Chief Operating Officer

St Leonards is an HMC, IAPS and International Baccalaureate World School, situated in the heart of the vibrant, historic and cosmopolitan University town of St Andrews. Sunday Times Scottish Independent School of the Year 2019, St Leonards is a fully co-educational school that offers an exceptional range of academic, sporting, musical and creative opportunities for its 540 pupils.

The retirement of the Bursar, and subsequent strategic change, has created the opportunity for St Leonards to appoint a Chief Operating Officer (COO). This is a new position for the school and is designed to provide strategic leadership on all operational, commercial and financial aspects of the school. The COO will also have overall responsibility for the management of the non-academic functions of the school.

Accountable to the Headmaster, the COO will sit on the Senior Leadership Team and perform the role of Clerk to the Governing Council of St Leonards.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Financial Management and Strategic Planning
• Leadership and Development of Staff
• Financial and Operational matters relating to OSCR/GDPR
• Health and Safety/Legal and Regulatory/Risk Management
• Facilities Management, Catering, HR, IT and Estate
• Commercial Development and Change/Project Management
• Clerk to the Council

We are looking to appoint an extremely bright, commercial and highly entrepreneurial individual, with outstanding leadership, communication and interpersonal skills. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a track record of success in operational and financial management, combined with strong commercial acumen. With a well-rounded, international outlook (possibly MBA qualified), the COO will be expected to bring new ideas and contribute positively and enthusiastically to all aspects of school life.

This is not a residential post, but the successful candidate will be expected to live within a commutable distance of St Andrews, or be willing to relocate for this role. A background, understanding and affinity for the Independent School environment is of interest, but is not a pre-requisite.

Interested candidates should send their CV, with full remuneration details, to Graham Burns, of FWB Park Brown at fwb@fwbparkbrown.com.  For a confidential discussion, please call 0131 539 7087.