National Operations Director

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We are working with a growing specialist education provider to appoint an experienced Director of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across its national portfolio of schools.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for driving performance, consistency and sustainable growth across all regions. You will lead a team of Regional Directors and hold overall accountability for operational delivery, including occupancy, workforce performance, financial results and regulatory readiness.
 

Working closely with the Managing Director of Education and wider executive team, you will ensure every school has the leadership, resources and operational support needed to deliver high-quality education and positive outcomes for children and young people.

 

You will:
 

• Lead operational performance across all regions, with accountability for occupancy, workforce and financial targets

• Manage, support and develop Regional Directors, creating a culture of clear accountability and high performance

• Use data and performance insight to identify risks, address underperformance and drive continuous improvement

• Contribute to the organisation’s wider strategy, growth plans and commercial success

• Ensure schools are effectively resourced and prepared for inspection and regulatory scrutiny

• Work closely with education, SEND and quality leaders to embed improvement priorities consistently

• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, retention and deployment

• Strengthen governance, reporting and operational systems across the organisation

• Build effective relationships with local authorities, regulators and other external partners

• Provide clear advice and reporting to the Managing Director and Executive Team
   

About you
 

We are looking for an established senior education leader with:
 

• Significant leadership experience across a multi-site education organisation

• A strong track record of improving operational and organisational performance

• Experience leading and holding senior regional or operational leaders to account

• Excellent knowledge of Ofsted requirements, the Independent School Standards and the wider education landscape

• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing budgets, workforce performance and organisational resources

• The ability to lead change, manage competing priorities and make confident decisions

• A collaborative leadership style, balanced with the resilience and authority needed to challenge underperformance

• Qualified Teacher Status and a degree-level qualification

• A full UK driving licence and the flexibility to travel nationally
   

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially aware and values-led education leader to influence the future direction of a growing organisation while helping to create the conditions in which schools, colleagues and young people can thrive.
 

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.