Chief Operating Officer

Founded by Royal Charter in 1552, Shrewsbury is a leading independent co-educational boarding and day school with a growing family of overseas schools and a world-class reputation for all-round excellence. Situated on a beautiful 110-acre site in the heart of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, the School provides a highly distinctive, whole-person education for some 840 pupils aged 13–18.

The Governors and Headmaster seek to appoint a highly motivated, financially astute and commercially driven Chief Operating Officer (COO). Building upon Shrewsbury’s recent successful growth, the candidate will play a pivotal role in its strategic development, shaping and delivering the financial strategy to ensure both schools’ long-term success. With responsibility for finance, estates, operations and trading activities, candidates will be able to demonstrate proven ability in executive leadership and financial control, strategic planning and organisational delivery within large, complex organisations.

Reporting to the Headmaster, the COO will lead a team of 175 staff. As a critical member of the Leadership Team, they will deliver and manage change to ensure Shrewsbury’s financial and commercial success. They will be a collaborative senior leader and a strategic and creative thinker with strong financial and commercial acumen, first-rate analytical and business skills and finely tuned risk antennae. An outstanding communicator, the COO will inspire, motivate and operate at pace.

Prior experience in the education sector is not a prerequisite, and applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate empathy with independent education and a commitment to Shrewsbury’s ethos and educational philosophy.

A sector-leading remuneration package, including accommodation and fee remission, will be available for the successful candidate.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange an informal and confidential discussion about the role:

Nina Lambert, Head of Commercial Appointments: ninalambert@rsacademics.com

For further information about the role and details of how to apply, please visit www.rsacademics.com

Closing date: 10.00am on Monday 23rd September 2024.

Shrewsbury School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.