Join a growing and values-led Multi Academy Trust supporting schools across Cheshire and Wirral to provide the highest levels of education to each and every one of our children.
Who we are
Concordia Multi Academy Trust is a MAT rooted in collaboration and sharing best practice. Since 2018, we have been working together to ensure that we give the absolute best for each of our children and families that we support.
Our shared values of challenge, collaboration and commitment are at the heart of what we do.
At Concordia, we recognise the individuality of our learners and empower schools to support them with bespoke curricula. What we share is expertise, resources and a commitment to ensure all our children receive the best possible education.
With all of our schools located within an hour of our central office, we are a truly regional MAT working together to achieve excellence.
About the role
Following the retirement of our founding CEO, Tracy Webb, we are seeking a dynamic, committed and commercially minded chief executive to guide the next stage of our development. You will work closely with the Trust board and central team to shape our strategy and implement it across the Trust.
Our new CEO will embody visible leadership, working closely with headteachers to support their development and build leadership capacity throughout the Trust. They will have a proven ability to lead diverse multi-disciplinary teams, whilst nurturing positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders (including local authorities and the DfE) and developing plans in response to strategic priorities.
The responsibilities of the role will include:
- Strategic leadership: designing and delivering a forward-looking strategy with measurable impact, aligned to the Trust’s mission.
- Educational excellence: ensuring outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes across the Trust, whilst ensuring robust support for disadvantaged and SEND pupils.
- Governance and accountability: fostering open, constructive relationships with Trustees, with clear reporting and strong governance practice.
- Talent development: building leadership capacity, nurturing a high-performing workforce and embedding a culture where well-being, growth and inclusion thrive.
- Finance and operations: fulfilling the duties of Accounting Officer, ensuring financial probity, value for money, compliant operations and long-term resilience.
- Growth and partnerships: acting as an ambassador for the Trust, forging strategic partnerships and leading sustainable, mission-aligned expansion.
This is a role for a leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational grip and inspire others whilst ensuring our systems are robust. You will also believe deeply in the transformative power of education for all.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record of strategic leadership. The successful candidate will be commercially astute, able to balance operational resilience and financial stability with working closely with headteachers to empower them to lead their schools in alignment with the Trust’s vision.
We are open to candidates’ professional backgrounds, whether educational leadership, financial or operational MAT leadership, or strategic leadership of complex organisations from the public or private sector. Regardless of your background, you will combine the ability to develop our central functions in support of our schools, strategically plan for future growth and deliver our commitment to inclusive education.
Key qualities include:
- Proven system leadership experience with a track record of driving operational improvement and delivering excellence at scale.
- Strategic clarity and vision, with the ability to shape long-term priorities while responding effectively to emerging challenges.
- Strong governance and financial literacy, including experience of working with boards and an understanding of the responsibilities of an Accounting Officer.
- A people-centred approach, with a commitment to developing talent, empowering others and sustaining a positive, inclusive organisational culture.
- An ethical leadership style, modelling integrity, transparency and accountability in all actions.
- The ability to build high-impact partnerships, influence policy and act as an effective ambassador for the Trust.
- A deep understanding of safeguarding, compliance and risk management in a MAT context.
- Courage, resilience and moral purpose, with an unwavering focus on pupils and communities.
- A commitment to public office in line The Nolan Principles and to upholding the highest standards of integrity and good governance across the Trust.
If you are a strategic, committed and empathetic leader who is passionate about making a positive impact on the education of young people across Cheshire and Wirral, we’d love to hear from you.
Peridot Partners and Concordia MAT are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, 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:
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
Horatio April | horatio@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07375 977474
Welcome from the Chair of Trustees
Thank you for your interest in the position of Chief Executive Officer. As the Chair of Trustees, I am pleased to share with you some information about Concordia Multi-Academy Trust; I trust that this will pique your interest and encourage you to apply.
Concordia was formed by four schools local to Ellesmere Port in 2018; growth began in earnest in 2020 and we are now 9 schools with over 2200 pupils and 350+ staff with additional schools looking to join in 2026. Education of our children was, and always will be, the cornerstone of our vision, i.e., to provide the best educational experience for our children and families.
We believe that each child deserves the best education, matched to their individual abilities so they can attain the best outcomes.
We are seeking a gifted leader with a passion for education, who will have a proven track record in leading diverse and complex organisations. You will be able to manage the different priorities of delivering the best educational outcomes for our children and staff, delivering the wider Trust strategy and running an efficient central team operation.
As our new CEO, you will be able to shape and realise the vision of the Trust and to lead through our exciting next phases of development, progression and growth.
If this exciting opportunity matches your own aspirations and you believe you have the qualities, capability and vision to become our next Concordia CEO, we would welcome your application.
David Keith
Chair of Trustees
About us
Concordia MAT was officially established in May 2018 as a partnership between four schools. From the outset, our approach has centred on collaboration and shared expertise, working together to deliver outstanding education and pastoral support for our communities.
We understand that we work best when given the autonomy to work closely with our communities. Each school has its own bespoke curriculum, and what we share is a values-centred approach that puts learners first.
Today, our Trust comprises nine academies and we have grown consistently since 2022. We are proud that four of these academies are rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. Academies within our Trust work together to ensure that we all benefit from these achievements, sharing best practice around teaching and learning, school improvement and supporting our most vulnerable learners.
Education of the children in our care is our first and only priority. In our Trust, each child is known and valued and it’s important to us that those we work with buy into that philosophy.
We value the well-being of our staff and our children and all of our decisions are informed by thinking about how we can achieve the best possible outcome for our learners.
As we look ahead to our next phase and the appointment of a new CEO, our focus remains firmly on how we can continue to support the communities we work with. This will involve:
- Continuing to collaborate on school improvement and to ensure the best academic outcomes for our young people and our financial sustainability
- Providing the best possible support to our academies
- Focusing on digital innovation, ensuring that we are well-equipped to deliver education in a changing world and with sustainable growth
- Bringing more schools into our family and supporting them to provide the best education experience and care for children and families
Learn more about us below.
Our websiteThank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Job Description and Person Specification and Application Form.
To formally apply, please submit the above application form and a supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: Concordia MAT — Chief Executive Officer” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
Horatio April | horatio@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07375 977474
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive, and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please get in touch with the advising consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 19th January 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 22nd January 2026
First stage interviews: Monday 2nd February 2026
Second stage interviews: Wednesday 11th February 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Concordia MAT are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. 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 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
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