Operations Manager at Hamworthy Primary Schools Federation

Dorset Council UK; Poole; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional education authority seeks a School Operations Manager for the Hamworthy Primary Schools Federation. The successful candidate will oversee the business operations across schools, manage support services, and provide strategic advice to leadership. Exciting CPD opportunities, pension scheme eligibility, and generous holiday entitlement are among the benefits offered.

Benefits

Excellent CPD opportunities

Individual induction programme

Access to Teachers' Pension Scheme

Free eye tests and glasses contribution

Confidential counselling services

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to promote high standards in business operations.
• Proven track record in service delivery and achieving goals.
• Capacity to lead on estate management and operational finance.

Responsibilities

• Manage school support services and provide strategic advice.
• Lead business operations across multiple schools.
• Oversee internal finance systems including payroll and invoicing.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Operational management experience

Business acumen

Attention to detail

Understanding of educational management

Job description

Overview

Role: School Operations Manager (Business)

School: Hamworthy Primary Schools Federation (Twin Sails Infant School & Nursery and Hamworthy Park Junior School)

Hours: 37 hours per week; 52 weeks per year (number of working weeks per year negotiable - to be discussed at interview)

Salary: Poole Band K37 to 39, £47,181 to £50,269

Closing date: Wednesday 8 October 2025, Midday

Interview date: Wednesday 15 October 2025

Start date: To be discussed on successful application. The Federation wish to provide the successful candidate with sufficient handover time; therefore, our preference is to start asap.

A unique and exciting opportunity has arisen for our Federation to recruit a new School Operations Manager, for the Business element within our Federation. The successful applicant will be responsible for the line management of the school’s support services and will take a leadership role providing strategic, professional advice and support to the School Leadership Team and the Governing Body. Due to the size of our Federation, this role is integral to the workings of the senior team.

As a member of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will lead and manage the business operations across the schools. This includes managing the teams behind administration, Human Resources and Premises (which includes our own swimming pool). Alongside these key elements the Operations Manager will oversee the internal finance systems such as payroll and invoicing, extended day care, the business elements of our maintained Nursery and our non-teaching support staff employed across the lunchtime.

As part of the Hamwic Education Trust (HET), all Operations Managers have direct access to high quality advice, support, systems, and processes through the managed services team within HET. All Operation Managers are provided with regular continued professional development, networking opportunities and Business Conferences.

We Are Seeking a Professional Individual Who

• will promote the highest standards of business ethos within the administrative function of the school and strategically ensure the most cost-effective use of resources in support of the schools’ operation and improvement priorities
• can demonstrate excellent leadership and communication skills alongside attention to detail and good operations management experience
• has strong business acumen, is driven and self-motivated with a proven track record in excellent service delivery and achieving goals and objectives
• is an effective leader able to develop staff and lead continuous improvement initiatives in a pragmatic and cost-efficient manner
• has an understanding of educational management issues
• has the ability to lead on matters of estate management, operational finance and human resources

We Can Offer You

• excellent CPD opportunities and Training and Development Programmes
• in-house teaching school
• an individual induction programme supported by a mentor
• networking groups for Teachers, Business Managers, Site Teams and IT staff
• eligibility to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme
• generous holiday entitlement for staff working 52 weeks per year which increases with length of service
• free eye tests up to the value of £25 for users of VDU equipment and contribution up to the value of £60 towards the purchase of glasses specifically for the use of display screen equipment, where all conditions are met
• opportunity to become a school workplace Health and Wellbeing representative, meeting with other schools on a termly basis and feeding into the Health and Wellbeing strategy
• access to the Trust Health and Wellbeing pages
• access to a staff benefits portal through Vivup
• free confidential telephone and face to face counselling for staff and family members