Operations Manager

Learning Community Trust; Telford; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Wellbeing support

Family-friendly policies

Salary sacrifice

Free parking

Job summary

Queensway Academy in Telford is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead high‑quality business support across Queensway North and South campuses. You will coordinate finance, HR, administration, safety, estates and ICT, ensuring services are compliant, financially responsible and responsive to pupils, families and staff.

Reporting to the Headteacher and working with the Trust’s COO, you will develop the administration team, monitor budgets, procurement and governance, and deliver robust

Qualifications

• Operational leadership experience in school or similar business-support services.
• Proven ability to manage staff and budgets.
• Strong knowledge of HR processes, safer recruitment and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the administration team and two-campus services.
• Coordinate finance, HR, administration, safer recruitment, health and safety, estates and ICT.
• Ensure compliance, procurement control and timely management information.

Job description

Queensway Academy, working across Queensway North and Queensway South, Telford
Permanent, Full Year
Working hours: 37 hours per week
Actual Salary: £42,123 – £45,529 NJC PO4 (SP 30 – SP 33)
Closing date for applications: 25th November
Interview date: Wednesday 2nd December

Queensway Academy is seeking a credible, highly organised and solutions focused Operations Manager to lead effective, compliant and responsive business support across its North and South campuses.

A key operational leadership role supporting two specialist school sites

Queensway is a specialist school in Telford supporting children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs and Communication and Interaction needs, including autism. As a Trauma Informed Gold school with Advanced Autism Accreditation, we combine high expectations with consistent, nurturing and evidence informed approaches so that pupils feel safe, understood and supported to thrive.

As Operations Manager, you will provide professional operational leadership across Queensway North and South, ensuring that business, administrative and support functions are organised, compliant, financially responsible and responsive to pupils, families and staff. Reporting to the Headteacher and working closely with the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer and central service teams, you will coordinate finance, HR, administration, safer recruitment, health and safety, estates and PFI liaison, ICT, information governance, policy compliance, governance support and business continuity.

You will lead and develop the school’s administration team, plan consistent services across both campuses and provide leaders with accurate advice, assurance and management information. You will oversee budget monitoring, procurement, workforce administration, the Single Central Record, statutory compliance, operational risk and service improvement, working within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and approved policies.

We are looking for an experienced operational leader with strong knowledge of school or comparable business-support services. You will bring experience of managing staff, budgets, financial controls, HR and safer-recruitment administration, health and safety, estates, contractors and business continuity. Confident, analytical and solutions focused, you will be able to manage competing priorities, exercise sound professional judgement and build effective relationships with school leaders, Trust teams, families, contractors and external partners. Experience in an academy trust, special school, autism or SEMH setting would be advantageous.

What we can offer you

The Learning Community Trust is a growing multi-academy trust, working collaboratively across primary, secondary and specialist academies to provide excellent education and life chances for children and young people. We are proud to be a Trust with a heart, committed to inclusion, professional development and ensuring that no child is left behind.

In addition to a comprehensive induction and ongoing professional development, we offer generous Local Government Pension Scheme provision, wellbeing and counselling support, family-friendly policies, salary sacrifice schemes, free parking where available and opportunities to collaborate and progress across a diverse and growing Trust.

For full details of the role, please refer to the Operations Manager role information pack, including the full job description and person specification.

The Learning Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, children’s barred list check and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check. An online social media check will be undertaken for all shortlisted candidates prior to interview. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013, 2020 and 2023). Guidance on disclosing convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. Under the Immigration Act 2016, candidates for customer-facing roles must meet the necessary standard of spoken English. It is an offence to apply if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. Any offer of employment is subject to medical fitness, satisfactory references, right to work in the UK, satisfactory online checks and an Enhanced DBS check. Applicants must have current right to work visa status; this role does not support visa applications.

• Vacancy reference
• 038
• Department
• Operations
• Employment type
• Permanent, Full Year Working hours: 37 hours per week