Chief Executive Officer

Competitive Salary

Closing date: 9am on Friday 22 November 2024

Interview dates:  Thursday 5 and Friday 6 December 2024

As a family of six community-based colleges and nine training centres across East Kent, community is at the heart of everything we do. We play a leading role in contributing to the economic and social prosperity for the diverse communities we serve and we deliver inspirational, inclusive and purposeful education that enables young people and adults to achieve their ambitions.

We are now seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead the group into the future. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of strategic educational leadership and will have a strong civic responsibility and ambition for the EKC Group to excel.

We have appointed FE Associates to support us with this crucial appointment. Prior to submitting an application, interested parties are advised to arrange an initial conversation with our recruitment partner, by emailing Jo.Johnston@fea.co.uk, to discuss the role before the closing date.

Dear colleague,

East Kent Colleges Group Chief Executive Officer

Thank you for expressing an interest in applying for the role of CEO of East Kent Colleges Group. I appreciate the time and effort you are putting in to find out about our group and letting us know about your experience and qualifications.

As chair of the Board, I am deeply conscious of the importance of this appointment both to us and to you. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the next stage of development of an already successful group. Having achieved an Outstanding judgement from Ofsted with a strong contribution to our local economies, we are very aware that we are not yet the finished article. We strive to be excellent in every aspect of the group, and this assessment has been an important marker on the way. Additionally, the policy landscape is in a state of flux and we are looking for a leader who can raise further our standards while keeping us ahead of the changes coming. Through this combination of strategic vision and operational leadership, we will be best placed to provide life-enhancing opportunities for all our learners.

The group comprises six local colleges, together with a regional training division and a commercially trading 4* hotel. Each college and the training division has a Local Board with independent members drawn from the local business and education community together with the local authority. The Group Board operates a traditional governance model, including Audit, Business and Education Committees. We have an enviable record of success in funding bids, securing around £50m in capital and revenue funds over recent years.

We value greatly the fact that we are a highly inclusive group, focussed on supporting the growth and development of the communities we serve. The group actively collaborates with neighbouring colleges and the wider sector to develop and deploy innovative solutions to the challenges we face. Wide-ranging stakeholder engagement is a vital aspect of the role of the CEO and senior team, ensuring close working relationships with local, regional and national policy makers, employers and their representative bodies.

Our finances are “good” and stable. This provides our new CEO with an excellent base from which to continue our growth and development.

We have appointed FE Associates to support us to find the right person. To pursue your interest in this role please contact our recruitment partner, by emailing Jo.Johnston@fea.co.uk, to discuss this exciting opportunity before the closing date.

We are really excited about what the future holds for East Kent Colleges Group. If you are too, then I very much look forward to receiving your application.

Charles Buchanan
EKC Group Chair of Governors

If you have the very special qualities and the passion to make a real a difference to the future of our students and business, then we would like to hear from you.

Please complete the registration form below to access the candidate information pack, application form and the equality and diversity form.

NB:  Please ensure you complete all fields and click on both the Terms and Conditions check box as well as the Consent check box to enable access to the documents.

We have appointed FE Associates to help us find the right person.  Prior to submitting an application, interested parties are advised to arrange an initial conversation with our FE Associates lead consultant, by emailing Jo.Johnston@fea.co.uk to discuss the role before the closing date.

Closing date: 9am on Friday 22 November 2024

Interview dates:  Thursday 5 and Friday 6 December 2024

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