Ambition Education Trust · St Albans
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER BASED AT TRUST HUB IN GARDEN FIELDS JMI SCHOOL Required January 2027 Competitive salary package Full Time We are seeking an exceptional and inspirational Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our vibrant, ambitious and successful Multi-Academy Trust. This is a defining opportunity to lead the whole Trust strategy for the Ambition Education Trust (AET), driving sustainable improvement, innovation and leadership development at scale. In this role you will shape the future of our schools and the quality of education for thousands of pupils. As CEO, you will have the freedom to shape the next phase of the Trust’s development, while being part of a network that thrives on collaboration and shared ambition. The Opportunity As our new CEO, you will be responsible for implementing the agreed strategic direction as determined by the Trust Board into impactful reality, ensuring exceptional educational outcomes, sustainable growth, and robust financial health. You will oversee all aspects of the Trust’s performance, including educational standards, people leadership, financial management, and external partnerships. This is a unique opportunity to lead Trust-wide school improvement across both primary and secondary phases, while shaping and refining the Trust’s overarching approach to teaching, curriculum innovation, and inclusion. In this role, you will cultivate a highly collaborative, supportive, and empowered network of school leaders, building leadership capacity and embedding a culture of high quality, continuous professional learning as you influence and navigate the future direction of the Trust. The Role The AET CEO is responsible for the education of all the young people in the Trust’s Academies. Leading our dedicated executive team, you will ensure that all schools are successful over time in a sustainable way. You will provide high level strategic leadership and management across all aspects of the Trusts activities ensuring high quality education for all its pupils through the effective and efficient use of resources and people. As a system leader, the CEO, together with a wide range of stakeholders and partners, enables its civic and moral responsibilities. Acting as the Accounting Officer, you will ensure that all statutory, financial, and legal requirements are met. The role encompasses: Strategic Governance & Ethical Leadership: Securing robust oversight, legal accountability, educational excellence, and an inspirational, safeguarding-first culture. High Quality Inclusive Education: Driving ambitious curriculum design, inclusive excellence, exemplary teaching standards, targeted support, and statutory compliance. Finance, Risk & Compliance: Upholding rigorous financial accountability, strategic budgeting, risk mitigation, and the long-term sustainability of the Trust. Communications & Reputational Leadership: Enhancing the Trust's profile through proactive community engagement, board advis