Temporary Operations Manager and Central Services Support

Shorefields; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Colchester County High School for Girls invites applications for a Temporary Operations Manager and Central Services Support. The appointment runs for six months with possible extension, based at Colchester.

The role focuses on ensuring smooth school operations while providing support to central services within Alpha Trust. The candidate should have experience in school operations, strong organisational and communication skills, and a proven ability to lead teams and manage competing priorities.

Qualifications

• Experience in school operations, ideally within a secondary school.
• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Proven track record of managing teams and operational services.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and stay organised.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and delivering outstanding service.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities and resource management for the school.
• Oversee health and safety compliance and first aid provision.
• Design and deliver staff induction and mandatory training.
• Work in partnership with Trust colleagues and central services.
• Assist with building projects across the Trust.

Job description

Temporary Operations Manager and Central Services Support

Position Start Date: 01/11/2026 Contract Type: Full-time/Part-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 02/10/2026 Midday Date of Interviews: TBC

Temporary Operations Manager and Central Services Support

Colchester County High School for Girls

Full time or part time will be considered

Temporary appointment - 6 months which may be extended

Closing Date: 09.00 Friday 2 October 2026. Candidates are advised to apply as soon as possible as we will be selecting and interviewing candidates as and when applications that meet the criteria are received. Colchester County High School reserves the right to close the application process early should a suitable candidate be identified.

Required: As soon as possible

The role of the temporary Operations Manager and Central Services Support is to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the school, while also providing support to Central Services, depending on the experience of the successful candidate.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading facilities & resource management for the school
• Overseeing health and safety compliance and first aid provision.
• Designing and delivering staff induction and monitoring completion of mandatory training
• Working in partnership with Trust colleagues.
• Assisting with building projects across the Trust.

We are looking for an experienced and proactive operational professional who thrives in a busy environment and takes pride in ensuring systems run smoothly and efficiently. You will bring a calm, organised and solutions focused approach, working collaboratively with colleagues to support the ongoing success of the school.

The successful candidate will also have:

• experience in school operations, ideally within a secondary school environment.
• excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills
• a proven track record of managing teams and operational services
• excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively
• the ability to build positive relationships and work collaboratively across a Multi-Academy Trust.
• a commitment to continuous improvement and delivering outstanding service

Colchester County High School for Girls is a selective girls' grammar school and lead school for Alpha Trust. This school is a stimulating and friendly environment to work in, with an established programme of staff induction, training and development opportunities across Alpha Trust and Alpha Teacher Development.

Our students are high achievers who are focused, hardworking and self-motivated; many go on to further study at top universities. Progress 8 in 2024 was an outstanding +0.99, ranking the school as one of the highest achieving state schools in the country.

Colchester County High School for Girls is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check by the DBS.

Information about the School

Colchester County High School for Girls is part of Alpha Trust. It is a selective state school for academically able students aged from 11 to 18 years which consistently achieves public examination results at the highest level and Ofsted "Outstanding". Admission to the school is via the 11+ examination in Year 7; the school also admits academic students into the Sixth Form. The school is lead for the North East Essex Teaching School Alliance and Colchester Teacher Training Consortium is based on the site. Situated a mile to the west of central Colchester, the school is set in its own extensive grounds on a large, quiet campus.

TAlpha Trust - MissionThe mission of Alpha Trust is to provide all our children and young people with everyopportunity to achieve excellent individual outcomes, both academic and personal; to becommitted to advancing learner progress through ambition, challenge and inspiration inour teaching, learning and leadership; and to support our students as they buildresilience, become proud of who they are, take on responsibilities and grow respect forothers.We aim to:

enable students to cope emotionally, physically and spiritually with the pressures and demands of life

provide a broad, well-balanced and personalised curriculum

provide the highest quality education for able students, to enable them to achieve their personal best in public examinations

provide access to the highest quality further education and employment

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

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Barbara Gill
Colchester County High School for Girls
Norman Way, Colchester
Essex, CO3 3US Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]