Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

King's Group Academies in England seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead strategic and day-to-day operational services across multiple sites. You will drive the operational strategy, oversee estates, digital services, communications and risk management, and identify sustainable income opportunities while ensuring governance and value for money.

The role requires senior leadership experience in complex organisations, demonstrable success delivering large-scale programmes and strong collaboration

Qualifications

• Senior operational leadership across multiple functions in a complex, multi-site organisation.
• Track record of developing strategic plans and leading organisational change.
• Managing significant budgets and resources.
• Delivering large-scale projects and programmes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across the Trust's operational services
• Lead the development and delivery of the operational strategy
• Oversee estates and infrastructure, including major capital projects
• Champion digital innovation across digital and technology services
• Identify opportunities for sustainable income generation and commercial development
• Oversee marketing and communications
• Ensure robust risk management, business continuity and regulatory compliance
• Ensure operational assurance and strong governance
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans and drive improvement
• Lead and empower operational teams and strengthen accountability
• Manage resources with a focus on value for money
• Work with the CEO, executive colleagues, academy leaders and Trustees

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Multi-site operations

Change management

Job description

This Chief Operating Officer post heads operational services at King's Group Academies, a multi-academy trust, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. The role covers estates, digital and technology, commercial development, communications, and risk and compliance, including major capital projects and the Trust's operational strategy. It suits a senior leader with multi-site and budget experience and a record of delivering large projects and organisational change. Visa sponsorship is not available.

What the job involves

• Provide strategic leadership across the Trust's operational services
• Lead the development and delivery of the operational strategy
• Oversee estates and infrastructure, including major capital projects
• Champion digital innovation across digital and technology services
• Identify opportunities for sustainable income generation and commercial development
• Oversee marketing and communications
• Ensure robust risk management, business continuity and regulatory compliance
• Ensure operational assurance and strong governance
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans and drive improvement
• Lead and empower operational teams and strengthen accountability
• Manage resources with a focus on value for money
• Work with the CEO, executive colleagues, academy leaders and Trustees

Experience

• Senior operational leadership across multiple functions in a complex, multi-site organisation
• Track record of developing strategic plans and leading organisational change
• Managing significant budgets and resources
• Delivering large-scale projects and programmes

Skills & knowledge

• Understanding of governance, risk management, compliance and assurance
• Clear, evidence-based reporting to senior leaders, Trustees and external stakeholders
• Building relationships and influencing stakeholders
• Leading diverse professional teams and establishing clear accountability
• Sound judgement and resilience
• Understanding of digital transformation, sustainable estate management and efficient operational services

Other

• Commitment to educational excellence

Nice to have

• Experience within the education sector or a Multi-Academy Trust
• Experience of organisational growth, mergers or digital transformation