Site Supervisor | Secondary Academy & Sixth Form | Ipswich

Marchant Recruitment; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Marchant Recruitment is seeking a proactive Site Supervisor for a busy secondary academy campus in Ipswich. You will oversee daily maintenance, facilities management, security, and health and safety operations to keep buildings, grounds, and facilities safe and fully operational for pupils, staff and visitors during the academic year.

Reporting to the Estates Manager, you will manage contractor visits, supervise caretaking and grounds teams, and respond to security alarms and out-of-hours

Qualifications

• Solid practical background in building maintenance and facilities management.
• Experience supervising site operations in educational settings or public sector facilities.
• Relevant safety certificates are highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily maintenance, security, and health and safety across the campus.
• Open/close premises, set alarms, monitor access and respond to out-of-hours alerts.
• Coordinate contractor visits and ensure safeguarding compliance.
• Coordinate caretaking and grounds tasks, manage waste, and prep for exams/events.
• Support safe access during bad weather and assist with winter gritting.

Skills

Site supervision

Facilities management

Health and safety

Contractor management

Education

Safety certificates (IOSH Managing Safely; Legionella Awareness; First Aid at Work)

Tools

Carpentry

Plumbing

Electrical repairs

Joinery

Job description

We are seeking a proactive, practical, and highly capable Site Supervisor to oversee the daily maintenance, facilities management, security, and health and safety operations across our secondary academy campus in Ipswich. Reporting to the Estates Manager, the successful candidate will ensure that school buildings, grounds, and facilities remain safe, secure, clean, and fully operational for pupils, staff, and visitors throughout the academic year.

THE SCHOOL

Set on an expansive campus featuring modern classroom blocks, specialized science suites, indoor sports halls, and extensive outdoor playing fields, this vibrant secondary academy serves over 1,000 pupils aged 11–18 in Ipswich. As part of a collaborative regional Multi-Academy Trust, the school benefits from dedicated trust estates support, capital improvement grants, and ongoing facilities investment. The premises team provides the vital foundation that keeps the physical environment running smoothly, safely, and efficiently every day.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

Site Security & Access Control: Act as a keyholder responsible for daily opening and locking of the school premises, setting alarm systems, monitoring access gates, and responding to out-of-hours emergency calls or security alerts.

Facilities Maintenance & Repairs: Perform routine reactive maintenance and first-line repairs—including basic plumbing, joinery, painting, lock repairs, and minor electrical fixes—across all campus buildings.

Health & Safety Compliance: Conduct mandatory safety checks and maintain logbooks for fire alarms, emergency lighting, water hygiene (legionella control), playground equipment, and COSHH storage in accordance with statutory guidelines.

Contractor Management & Supervision: Escort and supervise external contractors on-site during routine servicing, boiler maintenance, statutory inspections, or major building works, ensuring compliance with safeguarding protocols.

Caretaking & Grounds Support: Coordinate site cleanliness, manage waste disposal logistics, prepare halls for exams and school events, perform gritting during winter periods, and ensure safe pedestrian access during bad weather.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications: Solid practical background in building maintenance, facilities management, or a specific trade (e.g., carpentry, plumbing, or electrical work). Relevant safety certificates (e.g., IOSH Managing Safely, Asbestos Awareness, Legionella Awareness, or First Aid at Work) are highly advantageous.

Experience: Proven track record of site supervision, caretaking, or facilities management within an educational institution, public sector facility, or commercial property environment.

Skills: Strong practical DIY and repair skills, clear understanding of health and safety legislation, reliable problem-solving ability, flexibility to work shift patterns, and a polite, approachable professional manner.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

Local Area & Community: Located in the county town of Suffolk, Ipswich is one of England’s oldest historic towns, combining a rich maritime heritage with modern waterfront regeneration. Ipswich offers a high quality of life with vibrant cultural venues, historic landmarks such as Christchurch Mansion, and quick access to the scenic Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Transport & Commuting: Ipswich benefits from strong transport connections across Suffolk, Essex, and East Anglia. Positioned strategically along the A12 and A14 dual carriageways, road commuting across Colchester, Bury St Edmunds, and Felixstowe is straightforward. Public transport is comprehensive, served by local Greater Anglia bus networks and Ipswich Railway Station, which provides direct, frequent rail services to Norwich, Cambridge, and London Liverpool Street.