Operations Manager | Forward-Thinking & Modern Secondary...

CORE PURPOSE

We are seeking an astute, strategic Operations Manager to oversee non-teaching operational services across our school campus. Working directly alongside the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will manage daily school operations, estates and premises, administrative workflows, health and safety, compliance, and third-party service contracts, ensuring resources and facilities are optimized to support exceptional educational outcomes.

THE SCHOOL

Set in a bright, modern campus featuring high-tech learning hubs, extensive outdoor sports grounds, and dedicated community spaces, this vibrant secondary school serves a diverse cohort of over 1,000 pupils. The school combines high academic ambition with a supportive, values-driven culture where operational support teams are valued as central to whole-school success. The operations department functions as the strategic backbone of the school, bringing together office administration, premises management, ICT, and compliance personnel into a unified team that keeps the school running smoothly, safely, and efficiently every day.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Operational & Administrative Leadership: Direct daily school administrative operations, optimizing office workflows, data compliance (GDPR), and whole-school communication systems.

• Estates & Facilities Oversight: Line-manage premises and site teams, ensuring statutory maintenance, health and safety compliance, cleaning, and capital development projects are delivered on time and within budget.

• Contract & SLA Management: Oversee and evaluate external service-level agreements (SLAs), including catering services, cleaning, ICT support, and specialist equipment maintenance contracts.

• Health, Safety & Risk Management: Lead school-wide health and safety protocols, managing risk assessments, emergency response plans, fire safety procedures, and site security routines.

• Event & Lettings Coordination: Manage logistics for major school events, examinations, parent evenings, and out-of-hours community lettings to maximize venue utilization and commercial income.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: Degree or Level 4–6 qualification in Business Operations, Management, Facilities Management (e.g., IWFM), or IOSH/NEBOSH health and safety certifications.

• Experience: Proven track record in operational management, facilities oversight, or business management within an educational setting, trust, or complex public/private sector organization.

• Skills: Exceptional leadership and team management capabilities, strong project management skills, deep understanding of operational compliance, and proficiency with digital management software.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• Local Area & Community: Based in the bustling Berkshire town of Reading, the school serves an ambitious, welcoming, and culturally diverse local community. As a major economic hub in the Thames Valley, Reading offers an outstanding quality of life, blending historic landmarks like Reading Abbey, vibrant shopping districts along the Oracle, and scenic riverfronts along the Thames and Kennet.

• Transport & Commuting: Reading boasts world-class regional transport infrastructure, situated with immediate road access via the M4 motorway (Junctions 10, 11, and 12) and A33 corridors. Public transit is exceptional, featuring comprehensive Reading Buses networks and major rail connectivity via Reading Station—a principal hub on the Elizabeth line and Great Western Railway network, offering rapid direct routes into London Paddington, Oxford, Bristol, and Heathrow Airport.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.