Chief Executive Officer

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BURSARS ASSOCIATION; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational association in the UK is seeking an experienced Chief Executive to lead daily operations, manage the executive committee, and represent the organisation with external stakeholders. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, financial acumen, and exceptional communication skills. This role requires a commitment to the values of independent education and the ability to inspire and motivate a team. The position includes critical responsibilities in stakeholder management and strategic leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience in staff management and leading a team effectively.
• Proven ability to understand financial documents and budgets.
• Capability to represent the organisation in various forums.

Responsibilities

• Lead and perform daily operations of ISBA.
• Manage the executive committee and ensure effective service delivery.
• Engage with government and educational stakeholders.

Skills

Strong moral compass

Financial acumen

Excellent communication skills

Strong networking ability

Leadership and team management

Job description

ISBA has more than 1,300 members, including more than 60 international associate members with 20 staff. Its members range from smaller preparatory schools to large well-known senior schools, including both boarding and day schools, and co-educational and single sex. ISBA is a charitable company limited by guarantee and although it is the school and not the bursar who becomes a member of the association, it is usually the bursar or COO/DFO who is the school’s main representative.

The Chief Executive reports to the Chair and will be ISBA’s principal spokesperson and point of contact with the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and other associations within the sector; and with government policy makers within education, the media and the Association’s UK and international membership.

The responsibilities can be broadly summarised into three areas:

1. Executive(including managing the executive committee, leading the organisation day to day and acting as Company Secretary)MemberServices: The CEO has overall accountability for the operation and development of the work of the Executive Committee and their teams across each of ISBA’s core services for members: membership support; Advice and Guidance; Professional Development; Conference and commercial and recruitmentRepresentation: the CEO has a crucial outward facing role that will include the following

• Representing the Association on the ISC board and various committees internally and, where appropriate, those of the Government or its agencies; Responding to changes in Government policy, legislation and regulation in so far as it may affect independent schools; Exploring opportunities for the generation of income and wider opportunities for ISBA through engagement with commercial organisations/stakeholders/wider partners; Acting as the media focus for the Association

The Candidate

The successful candidate is likely to demonstrate all or most of the following:

• A strong moral compass and a consistent sense of what is right, being unafraid of challenging practices that are not in keeping with the values of ISBA and its charitable objects, and ensuring that those values of service to members are evident at all times; Clear commitment to the ongoing role and value of independent education; Staff management, and leading a senior team in a supportive and challenging way; Financial acumen, including organisation-wide budgeting and a working understanding of balance sheets and management information, and an understanding of the role of a company secretary; A well-developed sense of commerciality to explore new revenue streams; Confidence in media and communication, alongside an understanding of the need to represent the collective needs of ISBA; Excellent communicator who can inspire and motivate a team and key stakeholders, both verbally and through written work; Strong networker and skilled interpersonally, with evident diplomatic skills; the ability and willingness to promote the organisation at every opportunity; Confident leader and manager, with the ability to listen and to understand the perspectives of others, especially when they differ from your own; A team player and builder, committed to professional development of all members of the ISBA team.

ISBA have engaged Wild Search to advise them on this appointment. To discuss this role in confidence please contact Edward Wild by email: [e-mail]

For more details please visit: https://www.wildsearch.org/opportunities/2025/11/21/isba-chief-executive

Deadline: 12 January 2026

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