School Operations Manager

Co-op Academy Medlock; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CPD opportunities

LGPS pension

City-centre location

Staff discounts

Job summary

Co-op Academy Medlock is seeking a meticulous School Operations Manager to lead daily operations, health and safety, building management and local HR/finance administration across two Manchester primary academies.

Serving over 800 pupils from early years through Year 6, you will act as a key liaison between school leadership teams and central Trust specialists to ensure compliance and seamless facilities management, enabling teachers to focus on pupils.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in school/academy administration or multi-site operations.
• Experience with health & safety, risk assessments and contractor management.
• Strong MIS and local HR/finance administration knowledge.
• Ability to prioritise, communicate clearly and build relationships across sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead Estates and Health & Safety across two academies with risk assessments and drills.
• Oversee contractors, SLAs, maintenance and capital project planning.
• Manage MIS administration, safeguarding protocols and admissions processing.
• Handle local HR and finance duties, including petty cash and procurement.
• Collaborate with central Trust teams in Finance, HR, Estates and Procurement.

Skills

School administration

H&S compliance

Estates management

MIS systems

HR/Finance admin

Contractor management

Communication

Education

NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent)

GCSE Maths & English

CSBM or School Business Management (desirable)

Tools

MIS systems

SAM People (HR)

Procurement systems

Job description

Your Role

Are you a rigorous operational professional or school business manager ready to drive excellence across two vibrant Manchester primary academies?

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented School Operations Manager to lead and oversee daily operations, health & safety compliance, building management, and localised HR/finance administration across Co-op Academy Medlock and Co-op Academy New Islington. Serving over 800 pupils across two busy inner-city sites, from early years through to Year 6, this role is the operational backbone of our schools.

Working as a vital liaison between school leadership teams and central Trust specialists, you will ensure high standards, robust compliance, and seamless day-to-day facilities management so our teaching staff can focus on what matters most, our pupils.

Key Responsibilities

1. Estates & Health & Safety Leadership: Take lead responsibility for site H&S compliance across both academy sites. Oversee risk assessments (RAs), statutory reporting, planned preventative maintenance (PPMs), fire/lockdown drills, and site supervisor line management.
2. Contractors & Capital Projects: Supervise premises maintenance, manage third-party contractors, monitor cleaning/catering SLAs, and support capital project planning (SCA funding) alongside central Trust Estates teams.
3. Operations & MIS Administration: Manage school reception, safeguarding protocols, MIS data integrity, policy dissemination, admissions processing, and local LA survey returns.
4. Localised HR & Finance Support: Handle local HR administration (SAM People compliance, SCR maintenance, sickness thresholds, stage 1 return-to-works, and recruitment setup). Support central Finance with petty cash, purchase requisitions, Early Years funding applications, and local procurement.
5. Central Trust Collaboration: Work closely in a supportive matrix structure with central Trust teams across Finance, HR, Estates, and Procurement.

What We Are Looking For

1. Proven Experience: Successful track record in school/academy administration, office management, or multi-site operational coordination.
2. H&S & Estates Expertise: Practical experience managing health & safety compliance, risk assessments, contractor management, and facilities/premises checks.
3. Technical & Organisational Proficiency: Strong familiarity with school MIS systems, local HR/finance administration, and regulatory frameworks.Communication & Resilience: Ability to manage conflicting priorities calmly across two sites while building positive working relationships with staff, parents, and central teams.
4. Qualifications: Minimum NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent experience) plus GCSE Maths & English (Grade 4-9/A-C). CSBM or School Business Management qualifications are desirable.

Why Join Us?

At Co-op Academies Trust, you are never on an island. While you lead operational delivery locally, you are backed by specialist central teams in Finance, Estates, HR, and Procurement.

1. Impact: Direct operational responsibility across two thriving, multicultural city-centre primary academies.
2. Growth: Dedicated continuous professional development (CPD) and clear pathways for career progression within the Trust.
3. Co-op Benefits: City-centre location with excellent transport links/parking, Co-op colleague discounts, gym membership schemes, Credit Union access, and generous LGPS pension provisions.