Educational Operations Assistant

St Catherine's Bramley; Guildford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible part-time hours

Pension scheme

Fee remission

Health & wellbeing

On-site facilities

Job summary

St Catherine’s School in Guildford seeks an Educational Operations Assistant to the Senior Deputy Head. The role provides high‑level executive support, manages complex operations, and leads discrete projects while streamlining administrative processes.

Experience in education is desirable, with transferable high‑level admin skills welcomed. The position offers term‑time plus 3 weeks, 30 hours per week, and a competitive salary with a generous benefits package.

Qualifications

• Proven administrative track record in senior support roles.
• Clear, warm, professional communication skills.
• Advanced office software proficiency with data presentation ability.
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines and complex calendars impeccably.
• High discretion, integrity, and safeguarding awareness.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Senior Deputy Head’s complex diary and briefing papers.
• Coordinate school calendar and major events to avoid clashes.
• Lead planning and delivery of flagship school occasions and staff training days.
• Draft internal bulletins and external communications for stakeholders.
• Support HR activities including recruitment, onboarding and CPD tracking.
• Deliver process improvements to improve efficiency in the School Office.
• Gather data for executive dashboards and monitor strategic initiatives.

Skills

Administrative track record

Exceptional communication

Digital proficiency

Data literacy

Organisational ability

Discretion & safeguarding

Tools

CRM software

Database systems

Job description

Educational Operations Assistant to the Senior Deputy Head at St Catherine’s School

About this Role

Salary: £32,000 – £35,000 FTE (£21,417 – £23,425 pro-rata)

Contract: Permanent, Part-time, Term-time plus 3 weeks

Working Pattern: 30 hours per week over 5 days (e.g., 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Mon–Fri)

Reporting to: Senior Deputy Head (Strategy & Operations)

Application Deadline: 10:00 AM, Tuesday 1st September 2026 (Early applications encouraged)

St Catherine’s School is seeking a proactive, highly organised Educational Operations Assistant to provide high-level executive and operational support to the Senior Deputy Head.

You will manage complex operations, oversee flagship school events, lead discrete projects, and streamline administrative processes. If you bring advanced digital fluency, immaculate attention to detail, and a calm, solution-focused mindset, this is a rewarding opportunity to play a central role in a thriving, prestigious school environment. Experience in education is desirable, but transferable high-level administrative skills are equally welcomed.

The Opportunity

Working closely with the Senior Deputy Head, you will anticipate needs, resolve scheduling challenges, and free up executive time to focus on strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Executive & Operational Support: Manage the Senior Deputy Head’s complex diary, coordinate briefing papers, prepare high-quality reports, and monitor progress on strategic initiatives.
• School Calendar Oversight: Maintain the master school calendar via the Involve system, working collaboratively with staff to eliminate clashes across trips, assessments, and major events.
• Event Logistics: Lead the planning and execution of major school occasions—including Speech Day, the annual Carol Service, visiting speakers, and staff training days.
• Communications & Stakeholder Liaison: Act as a professional, welcoming first point of contact for staff; draft school-wide bulletins, external communications, and announcements.
• Trips & HR Collaboration: Provide administrative support for educational visits (risk assessments, approvals) and work closely with HR on staff recruitment, onboarding, and CPD tracking.
• Project leadership and process improvement: Support the delivery of strategic and operational projects, and identify opportunities to improve systems, workflows and administrative processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the school.
• Data & Process Improvement: Gather operational data for executive dashboards and continuously refine workflows to boost efficiency across the School Office.

About You

Essential Qualifications & Skills:

• Proven Administrative Track Record: Experience in senior executive support, complex administration, or office management roles.
• Exceptional Communication: Clear, warm, and professional verbal and written skills, with the diplomacy to navigate sensitive situations.
• Digital Proficiency & Data Literacy: Advanced skills across modern office software, CRMs, and database systems with an ability to present data clearly.
• Organisational ability: Confident in juggling multiple deadlines, coordinating venue logistics, and managing complex schedules without losing detail.
• Values & Discretion: High levels of integrity, emotional intelligence, discretion, and a genuine commitment to the welfare and safeguarding of young people.

Why Join Us?

St Catherine’s provides a warm, supportive working environment alongside an outstanding benefits package:

• Flexible Part-Time Hours: 30-hour work week over 5 days (plus 3 weeks during school holidays).
• Generous Pension Scheme: Up to 12% employer pension match.
• Fee Remission: Discounted school fees for daughters attending St Catherine’s.
• Health & Wellbeing: Health Cash Plan, complimentary daily lunches during term time, and a Cycle to Work scheme.
• On-Site Facilities: Free parking on our picturesque 25-acre campus.

St Catherine’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced DBS with Barred List check. St Catherine’s is an equal opportunities employer.