Assistant Estates Manager

Pontefract Academies Trust; Brighton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational trust in Brighton is seeking an experienced Assistant Estates Manager to oversee operations across its seven primary schools. This pivotal role involves managing estates operations, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and leading site teams. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and experience in estates management. This full-time position offers numerous development opportunities and generous benefits, contributing to a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Development Opportunities

Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Support

Generous Work-Life Balance

Family Friendly Policies

Cycle to Work Scheme

Discounts & Rewards

Qualifications

• Experience in estates or site management is essential.
• Ability to manage multiple teams effectively.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage estates operations across seven primary schools.
• Line manage caretakers and cleaner assistants to ensure high standards.
• Ensure statutory compliance, health & safety checks, and audits are completed.

Skills

Estates management experience

Leadership skills

Facility maintenance knowledge

Compliance management

Communication skills

Job description

“Are you ready to make a real impact across seven primary schools and support the future of our Trust estate?”

We are looking for a proactive Assistant Estates Manager to support the management and upkeep of our seven primary schools within Pontefract Academies Trust.

In this hands‑on role, you will work closely with the Capital Projects & Estates Manager to ensure all seven of our primary school sites are safe, compliant, well‑maintained and operating smoothly. You will lead and support site teams, oversee day‑to‑day maintenance, manage contractors, monitor compliance and help deliver refurbishment and improvement projects across the primary estate.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing estates operations across all seven primary schools
• Line managing Caretakers and Cleaner Assistants to ensure high standards
• Overseeing maintenance programmes, repairs and contractor work
• Ensuring statutory compliance, health & safety checks and audits are completed
• Supporting capital projects and long‑term estate planning
• Responding to site issues, security concerns and occasional out‑of‑hours callouts

This is a great opportunity for someone with experience in estates or site management who wants to develop their career and make a real impact across multiple school environments.

This is a 37 hour per week role to be worked all year round.

What can we offer you?

Be part of a team that values your growth, wellbeing and work‑life balance. We offer a supportive environment with benefits designed to help you thrive:

• Development Opportunities – Exciting career and leadership pathways through our Everyday Development (EDD) Framework – a simple, flexible approach to continuous learning, career growth, and wellbeing.
• Pension Scheme – Join the West Yorkshire Pension Scheme from day one, with a generous employer contribution.
• Wellbeing – Access to free eyecare via Specsavers, free flu vaccinations and a full wellbeing package via Schools Advisory Service (SAS), including physiotherapy and support for legal, health, finance, and personal matters.
• Work‑Life Balance – Generous annual leave paid as part of your annual salary (starting at 29 days, rising to 33 based on service and grade) plus 8 bank holidays. For 2025/26, staff can enjoy three Everyday Development Days for self‑directed time to recharge and reflect.
• Family Friendly – Childcare Voucher and comprehensive family‑friendly policies to help you balance work and home life.
• Cycle to Work Scheme – for a greener commute.
• Discounts & Rewards – Blue Light Card, Discounts for Teachers membership, discounted gym memberships, and savings at major retailers including O2.

You can find further information about staff benefits, development opportunities and why you should work with us in the attached “Working for us” booklet and by visiting our website.

About Pontefract Academies Trust

Pontefract Academies Trust is a cross‑phase Multi‑Academy Trust comprising of nine schools: seven primary and two secondary schools. Our mission is to run high‑quality, high‑achieving schools that give our children and young people the chances in life they deserve.

We are proud of the exceptional progress our schools are making. At Key Stage 2, our primary outcomes are 24% above the national average, with five of our seven primaries ranked in the top 5% nationally for combined outcomes. In the last 12 months alone, three of our primary schools – Carleton Park, Larks Hill, and Halfpenny Lane – were rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted. Our secondary schools also continue to deliver strong outcomes. Key Stage 4 results in English, Maths and Science are consistently well above the national average, and both schools received successful Ofsted visits in 2022 and 2024.

We take pride in our workplace culture and the strength of our team. In our 2025 Staff Survey with Edurio, we received outstanding feedback, earning three awards based on national data from the 2024/25 academic year:

• National: Trust Value Award – Excellence
• Regional: Staff Choice Award (Larks Hill Junior & Infant School)
• Regional: Trust Benefit School Award (De Lacy Primary School)

These awards reflect the culture we’ve built – one where staff feel valued, listened to, and part of something meaningful.

Looking ahead, we’ve recently announced an exciting development, a proposed merger with Ark Schools, planned for September 2026. This step reflects our ambition to grow, never settle, and to do what’s right for our pupils, staff, and community. This change will bring even stronger support, greater collaboration, and more opportunities. We’re excited about what’s ahead, and we hope that you’ll consider joining us as we continue to grow.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: 10:00am Monday 26th January
• Interviews to be held Wednesday 4th February 2026
• Start date: ASAP

Application Process

• Complete an application form in SamPeople Recruit via our website

Contact Information

• Tel: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

We are an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from everyone.

The Pontefract Academies Trust is wholly committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people whilst promoting their welfare.

Any offer of employment will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory DBS Enhanced Disclosure and pre‑employment checks (including online checks). Shortlisted applicants will also be asked to provide a self‑declaration form.