A person of “great personal authority and leadership qualities” is being sought to lead the country’s second-largest teaching union of around 279,015 members.

The NASUWT is advertising for a new general secretary who could “command the respect of members, elected representatives and staff at all levels”.

The salary is £97,692 per annum, which is less than that of outgoing general secretary Chris Keates, who is on £105,282, according to documents from the Certification Office.

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But a spokesperson for the union said the benefits and allowances, on top of the salary, would be roughly the same as those enjoyed by Ms Keates, which have included £36,208 paid into “a defined benefits pension scheme”, £6,033 for a “union car” and £13,460 in employer’s national insurance, according to Certification Office documents.

Applications for the post must be submitted by 16 September, after which shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the NASUWT National Executive on 11 October.

According to the person specification, “the person appointed will also have to display qualities of leadership and the ability to blend a wide variety of individuals, departments and centres into a coherent whole, working effectively to meet the needs of the NASUWT”.

A union spokesperson said the successful candidate would stand in an election to be held later this year against any candidates nominated by regional associations (should there be any).

Meanwhile, Chris Keates is set to face a legal hearing to decide whether she breached trade union law by being in post longer than five years without standing for re-election.

The Certification Office, which is responsible for dealing with complaints against trade unions, confirmed last month that it had received a complaint, and said it would announce a date for the hearing this week. 

The hearing will be presided over by certification officer Sarah Bedwell, possibly at the headquarters of the Certification Office, at Fleetwood House in Fleet Street, central London. 

The penalty for the breach would not be financial, but there could be a declaration on the Certification Office website and possibly an enforcement order to remedy the breach.

The union has declined to comment on the Certification Office matter.