Chief Operating Officer LEO Academy Trust

Chief Operating Officer LEO Academy Trust

Join the thriving LEO Academy Trust as its Chief Operating Officer and lead its central services to ensure the Trust's operational systems support its schools as LEO continues to grow and evolve.

• Location: Sutton / Surrey

Who we are

LEO Academy Trust was founded in 2015 and, by Autumn this year, will serve 7,000 pupils across our Primary schools in Sutton and Surrey. Around 800 colleagues work across our schools and central teams. We expect three further schools to join the Trust in the near future as we continue our planned growth.

Our schools are supported through a high quality operating model that includes finance, estates, HR, governance, digital infrastructure and compliance. The Chief Operating Officer will lead these services and ensure our operational systems continue to support our schools effectively as we grow and evolve.

Our model empowers school leaders to focus on curriculum, teaching and learning, while our central teams coordinate operational systems across the Trust. Our directors and central services teams work closely with school leaders to ensure that professional services respond to the needs of pupils, staff and communities.

Our strategy is framed through the LEO 2030 programme. Through this work, we are developing inclusive learning environments, strengthening digital learning across our schools and building partnerships with the communities we serve.

We also contribute to the wider education sector through teacher training, professional development and partnerships, including our work with the National Institute of Teaching.

About the role

The COO will lead our central operational services, including finance, estates, HR operations, governance support, compliance and digital infrastructure. These teams currently support 14 academies and will expand as further schools join LEO.

Financial stewardship is an important part of the role. We have built a strong financial position through disciplined planning and clear central systems. The COO will oversee financial planning, procurement and operational resource management across the Trust, ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and effectively.

The role also includes oversight of our estates portfolio. LEO schools operate across multiple sites and the COO will coordinate maintenance planning, capital investment and compliance with health and safety requirements across the estate.

Digital infrastructure is an important part of our model. Pupils across our primary schools have access to personal learning devices and digital platforms that support teaching, communication and administration. The COO will oversee the operational infrastructure that enables these systems to function effectively.

The COO will lead a number of central service teams and will review how these services operate as the Trust grows. As we continue to develop, this role will help ensure that central services remain responsive and scalable.

The role also requires close partnership with our school leaders. Central services work directly with Principals through structured meetings and review processes. The COO will visit schools regularly to ensure operational services respond effectively to the needs of staff and pupils.

This is a significant leadership role within LEO at a point where we are building on a strong foundation and preparing for the next stage of development. You will be in post from 1st December.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a senior operational leader who understands how complex organisations operate and how systems support frontline services.

Candidates may come from education, public services or other regulated sectors with experience of operating in complex, multi site organisations. Experience working within a multi academy trust or education organisation would be valuable, particularly where candidates have supported operational systems across multiple schools.

The role requires strong financial understanding. LEO has developed a stable financial position through careful planning and centralised systems. Our COO will oversee financial planning, audit processes and procurement frameworks while ensuring resources are distributed effectively across the Trust.

Candidates should demonstrate experience managing operational services across distributed sites. This may include estates management, facilities planning, compliance systems or operational infrastructure supporting large teams.

Digital infrastructure is also central to how our schools operate. LEO has implemented a one device per pupil model across primary phases and digital platforms are embedded across learning and administration. The COO will oversee infrastructure, service providers and procurement arrangements that support these systems.

The role also requires the ability to work closely with school leaders. Our COO will interact regularly with Principals and must understand the operational realities of school environments. Central services must respond effectively to issues such as facilities management, HR matters and operational planning.

We value leaders who work collaboratively and communicate clearly. The COO will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the executive team, including colleagues responsible for curriculum, teaching and learning. Some teams operate across shared reporting lines, and the COO will help ensure these functions work together effectively.

We are open to candidates from outside education, although the successful candidate will need to understand how schools function and how operational systems enable teaching and learning.

This role offers the opportunity to help shape the next phase of LEO's development as we continue to grow and refine our operational systems in support of our schools and communities.

Application information

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Eddie Caviezel Cox at peridotpartners.co.uk.

To view the full job description and person specification, please go to the 'How to Apply' tab, fill in your details and download the job pack. For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners.

Equality, Diversity and Data Protection

Peridot Partners and LEO Academy Trust are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we will send an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.

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