Executive Strategic Business Leader
for the Synergy Schools Partnership

Closing date: Friday 18 October 2024; interview date: Thursday 24 October 2024.
Job start date: Wednesday 1 January 2025. Contract/Hours: Permanent,full-time.
Salary Type: Grade I. Salary Details: £64,785–£72,658 pro rata.
Hours of Work: 37.5 hours a week, 48-week contract (43 working weeks 49.25
plus 5 weeks holiday). Ability to work from home for part of the week.
Location of Role: Bramley CE Primary School, Whitewater CE Primary School,
The Bishopswood Schools Federation and Silchester C of E Primary School.

Job/Person Summary
The Synergy Schools Partnership is a group of 5 schools who work closely together in North Hampshire. Following a strategic restructure, we are seeking to appoint a highly effective, enthusiastic and motivated new member to our team. As a group of schools, we are innovative and are always looking for new ways to maximise resources, gain value for money and ultimately make continuous progress. 

The Executive Strategic Business Leader will provide clear leadership and strategic (as well as operational) direction of the finance, HR, admin and premises team and work closely with the Partnerships EHT. The post holder will be a part of the Executive Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for assisting with the strategic vision and day-to-day operations relating to, Budget, Finance, HR, Admissions, Premises, Health and Safety and Communication. 

Strategic leadership skills are critical; the ability to evaluate current practice, particularly the business element in our schools, an initiative to implement and drive improvement and the ability to ensure effective, efficient and economic value for money is always maintained.

The post hours will be 8.30am–5pm Monday to Friday.

The ideal candidate will: 

• Hold a degree level qualification or equivalent (eg NCSL Certificate or NVQ Level 4)
• Have GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English Grade C/4 or above.
• Be experienced in finance and resource management and have a keen sense of business management preferably in a school setting
• Applicants will have proven experience of managing highly complex budgets with multiple income and expenditure streams
• Marketing and income generation skills & experience are critical
• Lead, operate, maintain and develop the financial procedures and systems of the school
• Possess excellent evaluation skills and be able to measure effectiveness against cost
• Have a good knowledge of human resources and employment law
• Have proven leadership skills to enable the effective management of the admin teams and Site Manager over multiple sites
• Have excellent organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to forward plan, prioritise and meet deadlines
• Be proficient in the use of the Microsoft Office suite of applications to fulfil the requirements of the role
• Possess a warm, positive, professional manner and create a welcoming reception to all visitors to the school
• Maintain a high regard for confidentiality
• Have a good understanding of key safeguarding issues and procedures
• Hold a positive regard for all children, including their safety and wellbeing.
• Be keen to be involved in the life of the school

As the Schools all operate from different sites, the post holder will be expected to work at all sites on a regular basis in addition to working from home.

We can offer:

• A friendly working environment with a wonderful team
• CPD to assist you in your role
• Opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of education that our children receive
• Flexibility to work from home for part of the week
• Flexibility to take holidays during term time.

Application Procedure
We would be delighted to invite you to come and look around our schools; to book this or if you are interested in applying for this position, please contact Amanda Sims – PA to Executive Headteacher – email asims@bishopswood-jun.hants.sch.uk, who will be happy to assist you with this process.

Safer Recruitment: The Synergy Schools Partnership and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.