School Business Lead

Hollingwood Primary School; Staveley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing support

Leadership development

Career progression

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Hollingwood Primary School, part of Flying High Partnership, seeks a School Business Lead to drive financial sustainability and operational effectiveness across two schools. You will lead finance, HR, safeguarding compliance, health and safety, and office administration, ensuring resources are used to maximise outcomes for pupils.

You will work with Headteachers and the Site Manager as a key member of the leadership team, shaping budget planning, forecasting and reporting, identifying risks and

Qualifications

• Experience leading school operations including finance, HR and administration.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and reporting skills.
• Ability to translate financial information into insights and drive improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead on budget setting, monitoring and reporting for two schools.
• Manage procurement, contracts and value-for-money initiatives.
• Oversee HR processes, safeguarding compliance and risk management.
• Develop high-quality administrative systems and operational leadership.
• Lead and develop administrative team to deliver excellent service.

Skills

Budget management

Finance leadership

HR oversight

Data analysis

Tools

ERP systems

Procurement software

HRIS

Job description

As School Business Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the financial sustainability and operational effectiveness of both schools. Leading on finance, HR, safeguarding compliance, health and safety, and office administration, you will be responsible for developing, monitoring and managing school budgets, ensuring resources are used effectively to maximise outcomes for pupils.

Working closely with the Headteachers and Site Manager, you will be a key member of the leadership team, providing strategic financial advice and robust budget management. You will lead on budget planning, forecasting, financial monitoring and reporting, identifying risks and opportunities, challenging expenditure, and supporting informed decision-making to ensure the schools remain financially sustainable whilst achieving their educational priorities.

This role is ideal for someone with strong financial acumen who enjoys analysing data, solving problems and driving continuous improvement. You will be confident in translating financial information into meaningful insights, developing efficient systems and processes, and ensuring that every pound spent delivers value for money and supports the schools' long-term strategic objectives. Through effective resource management and operational leadership, you will help create the conditions in which children, staff and school communities can thrive.

About Us:

Hollingwood & Poolsbrook Primary are vibrant and inclusive primary schools where children are at the centre of everything we do. We are proud of our warm, welcoming ethos and strong sense of community, where every child is supported to achieve their very best.

Our federation is built on strong relationships, shared expertise, and a genuine commitment to every child’s success. As our collaboration continues to grow, our staff work seamlessly across both schools, using our strengths to create a rich and talented staff team. We are now looking for a School Business Lead to join this journey—someone who can provide strategic leadership across our business and administrative functions. across both settings, adding even more strength to our already brilliant team.

About Flying High:

Flying High Partnership is a thriving multi-academy trust of 38 primary schools across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottingham City, and Nottinghamshire. We are driven by a shared vision to be unique, exceptional, and sustainable. Founded in 2012, we believe in the power of meaningful collaboration to help schools reach their full potential while supporting others along the way.

Our Partnership celebrates individuality, champions continuous improvement, and ensures every child thrives. With a strong focus on school-led professional development and leadership, we’re committed to growing exceptional teachers and inspirational leaders.

Together, we make every day count.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated professional to play a pivotal role in the life of our school. As our School Business Lead, you will be at the heart of the school's operations, ensuring that our business, financial, administrative, and support functions run effectively and efficiently.

Working in partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, you will help shape and support the strategic direction of the school through excellent financial management, robust administrative systems, effective personnel processes, and high-quality operational leadership.

You will lead and develop a dedicated administrative team, fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Together, you will deliver a welcoming, responsive, and highly organised service for pupils, staff, parents, governors, and external partners, ensuring that every interaction reflects the values and ambitions of our school.

This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference every day, providing the strong operational foundation that enables our staff and pupils to flourish and achieve their full potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspire, lead and develop a talented office team, fostering a positive, collaborative culture where high standards, professional growth and exceptional service are at the heart of everything we do.
• Champion excellence across all business functions, driving continuous improvement and ensuring information systems, processes and procedures are accurate, efficient, compliant and fit for purpose.
• Work closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to support financial planning and decision-making, including budget setting, monitoring and reporting, helping to maximise resources and deliver value for money.
• Lead procurement and contract management activities, identifying opportunities to secure high-quality services, achieve best value and support the school's long-term objectives.
• Take a leading role in HR and personnel management, providing oversight of employment processes, policies, compliance and workforce matters to support a thriving and effective staff team.
• Proactively resolve complex operational challenges, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school and enabling staff to focus on delivering excellent outcomes for pupils.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with parents, colleagues, governors, Trust colleagues and external partners, acting as a trusted professional and ambassador for the school.

We Are Looking For

• Be an accomplished business professional with experience of leading school operations, including finance, HR, administration, compliance and facilities management.
• Have the strategic vision and commercial awareness to drive continuous improvement, maximise resources and ensure value for money across all areas of the school.
• Be confident in managing budgets, financial planning and reporting, using data and insight to support informed decision-making and long-term sustainability.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, develop and support teams to deliver outstanding service and achieve ambitious goals.
• Have excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Be proactive, resilient and solution-focused, with the confidence to make sound decisions and resolve complex operational challenges effectively.
• Build positive and productive relationships with staff, parents, governors, Trust colleagues and external partners, acting as a trusted advisor and professional role model.
• Have a thorough understanding of employment processes, safeguarding responsibilities, statutory compliance and risk management within an educational setting.
• Be committed to delivering high-quality business support that enables teachers and leaders to focus on what matters most: achieving the very best outcomes for pupils.
• Share our values and have a genuine passion for supporting a thriving school community where staff and children can flourish.

We Can Offer You:

• A strong commitment to our people, guided by principles of wellbeing, adaptability, inclusivity, and collaboration.
• Access to high-quality professional learning at every stage of your career, including leadership development opportunities.
• Clear pathways for career progression across our partnership.
• An employee assistance programme offering specialist support, including counselling, financial guidance, and legal advice.
• A positive, supportive working environment where teamwork benefits every child.
• The chance to make a genuine difference to children’s lives every single day.

Application Details

We would be delighted to welcome prospective applicants to visit the school before the closing date. A visit offers the chance to see our school in action, meet members of the team, and discover what makes our school such a rewarding place to work. To arrange a visit or find out more, please contact the school office.

Early application is advised, as we may interview and appoint before the closing date.

Flying High Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.