School Estates Manager

The Methodist Church in Britain; London Borough of Merton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing support

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Financial benefits

Job summary

St Mark's Church of England Secondary School in London is seeking a Premises Manager to lead the premises team and oversee the upkeep of buildings and grounds. You will ensure statutory compliance checks are completed, manage contractors, and supervise on-site health and safety activities.

The role involves coordinating rotas for evenings, weekends, and holidays, and supporting capital improvement projects with the Regional Estates Manager. Experience in education facilities is desirable.

Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating statutory compliance checks and contractor oversight.
• Experience leading a small team and setting rotas.
• Familiar with COSHH and health and safety requirements in schools.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operation and upkeep of school buildings and grounds.
• Ensure fire safety, asbestos, legionella, electrical and other checks are completed and recorded.
• Act as health and safety lead on site and supervise site inspections.
• Coordinate premises team during drills and incidents.
• Run planned maintenance and monitor contractor work and progress.
• Line-manage Premises Assistants and allocate work across shifts.
• Maintain risk registers, risk assessments and incident records.
• Support capital improvement and refurbishment projects with Regional Estates Manager.

Skills

Contractor management

Health & safety compliance

Budget monitoring

Building systems knowledge

Clear communication

Education

City & Guilds / NVQ Level 2+ in building or maintenance

IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent

First Aid at Work

Job description

This post runs the premises team at St Mark's, a Church of England secondary school within Anthem Schools Trust. The core work is statutory compliance, planned and reactive maintenance, and contractor oversight across buildings and grounds. The role line manages premises staff, sets rotas covering evenings, weekends and holidays, and supports capital projects with the Regional Estates Manager. Fit depends on a trade or facilities qualification and IOSH or equivalent; visa sponsorship is not available.

What the job involves

• Lead the day-to-day operation and upkeep of school buildings, grounds and facilities
• Ensure statutory compliance checks (fire safety, legionella, asbestos, electrical, gas, lifting equipment) are completed and recorded
• Act as key point of contact for health and safety on site, including walkarounds and site inspections
• Coordinate the premises team during fire evacuation, lockdown drills and incidents
• Run a planned preventative maintenance programme, allocating and monitoring work
• Liaise with, induct and supervise contractors, obtaining quotes and monitoring quality and progress
• Line manage Premises Assistants, allocating work and providing supervision and appraisal input
• Manage premises staff rotas for site cover across the school day, evenings, weekends and holidays
• Maintain the premises risk register, risk assessments, and incident and near-miss records
• Support the Regional Estates Manager with capital improvement and refurbishment projects
• Manage key-holding, site opening and closing, and room set-up for events and activities
• Manage storage, use and disposal of hazardous substances under COSHH

Qualifications

• Trade or facilities qualification such as City & Guilds or NVQ Level 2 or above in a building or maintenance discipline
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent health and safety qualification
• First Aid at Work certificate, or willingness to obtain one

Experience

• Substantial experience of planned and reactive maintenance
• Experience of health and safety compliance
• Experience of supervising or leading a small team

Skills & knowledge

• Confident managing statutory compliance, including fire safety, legionella, asbestos, gas and electrical safety
• Practical knowledge of building systems and maintenance
• Organised and comfortable using digital systems for records and reporting
• Communicates clearly with colleagues, contractors and school leaders
• Understanding of safeguarding in a school setting

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Suitable references
• Right to work checks and other essential pre-employment checks

Other

• Dependable, proactive and solutions-focused
• Takes pride in the presentation and performance of the site

Nice to have

• Experience in education
• Contractor management experience
• Experience with compliance or facilities software
• Budget monitoring experience
• Knowledge of the DfE's Good Estate Management for Schools guidance

What’s offered

• Supportive working environment
• Professional development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing support
• A range of financial benefits