Primary Office Operations Manager, HARRIS FEDERATION

Guardian Jobs; London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established educational organization is seeking a Primary Office Operations Manager to enhance operational efficiency across its schools. This role is pivotal in ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations while managing human resources effectively. Candidates with a strong background in school administration and a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment will thrive. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to transforming educational opportunities for disadvantaged students, where your contributions will directly impact the future of young minds in London. Embrace a culture of collaboration and professional development, and take the next step in your career with us.

Benefits

Annual Performance and Loyalty Bonus

Pension Scheme with Employer Contribution

26 Days Annual Leave Plus Bank Holidays

Wellbeing Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Shopping and Leisure Discounts

Interest-Free ICT Loans

Flexible Working Arrangements

Hybrid Working Options

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in a school office environment.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft software packages and HR practices.

Responsibilities

• Manage health and safety compliance across the Primary estate.
• Lead training initiatives and serve as the main contact for queries.

Skills

Microsoft Software Packages

Health and Safety Legislation

Human Resources Knowledge

Financial Procedures

Procurement Processes

Staff Management Principles

Training Staff

Education

Degree Level Qualification

Job description

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiativesthat have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a Primary Office Operations Manager to join our central team.

If you are an experienced school administrator looking for the next step in your career, we would be delighted to hear from you!

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

With duties covering general administration, management of health and safety and human resources, you will ensure compliance across the Primary estate. This will include leading training and CPD initiatives, and serving as the main point of contact for queries related to Free School Meals, Census, and Student Movement. You will also support the development of professional reception services and ensure accurate data management and reporting.

A full list of responsibilities can be found in the Job Pack.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft software packages
• Knowledge of school Health and Safety legislation
• Knowledge of Human resources
• Basic knowledge of financial procedures
• Knowledge of procurement processes
• Knowledge of the key principles of staff management
• At least 5 years’ experience working a school office environment
• Experience of training staff successfully in a range of duties

For a full person specification, please download the Job Pack.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application.Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets,exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.