Publication officer jobs in Manchester
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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.
Thank you!
Join us at a pivotal moment for the education sector.
ISBL has launched an exciting new initiative – the Centre for Education Operational Excellence – to strengthen how schools and trusts operate and deliver impact. We are seeking a highly organised, proactive and relationship-focused Events and Partnerships Coordinator to support the delivery and growth of our national conference, regional events, and online programmes.
About ISBL
ISBL is the professional body for school business leaders, supporting the sector through membership, professional development, research, and events. With a strong national reach, we play a key role in improving operational practice across education.
The Centre for Education Operational Excellence
The Centre builds on our expertise, bringing together practical solutions, research, and collaboration to support operational excellence across schools and trusts.
About the Role
We are looking for a highly organised, proactive and relationship-focused Events and Partnerships Coordinator to support the delivery and growth of ISBL’s national conference, specialist regional events, and online event programmes.
This is a varied and fast-paced role combining event delivery, stakeholder engagement, and partnership coordination. You will play a key role in ensuring our events run seamlessly while also supporting the development of meaningful partnerships that enhance the experience for our members and stakeholders.
You will be at the heart of our events programme, supporting everything from logistics and speaker coordination to exhibitor management and sponsor delivery, helping us create impactful, high-quality professional development experiences for school business leaders.
To be successful in the role, you will be an experienced coordinator with excellent customer service and telephone manner; you must have strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines, as well as the ability to think outside the box and demonstrate creative flair and work well as part of a team.
Full role details are available in the attached job description.
Please submit:
• Your CV
• A covering letter (max two pages) addressed to Annu Panchal, Head of Events, ISBL, outlining your motivation and suitability and addressing your experience and how you believe this matches the job requirements
You will be informed whether you have been shortlisted by 12:00 noon on Friday 12 June 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place on Friday 19 June 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Navigators is a Christian discipleshp charity working across the UK. We are seeking an organised and proactive Events Executive to provide maternity cover and lead the delivery of our key external events, including the National Conference and launch of our Alongside course.
The role involves co-ordinating event logistics, managing budgets, working closely with internal teams and helping ensure events are used effectively to engage people with our work and support the growth of a movment of 'Alongsiders'.
We offer a friendly and supportive team to work with, the opportunity to take responsibility for two high profile events based on solid foundations from previous successes and a competitive remuneration package.
We would ideally like to have a candidate working fully or hybrid from the Southampton Office. However we are willing to consider applications from exceptional candidates who would only be able to take the post working fully remotely from within the UK with the ability to travel to events.
The attached candidate pack contains more details about our work, the role and the person description for this post.
Please note that there is an occupational requirement for the post holder to be a practicing Christian.
Please provide a covering letter explaining how your skills and experience match the role description and person specification in the candidate information pack which you will be able to download when you click on 'apply'.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
For 70 years, Navigators in the UK have been getting alongside people, helping them know Jesus personally and do the same with someone else.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.