ambassador for EPNE at local and national levels.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial leadership

Partnership building

Mentoring and coaching

Community engagement

Influencing and advocacy

Job description

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be accountable to the Board and directly managed by the Chair. The CEO leads a team of highly skilled and passionate professionals who deliver exceptional education and training across the region. The role is to empower, inspire, and hold leaders to account, ensuring that collective expertise drives a shared vision of unlocking potential, creating opportunities, and transforming lives.

Working in close partnership with the Board of Governors, the CEO provides the vision, drive, and leadership required to deliver EPNE's Strategic Plan 2025. The CEO must be deeply committed to the North East, clear about EPNE's role in the region, and determined to help address community-based challenges. This involves leading bold partnerships with employers, civic leaders, and local authorities to drive economic prosperity, reduce inequalities, and inspire communities.

The role requires balancing strategic foresight with operational excellence, ensuring EPNE remains financially resilient, continues to invest in world-class facilities, and sustains its reputation as a sector leader. At the same time, the CEO acts as lead ambassador and influencer for EPNE, championing the organisation regionally and nationally while making a lasting local impact.

If you share our ambition and values, we invite you to step forward and lead EPNE into its next exciting chapter.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a strategic leader with the ability, confidence, and resilience to take EPNE into its next chapter. With a proven record of delivering impact in the further education sector, you will bring experience of driving social change through previous leadership roles. As CEO, you will demonstrate excellence in strategic leadership, shaping and delivering organisational vision and long-term impact, while responding to student aspirations, labour market needs, and community challenges.

Equally, you will build and sustain productive partnerships with employers, local authorities, and civic organisations to deliver shared success and regional transformation. Strong financial leadership is essential, with experience in managing multi-million-pound budgets, ensuring accountability for public money, and balancing resilience with growth and innovation.

You will be an inspiring leader of people and teams, motivating, coaching, and mentoring colleagues while instilling confidence and ambition among partners and stakeholders. With presence, influence, and clarity of judgment, you will act as a compelling ambassador for EPNE at local, regional, and national levels, representing students and communities while making principled decisions rooted in EPNE's values.

Above all, you will bring a deep commitment to the North East, recognising EPNE's responsibility to raise aspirations, address challenges, and transform lives through education.

About Us

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) is one of the North East's largest college groups, bringing together Sunderland College, Northumberland College, Hartlepool Sixth Form College, and EPNE Training. Across seven campuses, we serve more than 21,500 learners through a broad curriculum spanning academic and vocational programmes, higher education, apprenticeships, adult learning, and high-needs provision.