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!
Head of Membership
Salary: £65,000 - £70,000 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
Location: King’s Cross, London. Hybrid
Who are we?
Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. With over 148,000 members, we are leading the way in pioneering support for an inclusive and welcoming museum and gallery sector across the UK.
We work closely with a network of over 1000 museums and respond to their needs and aspirations. We're excited to see how they want to develop: to expand and diversify their collections and workforce, develop curatorial skills, make ambitious acquisitions, and create a welcoming, inclusive space for communities. With the support of over 148,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, patrons, and donors we can provide grants, encourage visiting and advocate for museums' essential role and value.
We have diversity, inclusion, and sustainability central to our thinking and the opportunity to be a force for good, galvanise support and help change things for the better inspires our team.
The role
We're looking for an exceptional Head of Membership to join our Audiences Directorate and take ownership of Art Fund's core membership portfolio at a pivotal moment in our growth. This is a leadership role that combines commercial weight (you'll own the membership budget, income targets, and product roadmap) with real creative purpose: shaping the propositions, pricing, and member experiences that bring art within reach of more people across the UK. You'll lead a talented team, own our CRM transformation programme, and shape the products and strategies that will grow our membership base - from retaining our loyal existing members to attracting a new generation. If you have a strong track record in membership, subscription, or loyalty programme leadership, a data-driven mindset, and a passion for what arts and culture can do for people, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Employee Benefits
- Generous Annual leave – 25 days annual leave and bank holidays, with additional non-contractual office closure dates at Christmas.
- Free National Art Pass (NAP) – for yourself and another person of your choice.
- Free Entry to Exhibitions
- Life Assurance – cover for up to three times your basic salary.
- Season Ticket Loan
- Pensions – Eligible employees are enrolled into the scheme with the exception of those who have contracts of three months or less. Art Fund contributes 8% of the basic annual salary during the first six months of employment or until probation is successfully completed, whichever is the later. At that point the contribution is increased to 10%.
Closing deadline: 23.59pm on 31 May 2026
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
We are committed to building our team and trustees from the broad range of backgrounds and experiences across the UK, valuing difference and diversity, and building a workplace based on shared values of equality and mutual respect.
We have ambitious plans for the future and will be holding ourselves to account and putting our principles into action, as we all work together to help bring about positive change and a fairer future for everyone. We therefore want to encourage applications from all races, ages, religions and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with any kind of disabilities and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our organisation.
Non-UK nationals will require current and valid permission to work in the UK.
Please note that any suspected use of AI in relation to answering sift questions will be marked down.
No agencies please.
Thank you!
As the Culture, Faith & Identity Communities Coordinator, it will be your role to support our 3,600 Student Leaders, Volunteers and Representatives who lead our 400 Student Groups. You will help students develop their leadership skills, build strong and inclusive communities through community cohesion, strengthen partnerships and collaboration, and ensure their groups remain compliant with relevant policies and procedures.
This role will also be responsible for supporting and developing KCLSU Student Groups which include:
- Cultural Heritage & Nation Societies
- Faith & Spirituality Societies
- Identity & Community Societies
To apply for this role, please complete an application form, including a personal statement detailing how your skills and experience meet the person specification.
To be eligible for this role, you must:
- Be eligible to work in the UK, and provide proof of this (i.e. a passport or visa) when asked by KCLSU. Please note that KCLSU is unable to offer visa sponsorship.
- Have a National Insurance number, or be in the process of applying for one.
- Not be a trustee of King's College London Students' Union.
REF-228 468
Registered Charity
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KCLSU is an independent charitable organisation that works to further the interests of approximately 36000 students at King's College London. Join us!