School Operations Manager

Coombe House School; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

City‑centre location

Colleague discounts

Gym membership schemes

Credit Union access

LGPS pension provisions

Job summary

Co-op Academies Trust in Manchester seeks a proactive School Operations Manager to oversee two primary academies, Co-op Academy Medlock and Co-op Academy New Islington. You will lead health & safety, facilities, HR/finance administration, and MIS tasks to keep teaching staff free to focus on pupils.

The role involves cross-site coordination, contractor management, and collaboration with central Trust teams to ensure compliant, efficient operations across urban sites.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in school/academy administration, office management or multi-site operational coordination.
• Hands-on health & safety compliance and estates management experience.
• Strong IT/digital skills with school MIS systems and local HR/finance administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead estates and health & safety across two academy sites.
• Oversee contractors, SLAs, cleaning and catering, and capital project planning.
• Manage school reception, safeguarding, MIS data integrity, admissions processing.
• Provide local HR and finance support, including payroll, procurement, and early years funding.
• Collaborate with central Trust teams (Finance, HR, Estates, Procurement).

Skills

School administration

H&S compliance

MIS administration

HR/finance support

Contractor management

Stakeholder communication

Tools

MIS software

Job description

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

• 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.
• 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.
• Operations & MIS Administration: Manage school reception, safeguarding protocols, MIS data integrity, policy dissemination, admissions processing, and local LA survey returns.
• 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.
• 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

• Proven Experience: Successful track record in school/academy administration, office management, or multi‑site operational coordination.
• H&S & Estates Expertise: Practical experience managing health & safety compliance, risk assessments, contractor management, and facilities/premises checks.
• 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.

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.

• Impact: Direct operational responsibility across two thriving, multicultural city‑centre primary academies.
• Growth: Dedicated continuous professional development (CPD) and clear pathways for career progression within the Trust.
• 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.

Co‑op Academies Trust as an aware employer is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This commitment to robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures extends to organisations and services linked to the Trust on its behalf.

Co‑op Academies Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all its employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced check by the DBS and satisfactory references. All our colleagues are expected to demonstrate a commitment to co‑operative values and principles.