Chief People Officer
| Posting date: | 24 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £73,983 to £82,837 per year |
| Additional salary information: | LGPS points 54-59 (£73,983-£82,837 FTE – Pay award pending) |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 May 2026 |
| Location: | Essex, Eastern England |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Saffron Academy Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Saffron Academy Trust seeks a committed and passionate individual to embrace our Vision, Values and Ethos and build on our strong foundations already in place. Our new Chief People Officer will provide inspirational, strategic and professional leadership which will ensure the continuing development and success of the Trust and its academies as places of transformational learning with a reputation for high standards across all aspects of its work.
The Chief People Officer will seek to further develop and deliver the vision and the aims of the Trust to create a platform for high standards of learning for all.
We are a growing trust. We are currently a community of three secondary schools, one all-through school and five primary schools, serving more than 6,500 students and employing 1,000 staff.
The Chief People Officer will help to shape the evolution of the Trust as it seeks to build on its initial successes in bringing schools together to address disadvantages and to achieve outstanding outcomes for all pupils. The Chief People Officer will provide an outstanding HR service which supports the education of children and young people across the Trust’s schools.
The successful candidate will possess:
• A strong HR management background
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to think strategically and creatively
• A commitment to supporting high quality education for all children
The role provides a very real opportunity to contribute to the leadership of the strategic direction of our Trust. The new Chief People Officer will be supported by a strong, committed Central Team, Board of Trustees and Members, whilst at school level we have a strong governance structure and highly skilled Headteachers.
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 12th May @ 10am
Interviews: Week beginning Monday 8th June 2026
If you are interested in finding out more about this role prior to application, please contact Kathleen Hutchinson (PA to the CEO) at hr@saffron.academy or on 01799 512184.
Please see page 23 in the Candidate Information Pack for details regarding how to make an application. The Candidate Information Pack and application form are available on the Vacancies page of our website, here: https://www.saffron.academy/blog/?pid=1039&nid=7
Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check. Saffron Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The Chief People Officer will seek to further develop and deliver the vision and the aims of the Trust to create a platform for high standards of learning for all.
We are a growing trust. We are currently a community of three secondary schools, one all-through school and five primary schools, serving more than 6,500 students and employing 1,000 staff.
The Chief People Officer will help to shape the evolution of the Trust as it seeks to build on its initial successes in bringing schools together to address disadvantages and to achieve outstanding outcomes for all pupils. The Chief People Officer will provide an outstanding HR service which supports the education of children and young people across the Trust’s schools.
The successful candidate will possess:
• A strong HR management background
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• The ability to think strategically and creatively
• A commitment to supporting high quality education for all children
The role provides a very real opportunity to contribute to the leadership of the strategic direction of our Trust. The new Chief People Officer will be supported by a strong, committed Central Team, Board of Trustees and Members, whilst at school level we have a strong governance structure and highly skilled Headteachers.
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 12th May @ 10am
Interviews: Week beginning Monday 8th June 2026
If you are interested in finding out more about this role prior to application, please contact Kathleen Hutchinson (PA to the CEO) at hr@saffron.academy or on 01799 512184.
Please see page 23 in the Candidate Information Pack for details regarding how to make an application. The Candidate Information Pack and application form are available on the Vacancies page of our website, here: https://www.saffron.academy/blog/?pid=1039&nid=7
Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check. Saffron Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.