Principal & CEO

About the role

As Principal & CEO you will be responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the Hull College Group, formulating and implementing strategic plans for ongoing improvements including financial stability and sustainability, the delivery of a high-quality inclusive learning provision, and a positive student experience and staff culture. The Board require you to demonstrate and lead in a way which is transparent and inspires the confidence of those inside and outside of the College.

This role will suit someone who thrives on challenge and cares deeply about providing high-quality education and training to support social mobility and skills development, and a relentless and unwavering focus on improving the lives of students.

Working with an energised, professional and highly experienced Corporation Board, you will have the opportunity to influence the direction of the recently released strategy. Whilst this long-term plan is approved, there will be an expectation that you apply your expertise to shape the future of the organisation. In other words, the strategy is not a ‘done deal’ by any means, but instead a long-term vision which sees Hull College Group become more than financially stable and delivering a first-class, outstanding offer which attracts the widest variety of students.

Particular areas of focus for the successful candidate will be understanding and driving the ‘Quality Improvement Plan’ to ensure that the College is on track and prepared for the next monitoring visit, expected in 2021. You will also work with the regulators to ensure that the College exits its intervention status at the very earliest opportunity, having secured its financial position and sustainability for the future.

You will be expected to drive organisational change across the College, to steer a culture of honesty, transparency and achievement – ensuring that you build the structures around you to deliver the very best outcomes for the organisation, the staff, the students and the communities you serve.

In your role as the Accounting Officer, you will ensure the effective and efficient financial operation of the organisation, developing and delivering performance targets and business plans approved by the Board.

Who we are looking for

Hull College Group is on a journey of significant improvement following the ‘Fresh Start’ intervention in March 2018. The organisation has had to deal with challenges around finances, changes in leadership, consistent quality of provision and reputation across the sector and the community. There remains a substantial amount of work to undertake in achieving cross-College improvements and standardisation, and the new Principal & CEO will be expected to drive improvements across all areas and work with the Board to secure a strategy that instils a positive, transparent and engaged organisational culture for students, staff and external stakeholders.

The opportunity to completely transform a college which itself has already changed dramatically is no small or short-term feat. In order to achieve what needs to be achieved for the students, staff and communities served by the College, you will need energy, resilience and determination.

The next Principal & CEO will know how a high-achieving college operates, gained from years of experience in further education leadership. You will care deeply about the sector and believe in the social impact of further education in the community. You will be a shrewd and capable influencer, able to navigate the most complex and challenging of external relationships across the city, the region, and both local and national government. Above all, you will be committed to seeing through the realisation of the Board’s ambitions and securing a highly successful future for the College, its staff and its students.

Hull, Goole and the region in which the College operates deserves a high-performing FE college. Whilst the shape, size and strategy of the Hull College Group has changed, its social mission remains deeply rooted in improving the life chances of people at every stage in their lives.

With unemployment levels at 8.6% of the city’s population, Hull and the surrounding areas have never needed their FE college so much.

For further information and to apply for this role, please visit the job page on Peridot Partners' website: https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/principal-ceo-hull-college-group/

To arrange a confidential chat, please contact our executive search advisers at Peridot Partners:

Sarah Szulczewski | sarahs@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07841 017 043

Drew Richardson-Walsh | drew@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07739 364 033