Operations Manager
Hours: 37 hours per week (start time 7:00am)Working Pattern: Term time plus 2 additional weeksGrade: 11, Points 33-36Salary: £38,480 - £41,192 per annum
Role Overview
The Operations Manager provides strategic and operational leadership across all non-teaching functions, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school. The postholder will oversee administration, estates, health & safety, catering, resources, cover management and educational visits, ensuring statutory compliance, efficiency, and value for money.
This is a senior role requiring strong leadership, organisational expertise and the ability to manage complex operational systems in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
Administration & Systems Management
- Lead and manage the whole-school administrative function, including line management and performance reviews
- Design, implement and continuously improve administrative systems aligned with organisational objectives
- Ensure effective information flow, clearly defined responsibilities and stakeholder support
- Analyse data to improve efficiency, reduce duplication and inform decision-making
- Prepare and submit statutory returns and reports to external agencies
- Support the Office Manager in maintaining first aid compliance and reporting procedures
Estates & Facilities Management
- Lead the site and premises teams and oversee all estates operations
- Ensure buildings, repairs, maintenance and improvements meet statutory and regulatory requirements
- Manage contractors and outsourced services, ensuring contractual obligations are met
- Oversee site security, utilities, cleaning contracts and emergency planning
- Maintain and monitor the School Travel Plan and cycle permit system
Health & Safety
- Act as Health & Safety Coordinator and Fire Officer
- Ensure compliance with health & safety legislation and trust-wide policies
- Maintain risk assessments, accident reporting and monitoring systems
- Lead fire drills, alarm testing and emergency procedures
- Report health & safety matters to senior leadership and governors as required
Other
- Monitor on-site catering provision and staff
- Liaise with the Catering Manager on menu planning
- Attend contract monitoring meetings and support tendering processes
- Review and benchmark food quality and value
- Support events and catering-related activities
- Manage daily staff cover using Bromcom (training provided)
- Allocate cover, room changes and work for absent staff each morning
- Communicate daily cover arrangements to staff and senior leadership
- Liaise with supply agencies
- Monitor staff absence and escalate concerns in line with policy
- Line manage the Reprographics Technician
- Monitor and improve reprographics and library systems
- Act as Educational Visits Coordinator
- Approve and monitor all trips and residential visits
- Ensure compliance with guidelines and risk assessments
- Deliver training and guidance for staff
- Manage minibus training records
- Handle cash and petty cash in line with financial procedures
- Attend senior leadership and governor meetings as required
- Support whole-school events such as open evenings and transition activities
- Undertake other duties appropriate to the role
This role offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced operations professional to play a key role in ensuring a safe, effective and well-managed educational environment.