Director of School Operations

Job overview

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Director of School Operations is a high-profile leadership role within St Dunstan's Education Group (SDEG) and a part of the Professional Services Leadership Team (PSLT) who are collectively responsible for driving forward a strategy that enables our schools to deliver Excellence. Differently.

We are looking for a Director of School Operations who will develop, implement and continuously improve operational systems and processes, ensuring that all teams operate efficiently, professionally and in alignment with strategic priorities. The Director will provide professional leadership and guidance to the Heads of Operations at all schools by fostering consistency and operational capability across the Group. They will also have day-to-day responsibility for ensuring the operational excellence of St Dunstan's College, the largest and most complex school in the Group, acting as the senior operational authority for the Junior School and Senior School, working alongside a range of specialist directors including estates, commercial, people and finance.

The role requires close collaboration with Heads and school leadership teams as well as with the rest of the central professional services team to ensure that operations are robust, compliant and responsive, supporting a 'central but local' model of operational excellence across the Group.

The successful postholder will bring significant senior operational leadership experience, ideally gained within a complex educational or multi-site organisation. They will have proven ability to lead organisational change and drive continuous improvement, underpinned by robust experience in operational planning. A strong understanding of business processes, compliance and governance within an educational context is essential, alongside the ability to build effective relationships and exert influence across senior leadership teams, central professional services and other stakeholders. Above all, they will demonstrate a clear commitment to delivering an outstanding operational environment that enables Excellence. Differently. across our growing group of schools.

Applications Close: 0900 Monday 09 March 2026

Longlist Interviews: W/C 16 March 2026

Shortlist Interviews: W/C 23 March 2026

Start Date: ASAP

Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children

St Dunstan's Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post. As this role involves 'regulated activity' with children the successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure application. Employment will be conditional upon St Dunstan's Education Group being satisfied with the result of the Enhanced DBS check and the outcome of all other checks.

St Dunstan's Education Group will also carry out a check of the Children's Barred List on the successful applicant. Applicants should be aware that it is unlawful for St Dunstan's Education Group to employ anyone to work with children if they are barred from doing so, and it is a criminal offence for a person to apply to work with children if they are barred from doing so.

This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and St Dunstan's Education Group is therefore permitted to ask shortlisted applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are 'spent' unless they are 'protected' under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.