Operations / Facilities Manager

Rise Technical Recruitment Limited; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

25 days holiday

Bank holidays

Free lunches

Free parking

Job summary

Rise Technical Recruitment Limited is seeking an experienced Facilities Manager for a hands-on leadership role in a historic and expanding school estate in Hemel Hempstead. You will oversee day-to-day site operations, including maintenance, estates, and safety, while collaborating with senior leaders and support functions.

The ideal candidate brings facilities/estates experience, team leadership, and strong budget control.

Qualifications

• Experience within operations, facilities, estates, site management, maintenance, or a similar background.
• Experience managing operational teams.
• Strong understanding of health and safety, maintenance, cleaning, catering, and estates operations.
• Confident managing contractors, suppliers, and external service providers.
• Budget management experience.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Comfortable working with senior leadership.
• School experience desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operational running of the school site.
• Oversee maintenance, estates, grounds, cleaning, catering, health and safety, contractors, and suppliers.
• Work closely with the Headmaster and Senior Leadership Team.
• Liaise with central group functions including IT, HR, Finance, and estates support.
• Manage budgets and work with the accounts function where required.
• Support operational standards across a varied school estate, including historic and newer buildings.

Skills

Facilities management

Operations management

Budget management

Health and safety

Contractor management

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Facilities Manager

Hemel Hempstead

£45,000 + Pension + 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays + Free Lunches + Free Parking

Are you an experienced Operations, Facilities, Estates, or Site Management professional looking for a varied leadership role within a school environment?

Do you want to take ownership of the day-to-day operations of a close-knit independent school while working closely with senior leadership and wider group support functions?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a small independent prep and pre-prep school with a long-standing history, a supportive community feel, and strong links with Harrow School. The school has around 130 pupils and approximately 60 staff, with ambitions to grow pupil numbers while maintaining its personal and community-focused environment.

As Operations / Facilities Manager, you'll take responsibility for the operational running of the school site, including maintenance, estates, grounds, cleaning, catering, health and safety, contractors, suppliers, and budget management. You'll report into the Headmaster and Senior Leadership Team, while also working alongside central Harrow School Group functions including IT, HR, Finance, and estates support.

The ideal candidate will have strong operations, facilities, estates, or site management experience. You'll be confident managing operational teams, overseeing contractors and suppliers, supporting budgets, and ensuring high standards across maintenance, cleaning, catering, estates, and health and safety. School experience would be desirable, particularly around compliance and ISI requirements, but candidates from hospitality, hotels, facilities, estates, or similar operational environments will also be considered.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on and proactive Operations / Facilities professional to join a unique school setting, work across historic and modern buildings, and play a key role in supporting the smooth running and future development of the school.

The role:

• Manage the day-to-day operational running of the school site.
• Oversee maintenance, estates, grounds, cleaning, catering, health and safety, contractors, and suppliers.
• Work closely with the Headmaster and Senior Leadership Team.
• Liaise with central group functions including IT, HR, Finance, and estates support.
• Manage budgets and work with the accounts function where required.
• Support operational standards across a varied school estate, including historic and newer buildings.

The person:

• Experience within operations, facilities, estates, site management, maintenance, or a similar background.
• Experience managing operational teams.
• Strong understanding of health and safety, maintenance, cleaning, catering, and estates operations.
• Confident managing contractors, suppliers, and external service providers.
• Budget management experience.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Comfortable working with senior leadership.
• School experience desirable but not essential.

We are an equal opportunities company and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.