Sara Ward Email and Phone Number

Critical Edge provides the support required to ensure the consistency, responsiveness and flexibility required by directors and senior managers who need to maintain progress at pace. Critical Edge helps ‘get things done’ and can:♦ Ensure alignment and implementation of strategy ♦ Assist with organisational change♦ Provide a dedicated & focused project management approach♦ Add capacity and management on an interim basisCritical Edge frees up leaders’ time and gives peace of mind by: ♦ Presenting options succinctly♦ Conducting research and analysis ♦ Summarising and explaining management thinking to operational teams♦ Hands on modelling and facilitating the approach and culture needed to progress

Assess-Strategise-ImplementThese are Asiability's three key words. All three are equally pertinent and central to my purpose. As a founding Associate I contributed to the research, management and delivery of a number of Asiability's projects.

General day to day management and oversight, participation in Federation and Commissioning Locality group, implementation of changes for policies and systems, reviewing and improving HR and finance operations, mentoring staff and recruitment of permanent new operational lead

Non Executive Directors of Multi Academy Trusts are all volunteers. As Chair, I have been responsible for leading the recruitment of an Executive Headteacher and improving the efficiency of governance during a second year of operation. My particular objective related to transparency across the Trust and consolidation in its third year of operation. It was with great regret that I had to step down to allow time for other projects.

Accountable for the implementation of Executive Education Strategy, defining and analysing performance metrics and evaluating these and managing compliance of the business with the appropriate policies

Provided the internal context and expertise to support an interim COO covering all areas of the operation alongside my substantive role as Director of Academic Services. During this period, I also provided the project management required for an external institutional accreditation (EQUIS).

Responsible for the general management and oversight of operations for teaching and research, provision of strategic support for two Associate Deans and participation as a member of several governance groups.

Operational lead for the Institute from its inception and steered the unit through its development, rebranding and growth phases, recruiting and training an administrative team and acting as a key contact for faculty, fellows and students. Worked closely with the Institute's Director providing support for various projects including a government funded national research programme and its dissemination.

Operational management of national research programmes