Deputy Chief Executive Officer for The Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust

Following the relocation of our wonderful Deputy CEO for family reasons, we are seeking an exceptional system leader to become our next post holder, working alongside our experienced and visionary CEO.  We need a values‑driven professional, with relentless energy, who will inspire improvement, champion inclusion and safeguarding, and secure excellence across a diverse Trust serving a wide geographical area.

Rooted in a strong Christian vision and ethos, our Trust exists so that every child and adult in our schools can learn, grow and flourish. As Deputy CEO you will bring significant experience of influencing improvement in multiple settings, strategic clarity, moral purpose and practical know‑how to translate this vision into sustained impact for pupils and staff every day.

The difference you will make

• Raise standards across our schools: Lead the Trust’s improvement strategy and quality assurance, ensuring rapid, secure improvement wherever it is needed most.
• Champion flourishing in our church schools: Be an inspirational example of our distinctive Christian ethos—supporting deeply Christian provision, governance and recruitment—and strengthen our partnerships across the Diocese.
• Lead safeguarding culture Trust‑wide: Serve as the Trust’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring our policy, training and practice meet the highest standards and current legislation.
• Develop people and leadership: Line‑manage and coach Regional Directors of Education and the Academy Improvement Team; support and challenge Headteachers; nurture professional learning and wellbeing.
• Build thriving collaboration: Extend best practice across hubs and schools; work confidently with Trustees, diocesan partners, Ofsted, DFE, LAs and training providers.

About you

You are a proven school‑improvement leader with successful headship or senior executive experience across more than one school. You combine incisive use of performance data with high expectations, credibility with senior leaders and governors, and a leadership approach that empowers others. You understand Ofsted and SIAMS (maybe as an inspector, although not essential), can hold to account as well as coach, and you bring resilient optimism and integrity that model our values. A strong personal alignment with the Christian ethos of our Trust is essential.

What we offer

• A compelling opportunity to shape outcomes for thousands of children across contrasting communities, within a supportive, values‑led Trust.
• Serving within a dynamic and committed senior leadership team, providing support to and influencing the work of the CEO.
• A platform to lead and develop further our Trust Improvement Model, the safeguarding and work of the Trust Standards and Ethos Committees, working directly with the CEO and Trustees.
• Committed colleagues, purposeful partnerships and a culture that invests in your growth as a system leader.
• Engagement with senior colleagues in other Trusts and at regional and national levels.
• The opportunity to make a real difference, whilst advancing your career in a significant way.

Travel: This role covers schools across Wiltshire and Dorset; substantial travel across the Diocese of Salisbury is essential and should energise rather than deter you.

Please also look at our website www.dsat.org.uk to find out much more. We would love to help you find out more.

For an informal conversation with our CEO, Mark Lacey, please contact Nicki Summerill on 01722 548519 or by email [email protected]. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. We are an equal opportunities employer and warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community.