St Albans Education Group (STAEG)

Chief Operating Officer

STAEG is a group of vibrant schools supported by a diverse and enthusiastic community of governors, staff, pupils, parents and alumni. It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

St Albans Education Group (STAEG) is seeking to appoint a high-calibre Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide strategic commercial and operational leadership at an important and exciting stage in the Group’s development.

STAEG currently has three member schools: STAHS Senior, STAHS Prep and Stormont School. St Albans High School for Girls (STAHS) is one of the UK’s top-ranked independent girls’ schools, educating around 1,150 pupils aged 4 to 18 within separate Prep and Senior schools. The Senior School, in the historic city of St Albans, has around 820 girls aged 11 to 18, combining academic excellence with a forward-thinking culture of wellbeing and an exciting co-curricular programme. The Prep School sits on 19 acres of woodland in the leafy village of Wheathampstead and has around 330 girls aged four to 11. STAHS is a true ‘through school’, with Prep School pupils enjoying automatic transition into the Senior School.

Stormont School is an independent day preparatory school for girls aged 4-11 located in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, in a former Victorian villa and estate, with an adjacent 20 acres of ancient parkland providing exceptional green space. Educating approximately 140 girls, it provides a strong foundation to pupils who continue their education from Year 7 at STAHS and at other leading secondary schools.

As a key contributor to group-wide decision-making, the COO will be an important member of the Group’s Executive Team. The COO’s overarching responsibility will be to support the Principal in the implementation of STAEG’s ambitious vision and strategy, overseeing a sizeable multi-disciplinary team operating a critical central support function. Together with the Principal, they will develop and steer the Group’s infrastructure and operational strategy whilst ensuring the effective management and delivery of support services for: finance, HR, commercial activities, estates (including routine maintenance and capital projects), health and safety, administration, compliance (including GDPR), IT, cleaning and catering.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, commercially-minded and experienced leader who will drive the infrastructure and operational strategy of STAEG through a collaborative and enabling style that will bring out the best in others. Applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, private sector, charitable and other non-profit sector backgrounds. Alignment with the values and ethos of STAEG will be essential. 

Further information on STAEG can be found at www.staeg.org.uk and a candidate brief is available from www.odgers.com/92077 

Letters of application and CVs should be submitted by the closing date 9am BST Wednesday 16 October 2024 to Freddie Dennis at Odgers Berndtson.

The St Albans Education Group is committed to equal opportunities and maintaining a safe and secure environment for all pupils and a ‘culture of vigilance’ to safeguard and protect all in its care, and to all aspects of its ‘Safeguarding (Child Protection and Staff Behaviour) Policy’. Please note, it is an offence to apply for this position if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All employees are subject to preemployment checks including a Disclosure and Barring Service check.