Chief Operating Officer

Bank of America; Taunton; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Taunton School seeks a dynamic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee non-academic operations and drive financial sustainability. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in commercial and operational management, coupled with strong relationship-building skills to foster innovation and collaboration across the school community. This role offers an opportunity to lead a vibrant institution, committed to educational excellence and student wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in senior operational roles.
• Experience delivering organizational change.
• Strong relationships with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage non-academic operations.
• Ensure overall financial health and sustainability.
• Drive innovation through strategic input.

Skills

Commercial management

Operational management

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Collaborative leadership

Education

Relevant degree or qualification

Job description

Founded in 1847, Taunton School is a vibrant, ambitious, co-educational day and boarding school, with a rich history of educational excellence. Today, over 1100 pupils aged 0-18 years benefit from the school’s inspirational teaching, broad and inclusive co-curricular provision and wholehearted commitment to the wellbeing of the school community. The school is global in outlook, with international academic pathways, and an IB programme, which all reflect the continued commitment to preparing students to succeed within a global community. Situated on a stunning 56-acre campus in the heart of Somerset, Taunton School offers a wealth of opportunities for students to be challenged, nurtured and inspired.

The school is now looking to appoint a COO to lead and manage a complex support staff body serving all non-academic operations of the school, ensuring its overall financial health and sustainability. Reporting to the Head and CEO of Taunton School, the COO will provide strategic and commercial input into key areas of the school, building on its track record of success and driving it through the next exciting and ambitious stages of its development.

The successful candidate will be an ambitious senior professional, with a demonstrable record of success in commercial, operational and financial management roles, including the delivery of organisational change, and the ability to implement and contribute to the overall strategic aims of the school. We are seeking a natural relationship builder who can engage stakeholders at all levels and drive forward innovation through collaborative leadership.

Taunton School is an equal opportunities employer, with Disability Confident and Menopause Aware status, and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, or age. Candidates will be assessed against relevant criteria only (i.e. skills, qualifications, abilities, experience) in selection and recruitment. We particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups.

How to Apply

Taunton School has engaged the services of Saxton Bampfylde to assist with the recruitment.

Candidates should apply for this role through Saxton Bampfylde’s website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code TBUAA. Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and a letter of application. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 1st July 2025.

For a confidential conversation please contact Jo Ogilvy, Consultant, via [e-mail]

Key dates for this process:

• Interviews to be held via Teams on 30th and 31st July
• W/c 11th August, briefing day & school tour
• 28th August final interview on site with panel

Safeguarding

Taunton School operates in a regulated sector and adheres to the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory guidance. We are committed to working together to safeguard children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you are shortlisted for interview, the HR team may carry out an online search via Google to check presence and activity, as part of the school’s due diligence. A further online search will be carried out by a 3rd party provider if you are successful in your application and an offer is made and accepted. As a regulated sector we are required to request references prior to interview unless your permission is not granted.

Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory safeguarding and pre-employment checks as part of the school’s due diligence, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. These include, but are not limited to, ID and Right to Work in the UK, satisfactory references, a successful enhanced DBS check, and satisfactory online searches.

This job is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and subsequent amendments. You are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which would otherwise be considered as ‘spent’. All applicants must therefore declare all previous convictions and cautions, including those that would normally be considered “spent”, except those that are classed as protected offences.

It is a condition of employment that the employee should not have been convicted of a criminal offence against children, nor have been dismissed from or resigned from a previous employer for misconduct of a similar nature.

For more information, please visit this link to our school policies including child protection and recruitment: Taunton School Policies & Inspection Reports.

C1OO