Shape the next phase of Trust Services at Northern Lights Learning Trust, to enable the Trust to reach its full potential.
Northern Lights Learning Trust has grown from a partnership of three primary schools into a multi-academy trust of 12 primary and secondary schools across Wearside and the Tees Valley. Alongside its family of schools, the Trust plays a significant role in the wider education system through its Teaching School Hub, Early Years Stronger Practice Hub for the North East and Initial Teacher Training provision, supporting the development of teachers and leaders across the region.
As the Trust has grown in scale, influence and ambition, so too has the need to strengthen the operational services that underpin its success. This newly created Executive Director of Trust Services role will lead the next phase, ensuring Trust Services are trusted, high-performing and equipped to support both our schools today and our future growth.
Who we are
Northern Lights Learning Trust is built on the belief that schools thrive when they remain deeply connected to the communities they serve. Our values of Voice of the Child, Community, Support, Integrity and Pride underpin every decision we make, in how we work together and support our schools.
We believe schools should retain their individual identity while benefiting from the strength, expertise and support of a collaborative Trust. We work alongside our schools, building trusted relationships, sharing expertise and creating the conditions for every school to flourish. Our culture is one of humility, integrity and partnership, where constructive challenge is welcomed, leadership is shared and people are empowered to make a difference.
Alongside our family of schools, we play a significant role in the wider education system through our Teaching School Hub, Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, Initial Teacher Training provision and regional networks. This outward-looking approach reflects our commitment not only to improving outcomes within our own Trust, but to strengthening education across the communities we serve.
About the role
This is a newly created Executive Director role with a clear purpose: to build Trust Services that are as strong, trusted and forward-thinking as Northern Lights’ educational offer.
As a member of the executive team, you will lead the strategic development of Trust Services across HR, IT, estates, health & safety, risk management and business transformation. Working closely with the CEO, CFO, executive colleagues and school leaders, you will develop a clear roadmap for operational excellence, ensuring our services are proactive, consistent and focused on what schools need most.
This is an opportunity to shape the future of Trust Services rather than simply maintain existing services. Whilst you’ll oversee day-to-day operational performance, your focus will be on strengthening systems, developing people, improving digital capability and ensuring schools see Trust Services as valued partners in their success.
You’ll help create the operational capacity that enables the Trust to grow sustainably, while giving the CEO greater freedom to focus on leading the organisation externally and delivering its long-term vision.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for an experienced and thoughtful leader who combines strategic thinking with the ability to turn ideas into action. You may bring experience from education or another complex, purpose-driven organisation such as the NHS, local government, housing, social care or the charity sector. What matters most is your ability to lead high-performing services that enable others to succeed.
You will bring:
- A track record of leading multiple operational services within a complex organisation.
- Experience of driving organisational change, service improvement or business transformation.
- The ability to lead through influence, developing high-performing teams.
- A relevant professional qualification (or equivalent experience) in an operational or corporate service discipline, with the credibility to lead specialist teams across multiple functions.
- Strong commercial awareness, with a focus on value for money, strategic planning and continuous improvement.
- The credibility to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, Trustees and stakeholders, providing constructive challenge and clear strategic advice.
Above all, you will share our values. You’ll be collaborative, authentic and pragmatic, with the humility to listen, the confidence to challenge and a genuine commitment to supporting schools, communities and the children they serve.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Kellie Gordon | kellie@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07506 742056
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer
Dear Candidate,
We are a growing multi-academy trust currently comprising three secondaries and nine primaries across Wearside and Teesside, with our central offices based in Seaham.
We educate over 4,600 pupils and employ over 700 members of staff and serve a diverse range of schools and communities.
Each of our schools has its own ethos, values and vision, which sit together as part of our Northern Lights vision of ‘Shining Stronger Together’.
We set our mission as ‘To ensure everyone flourishes, with children and young people at the heart of all we do’.
This is our shared purpose that we all work to – and we intentionally include everyone – our children, staff, Governors, volunteers, families and communities.
As a CofE MAT, our schools are a mixture of Church and non-Church schools that range in size and levels of disadvantage. We see this diversity as a real strength to learn from and work with each other.
As a multi-academy trust, we are at the heart of the current educational landscape, as a designated DfE Centre of Excellence, a Teaching School Hub and 2 DfE Early Years Hubs, responsible for teacher development across all ages and phases of education, working with over 600 schools and settings. We are collaborative in our approach and value professional development highly in all we do.
We are looking for someone whose values align with our Trust and who has the drive and ambition to work collaboratively to provide the best opportunities and outcomes for our young people.
We are at an exciting time in our development, looking to transform our operational services to provide high-quality, innovative services to our schools that fit into today’s new world in education. This position has a real opportunity to transform the way we work as an organisation and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Yours faithfully,
Jo Heaton OBE
Chief Executive Officer
About us
Northern Lights Learning Trust has reached an important point in its development. Our educational offer is strong, our reputation continues to grow and we have ambitious plans for the future. Before we take our next steps, we want to ensure the organisation behind our schools is every bit as strong as the education we provide.
Our focus is on building Trust Services that are proactive rather than reactive, creating greater consistency across the Trust and giving schools confidence that they are supported by expert, responsive teams. That means investing in people, strengthening systems, embracing digital transformation and ensuring every service adds real value to schools.
At the same time, we’re preparing for sustainable growth. We want to welcome more schools into Northern Lights, particularly at secondary level, but only when we know we have the leadership, infrastructure and operational capability to support them well. Growth will always be guided by our values and our commitment to the communities we serve.
The Executive Director of Trust Services will play a central role in shaping that future. This isn’t about maintaining the status quo; it’s about helping define what excellent Trust Services look like, creating an organisation that is equipped for the next decade and ensuring our schools have the support they need to focus on what matters most: delivering the best possible education for every child.
Learn more about us
Accessibility information
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Kellie Gordon | kellie@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07506 742056
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Application Form and Candidate Pack.
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: Northern Lights Learning Trust — Executive Director of Trust Services” 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:
Kellie Gordon | kellie@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07506 742056
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
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 contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
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 31st August 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Tuesday 8th September 2026
Interviews: Monday 14th September 2026
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Northern Lights Learning Trust 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.
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