School Business & Operations Manager

Ealing Council (London Borough of Ealing); Northolt; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanhope Primary School invites applications for an experienced School Business & Operations Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team. The role manages site and admin staff, oversees financial planning and resource allocation, and provides strategic support to the Headteacher.

We seek a proactive, organised leader who can navigate a busy school environment and drive continuous improvement. The successful candidate will contribute to safeguarding, governance and the school’s exciting building

Qualifications

• Proactive, efficient and tenacious with ownership and accountability
• Thrives in a busy school environment, able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, organisation and compliance
• Confident communicator and skilled negotiator, able to influence and build relationships
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, ensuring best value for money and efficient use of resources
• Forward-thinking and solution-focused, continually improving systems and ways of working

Responsibilities

• Line manages site staff, cleaning team, extended school staff and admin team
• Provide dependable, strategic and practical support to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team
• Help shape school operations and ensure safety, wellbeing and education quality for pupils
• Contribute to long-term projects, including the Department for Education building programme

Job description

Advert details:

Grade 14 pa inclusive, 35 hours per week, full-time, 8.30am - 4.30pm (option for 4 days per week = 28 hours), 42 weeks term time only (TTO).

Line manages:

site staff, cleaning team, extended school staff, admin team

To start ASAP

Stanhope Primary School is seeking an experienced, proactive and highly organised School Business & Operations Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team.

We are a forward-thinking, ambitious and inclusive school, proud of our wonderful children, dedicated staff and strong relationships with our families and community. Recognised nationally for our leadership, we are committed to innovation and continuous improvement, including supporting the leadership of AI in education across the London Borough of Ealing.

With an exciting Department for Education new school building project on the horizon, this is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the next chapter of Stanhope's development.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is proactive, efficient and tenacious, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Thrives in a busy, fast-paced school environment, managing competing priorities, delegating effectively and delivering to deadlines
• Has exceptional attention to detail, maintaining high standards of accuracy, organisation and compliance
• Is a confident communicator and skilled negotiator, able to influence, persuade and build positive professional relationships
• Has strong financial and commercial acumen, ensuring best value for money and making the most of the school's resources
• Is forward-thinking and solution-focused, continually identifying opportunities to improve systems and ways of working.
• Provides dependable, strategic and practical support to the Headteacher and wider Senior Leadership Team
• Places children at the heart of every decision, recognising that excellent business and operational leadership directly supports their education, safety and wellbeing.

Above all, we want someone who takes initiative, gets things done and shares our ambition to provide the very best for our children.

In return, we offer a welcoming and supportive school community, a committed and talented staff team, wonderful children and the opportunity to make a genuine difference to the school's future.

We strongly encourage prospective applicants to visit the school to experience our community first‑hand.

If you have any questions about the role, please feel free to contact the Headteacher directly. The email address can be found in the recruitment pack.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Empowering Every Heart, Inspiring Every Mind.

Stanhope Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate pre‑employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a children's barred list check where legally applicable, satisfactory references, verification of identity, qualifications where relevant, and the right to work in the UK.

As part of our safer recruitment procedures, online searches may be undertaken on shortlisted candidates. The post is subject to the relevant provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, as amended, where applicable.

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Closing date:

Tuesday 17th November 2026

Shortlisting:

by Friday 20th November 2026

Interviews:

week commencing Monday 23rd November 2026