Expression of Interest: Executive Director, Quality, Safeguarding &

Trust

Location: Remote/Flexible, with travel across England as required
Contract Type: 2 years, subject to programme award (or Associate engagement)
Salary: £95.000-£110,000 FTE or up to £800 per day (Associate basis)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full-time equivalent)
Status: Expression of Interest- We welcome expressions of interest from individuals interested in either a permanent executive leadership role or an Associate engagement.

A Senior Opportunity to Shape Quality, Assurance and Trust

Etio is developing plans for a significant national programme and is seeking expressions of interest from experienced senior leaders with expertise in quality, safeguarding, assurance, governance and organisational trust.

The Executive Director, Quality, Safeguarding & Trust will provide executive leadership and independent oversight across programme quality, safeguarding, assurance, compliance and operational risk.

This role will be central to establishing the frameworks, standards, controls and assurance mechanisms required to ensure safe, consistent and high-quality delivery at scale. The successful candidate will build and lead a multidisciplinary function that provides objective challenge, assurance and support, ensuring risks are identified early, escalated appropriately and addressed effectively.

Working closely with delivery, operations and executive leadership teams, the postholder will help create a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and public confidence.

You Will

• Provide executive leadership for quality, safeguarding, assurance and trust across the programme.
• Establish and lead a multidisciplinary quality, safeguarding and assurance function.
• Develop and implement programme-wide quality frameworks, standards and controls.
• Establish a consistent approach to quality assurance across multiple services, delivery partners and operational routes.
• Lead safeguarding strategy, governance, policy development and oversight.
• Design and implement risk-based assurance, audit and compliance frameworks.
• Monitor delivery quality and identify areas requiring intervention, improvement or additional support.
• Establish robust risk management, incident management and escalation processes.
• Ensure appropriate policies, procedures and governance arrangements are implemented and maintained.
• Provide independent challenge, advice and assurance to senior leaders and governance bodies.
• Oversee investigations, safeguarding concerns, incidents and serious operational issues where appropriate.
• Develop approaches for measuring quality, safety, stakeholder confidence and programme effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, regulatory, legal and organisational requirements.
• Produce clear assurance reports, recommendations and insights for programme leadership and governance boards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and organisational learning.

What You'll Bring

• Significant senior leadership experience within quality, safeguarding, assurance, governance, compliance or risk functions.
• Experience operating within complex, highly accountable environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles, policy and practice.
• Proven experience designing and implementing quality assurance and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent risk assessment, governance and assurance capabilities.
• Confidence providing independent challenge and constructive oversight to senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing sensitive incidents, investigations and complex organisational issues.
• Strong understanding of regulatory, contractual and statutory requirements.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Sound judgement, integrity and a commitment to maintaining public confidence and organisational trust.
• Experience building and leading high-performing assurance, quality or safeguarding teams.

Who We Are

📌 Etio is a mission-driven organisation providing expertise to improve education systems and outcomes.

📌 We work in partnership with the Department for Education and sector leaders to deliver high-quality national programmes that raise standards and strengthen the profession.

Benefits

We know our people are our greatest strength. That's why we offer a flexible, supportive culture and benefits that help you do your best work while supporting your wellbeing.

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (with the option to buy more)
• Flexible working culture
• Private Medical Insurance & Healthcare Cash Plan
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Work from Anywhere globally (up to 8 weeks per year)
• Paid volunteer day
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Scheme
• 3% employer pension contribution

Accessibility and Adjustments

We're committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need any adjustments to help you perform at your best during the application or selection process, please let us know. We're happy to support you.

We welcome expressions of interest from individuals interested in either a permanent executive leadership role or an Associate engagement.