Chief Executive Officer

Location: Manchester with regional travel across the Northwest (and potential future expansion)

Contract: Full-time / Permanent

Salary: Up to £70,000

Digital Advantage is an award-winning charity that helps young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) develop the creative, digital and employment skills they need to succeed in the modern economy. We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation into its next exciting phase of growth, innovation and impact.

As CEO, you will be the strategic leader and public ambassador for Digital Advantage, driving organisational performance, financial sustainability, cultural strength and long-term vision. You will also hold strategic oversight of our regulated education provision, including the Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC), ensuring high educational standards and compliance as we scale. You will work closely with a committed Board of Trustees and a talented leadership team to expand our reach, deepen our partnerships with industry and education, and ensure young people with SEND can access meaningful digital employment pathways.

You will:

• Shape and deliver a bold 3–5-year strategy for both the Charity and DISC
• Lead an inclusive, innovative and high-performing organisation.
• Grow partnerships with employers, schools, colleges, funders and commissioners to raise the profile of the organisation in providing opportunities for young adults with additional needs to enter the digital workforce
• Drive financial sustainability through diversified income streams including contracts, grants and social enterprise models.
• Champion SEND inclusion, digital creativity and youth progression on regional and national platforms.
• Ensure the organisation remains responsive to evolving education policy, funding reform and workforce needs.

We are looking for an inspiring and collaborative leader with a passion for inclusion and a commitment to improving outcomes for young people with SEND. You will bring strategic vision, operational excellence, strong partnerships, commercial acumen and the ability to influence across diverse sectors.

If you are driven by purpose, excited by innovation and ready to scale a fast-moving organisation making a real difference, we would love to hear from you.

• Senior strategic leadership within mission driven organisations including charities and education provision. charity, education, digital/creative industries or mission-driven organisations.
• Proven experience of organisational growth, strategy development and scaling programmes.
• Strong background in SEND, neurodiversity, youth employment and or education.
• Demonstrated success in motivating and building high-performing, inclusive teams.
• Experience developing partnerships with employers, funders, schools/colleges and commissioners.
• Track record of securing and managing income streams (contracts, grants, partnerships, social enterprise).
• Strong governance and compliance experience, including safeguarding and risk management.
• Confident Proven public leadership and stakeholder engagement.
• Leadership within digital skills, creative industries or technology-focused environments.
• Experience of effective management of the launch of new operational sites, programmes or regional expansion.
• Experience of leading young people with additional needs to positive and sustainable employment destinations.
• Policy influence at regional or national level or advocacy experience within SEND, skills or employment sectors.
• Familiarity with commercial or digital agency models.
• Strong understanding of SEND and pathways into employment.
• Knowledge of the current educational landscape, most recent education policy and Ofsted Framework relevant to Further Education and Skills.
• Knowledge of the digital and creative economy.
• Awareness of funding landscapes and commissioning routes.
• Knowledge of organisational governance, safeguarding and financial oversight.
• Understanding of impact measurement and data-driven decision-making.
• Understanding of emerging technologies and inclusive design.
• Awareness of national skills policy and labour market trends.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate future trends.
• Proven Inspirational leadership and effective people management.
• Robust financial literacy and commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Skilled at building partnerships and collaborative relationships.
• Innovative approach to problem-solving and programme design.
• Effective decision-maker with sound judgement.
• Strong advocacy and storytelling abilities.
• Confident using digital tools to enhance delivery.
• Experience with media communications or public speaking.

• Mission-driven, committed to equity and inclusion for young people with SEND.
• Highly inclusive and neurodiversity-aware.
• Entrepreneurial, ambitious and future-focused.
• Collaborative, empathetic and relationship-driven.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable with…