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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!
We are looking for a passionate and organised Time for Dementia Officer to support the delivery of our innovative Time for Dementia programme across Northern Ireland, on a fixed term contract until July 2028, working hours can be considered between 28 - 35 hours.
Time for Dementia is an educational programme that connects undergraduate healthcare students with people living with dementia and their carers, helping students build a deeper understanding of the lived experience of dementia.
In this role, you will be responsible for recruiting and supporting people affected by dementia to take part in the programme. You will work across communities, building relationships with local services and organisations, and ensuring participants feel supported throughout their involvement.
This is a community-based role requiring regular travel across all the NI Trust areas with a large focus on Western, Northern and Southern trusts, so access to your own transport is essential.
About you:
- Demonstrates compassion, empathy and a person-centred approach.
- Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Is confident working independently across a large geographical area.
- Able to communicate with the ability to engage sensitively with people affected by dementia.
- Is organised and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Is comfortable delivering presentations and facilitating group sessions.
Key Responsibilities
- Recruit people affected by dementia and their carers into the Time for Dementia programme.
- Conduct one-to-one home visits to explain the programme, gain consent and build relationships.
- Provide ongoing support to participants throughout their involvement.
- Build strong relationships with NHS services, voluntary organisations and community groups to promote the programme.
- Develop innovative approaches to engage people affected by dementia across diverse communities.
- Work closely with universities to support the smooth delivery of the programme.
- Deliver and support student-facing sessions, including introductions and end-of-cohort events.
- Maintain accurate records and provide regular updates and reports to the Project Manager.
- Develop and support local engagement opportunities for participants.
- Act as an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society and the Time for Dementia programme.
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!
Shine supports a community of over 15,000 members living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, including 5,000 children and young people (0–25).
You will be delivering high-quality support and creating opportunities for children and young people living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and their families/carers. Supporting Shine members to lead healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives by improving condition management and fostering connections within the Shine community.
This role will focus on children and young people (0–25), you will be primarily working within the Children, Young People and Families team. However, there will be occasions when you will work across age groups to ensure the best outcomes for our members.
The role is home-based but you will be required to attend regular clinics in London including GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital). Other travel across Southern England including Bristol, Devon and Hampshire may be required. There will be occasional travel required across wider areas and nationally including attendance at events, conferences and meetings at our head office in Peterborough.
Benefits:
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Competitive salary: Review due April 2027
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Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)
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3% pension contribution
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25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year
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Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’
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Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
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Broadband allowance for home-based roles
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Life insurance after 12 months’ employment
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Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
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Support to learn and develop
How to apply
Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job.
If you would like to discuss the role please email Gill Valentine, Deputy CEO, to arrange a convenient time for a call.
To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria.
*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted*
We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application, but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications.
Closing date: Friday 15th May 2026 at 12 noon
Interviews: Tuesday 26th May 2026 (Virtual)
Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible.
Please see full details on the Job Description and Person Specification document below and on our website.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Providing specialist advice and support for spina bifida and hydrocephalus
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.