Director of Strategy and Trust Development

East Midlands Education Trust; West Bridgford; On-site; GBP 74,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Teachers Pension Scheme

SAS Employee Assistance Programme

Cyclescheme

Job summary

East Midlands Education Trust is seeking a Director of Strategy and Trust Development to lead the strategic direction and operating model for rapid expansion across multiple counties. You will report to the CEO and work with the executive team to shape the plan, coordinate cross-functional workstreams and deliver high-impact initiatives.

You will oversee major capital projects, engage with planning authorities and MPs, and provide timely board-ready insights.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Multi Academy Trust strategy or business development.
• Strong analytical skills and excellent, plain-English writing for board papers and briefings produced at pace.
• Experience of significant building or refurbishment projects, working with estates teams, consultants and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Shape, refresh and deliver EMET's strategic plan with clear workstreams, owners, milestones and measures.
• Evolve the Trust-wide operating model across Education, Finance, HR, Estates and Operations to scale with growth.
• Drive EMET's growth strategy, including live projects, free school and Trust appointment bids.
• Provide strategic oversight of major capital projects and funding bids.
• Build relationships with developers, planning authorities, councils, MPs, the DfE and the Regional Director’s office.
• Track planning, demographic and policy trends and turn them into board recommendations.

Skills

MAT strategy

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Written communication

Live workstream management

Education

No specific degree listed

Job description

Director of Strategy and Trust Development

Reference: OCT20263383

Expiry date: 09:00, Wed, 4th Nov 2026

Location: East Midlands Education Trust HQ (The West Bridgford School)

Benefits: All employees:- Local Government / Teachers Pension Scheme Permanent, contracted employees:- SAS Employee Assistance Programme- Cyclescheme

Director of Strategy and Trust Development

Salary: £73,602 - £79,119 (NJC 57-61) Potential for more for an exceptional candidate
Contract: Full time, Permanent
Base: EMET Central Office, with regular travel across Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Derbyshire, Derby City and Leicestershire
Start: As soon as possible

East Midlands Education Trust is a family of 24 schools educating children and young people aged 3 to 19, including alternative provision, across Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Derby City. We are ambitious for every child we serve, and we are growing, with new-build primary schools in Leicestershire linked to major housing developments.

Growth on this scale changes how a Trust needs to work. We are creating a new executive role, reporting directly to the CEO, to lead our strategy, evolve our operating model and drive our expansion.

This is a broad, high-impact role. One week you might be reshaping how our central teams work together to support new schools; the next, writing a Trust appointment submission, briefing an MP ahead of a visit, or presenting planning intelligence to the Board. You will see the results of your work directly: in new schools opening, stronger central services, and better outcomes for children.

What you’ll do

• Work with the CEO and Executive Team to shape, refresh and deliver EMET's strategic plan, turning Board priorities into clear workstreams with owners, milestones and measures.
• Lead the evolution of our Trust-wide operating model across Education, Finance, HR, Estates and Operations, so our structures and services scale with our growth.
• Drive our growth strategy, including live projects, free school and Trust appointment bids.
• Provide strategic oversight of major capital projects, including work at South Wolds Academy and John Flamsteed School, and funding bids.
• Build relationships with developers, planning authorities, councils, MPs, the DfE and the Regional Director’s office, so that EMET is the partner of choice.
• Track planning, demographic and policy trends, and turn them into clear recommendations for the Board.

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience in Multi Academy Trust strategy or business development. A strategic thinker with real stakeholder management skills - equally comfortable in a council chamber, a DfE meeting, or drafting a Board paper.
• The credibility to build relationships with councillors, MPs, civil servants and senior education leaders.
• Strong analytical skills and excellent, plain-English writing for Board papers and briefings produced at pace.
• Experience of significant building or refurbishment projects, working with estates teams, consultants and suppliers.
• The organisation to run several live workstreams at once.
• A genuine commitment to improving opportunities for children and young people, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

Experience of MAT growth, the DfE or a local authority would be an advantage, but we care most about ability and judgement.

Why join EMET

This is a newly created role with real influence from day one. You will have a CEO and Executive Team who are serious about growth and will back you to lead it.

EMET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and online checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or religion.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 4th November at 9am