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What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

This is a people-facing, system-focused role. The MEL Systems Officer is responsible for maintaining the quality, organisation, and user uptake of Practical Action's online MEL system. You will develop the protocols that guide how data is entered and maintained, and support internal teams to follow them, ensuring colleagues always have accurate data to draw on for reporting, learning and influencing.

This role requires high degrees of organisational skills, demonstrating a methodical and people-oriented approach. You will act as a bridge between the MEL system and our internal MEL community, ensuring the system is user friendly, contains high-quality data, and that users feel supported in using it.

1. SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION & ORGANISATION • Ensure high-quality and well organised MEL data, system structures, indicators, results, and templates and carry out routine data quality checks to ensure consistency. • Work with the Data & Insights team to ensure Power BI reports are optimised, providing useful management information for analysis and decision making. • Maintain clear, accessible user guidance documentation and standard operating procedures. • Coordinate with system providers and IT colleagues to develop system upgrades and fixes, and ensure smooth integration with the Outcome Harvesting system. 

2. USER SUPPORT & RELATIONSHIP BUILDING • Act as the primary point of contact for MEL and programme staff on system queries, providing high quality customer support, managing user accounts, permissions and access. • Routinely deliver onboarding and training sessions for new and existing users. • Build strong relationships across our MEL community, proactively identifying challenges and opportunities for system improvements.

3. REPORTING & DASHBOARDS • Produce organisational impact dashboards, MEL reports, and supporting information for both annual and donor reporting, all in clear, accessible formats for a range of stakeholders. • Support MEL colleagues to extract and present data for project reviews, evaluations and learning processes.

4. MEL PROCESS SUPPORT • Incorporate theories of change, results frameworks and indicators into the system as they develop over time, working with MEL colleagues to incorporate latest thinking. • Support knowledge sharing within internal communities of practice by ensuring that reports, evaluations, learning products and evidence are accessible on internal platforms. • Provide technical MEL advice and support to programme teams and II&I colleagues as required.

PERSON PROFILE Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

ESSENTIAL

• Applicants must hold a Bachelors Degree

Experience administering online data systems, databases or digital platforms, with confidence working with structured data and reporting tools.

• Highly organised and methodical, with a drive to produce high-quality output. • Confident communicator and relationship builder, with a focus on nurturing team coherence. • Demonstrable experience in leading and delivering training and user support.

• Good understanding of MEL concepts, indicators, results frameworks, data collection and theories of change. • Ability to explain system or data processes clearly to non-technical audiences.

• Fluent English, written and spoken. DESIRABLE

• Experience working in an international development or NGO context. • Familiarity with MEL or data collection platforms (e.g. Kobo, or similar).

• Experience producing dashboards or data visualisations (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, Excel).  Proficiency in one or more additional languages, Spanish, French or Arabic particularly.

LOCATIONS: UK, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Peru, Boliva, Nepal or Bangladesh 

It is a requirement of employment that you are able to provide the necessary documentation as proof of entitlement to legally work in the country to which you are applying

HOW TO APPLY

To apply please submit a copy of your CV and supporting that includes the answers to the following questions:

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

1. Please describe your experience administering an online data system, database or digital platform. What was the system, what was your role in managing it, and how did you ensure the quality and consistency of the data held within it

2. This role involves supporting a wide range of colleagues, many of whom are not technical specialists, to use our MEL system confidently and correctly. Please give an example of a time you have delivered training or user support on a system or process. What approach did you take, and how did you know it was effective?

3. Please describe your understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in an organisational context. What experience do you have working with results frameworks, indicators or theories of change, and how have you applied this in practice? 

This role will support the development and delivery of our services and resources for young people born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Working closely with the Engagement & Services team to help us achieve our mission. 

The Youth Engagement Coordinator will sit within the Engagement & Services Team. They will join a friendly and supportive team of seven colleagues who, together, are responsible for the delivery of CLAPA’s adult, family, children and young people and involvement services. The post holder will develop and deliver services for eight- to seventeen-year-olds, which will enable the young cleft community to connect, share experiences and access guidance and emotional support. Shaping what support looks like, creating positive impact and strengthening reach, this new role for CLAPA will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people born with a cleft.

If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.

Position: Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Scotland)
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours a per-week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Home Based in Scotland
Salary: Starting from £26,384 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1, Charity
You will start at our entry point salary of £26,384 per annum, increasing to £28,033 after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £29,682 after a further 6 months.

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus. 

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information. 

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and talented policy and public affairs professional to join our team. You should have experience of working to develop policy and have the ability to communicate our position to a wide range of audiences across Scotland.

In this exciting role you will work with the MS community to influence change in public policy, continuing to make the case for improvements in the treatment, care and support of people affected by MS.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who understands the political and policy environment in Scotland, who has experience in external facing influencing roles, who is outcome-focused and delivers tangible results. The successful candidate will work closely with the MS community, the Scottish Policy and Communications team as well as key external partners such as MSPs and their teams.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Monday 1st of June

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.

Leeds Mind promotes positive mental health and wellbeing and provides help and support to anyone who needs it in and around Leeds.  We have faith and optimism in our clients and so the services we deliver are built around their needs. We support the people of Leeds to discover their own resources to ‘recover’ from periods of poor mental health, and to live life independently with their mental health condition. 

Our values of Being Open, Supportive, Brave, Connected, and Resourceful are pivotal to the work we do.

Belonging at Leeds Mind

Leeds Mind is committed to creating an inclusive environment – equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do.

We are committed to ensuring that our colleagues, volunteers and people who access our services feel a sense of belonging at Leeds Mind that gives them the confidence to share their unique perspectives and experience.

By creating an inclusive environment that fosters belonging, we aspire to attract colleagues and volunteers who offer diversity of experience and thought. We believe this will ultimately improve the service we provide as well as the employee and volunteer experience.

To find out more about how we are developing this you can visit our website.

Our Service

Employment is a key part of mental health recovery. Our employment services are delivered in line with the IPS model, supporting people with mental health challenges to retain paid employment in line with their aspirations. IPS is delivered in close partnership with NHS mental health services, employers, commissioners and the wider system.

Due to receiving new funding we are excited to expand our WorkPlace Leeds service to develop our existing support in the community.

The Role

To provide an evidence-based IPS employment support service, delivered in a trauma‑informed, person‑centred and inclusive way, in line with Leeds Mind values and IPS fidelity standards.

You will be required to manage a caseload of clients who have experienced mental health difficulties and who are either unemployed or seeking to return to current employment following long term absence. You will be expected to deliver the IPS approach (according to the key principles of IPS). You will work with all relevant stakeholders, including employers, to support the client to gain and retain paid employment. 

We encourage all interested candidates to watch an introductory video which describes the impact of being an IPS Employment Specialist. You can find this link on the job advert attached.

Essential Skills and Experience:

· Experience of working directly with individuals who face complex barriers, using a person‑centred, strengths‑based and non‑judgemental approach.

· Able to manage a varied caseload, support people to find, return to or stay in work, and work towards agreed outcomes in a performance‑focused environment.

· Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with clients, employers and partner professionals, and communicate clearly, empathetically and professionally.

· Willing and able to proactively approach employers, promote inclusive employment, and support workplaces to understand mental health and reasonable adjustments.

· Able to prioritise workload, maintain accurate records using digital systems, work within safeguarding and GDPR requirements, and engage with supervision and feedback.

· Demonstrates a commitment to Leeds Mind values, inclusive and trauma‑informed practice, partnership working, and ongoing learning (including completing IPS training and competency assessment).

Hours – 37 hours per week (we are unable to offer part time hours unfortunately but may be able to accommodate flexible working)

Selection process will include a telephone screening and assessment centre.

Location: The role is predominantly community-based but you will also attend meetings at Clarence House, Clarence Road, LS18 4LB.

Successful candidates will be required to undertake a right to work in the UK check as well as an enhanced DBS check.  At Leeds Mind, we've made significant progress in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in recent years, resulting in a genuinely diverse team. We are committed to maintaining strong representation in our workforce and always encourage applications from LGBTQIA+, culturally diverse, neurodivergent, and disabled individuals.   

Reg charity number: 1007625