Hub Operations Manager (Tunbridge Wells)

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to play a pivotal role in the next stage of development for Skinners’ Academies Trust. From September 2026, four of our academies in Tunbridge Wells — The Skinners’ Kent Academy, Skinners’ Kent Primary School, Skinners’ Temple Grove and The Skinners’ School — will operate as a single local Hub for operational purposes. We are seeking an exceptional Hub Operations Manager to provide the strategic leadership, expert guidance and operational grip needed to ensure these schools run efficiently, effectively and with the highest standards of compliance and service.

This is a significant leadership role at the heart of a collaborative and ambitious Trust. Working closely with Headteachers, Senior Leadership Teams and the Trust CFOO, you will lead and develop key support functions across the Hub, helping to create the conditions in which pupils, staff and communities can thrive.

As Hub Operations Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and direction across HR, IT, estates management and wider operations for the Tunbridge Wells Hub. You will be responsible for ensuring that operational systems, processes and services are robust, consistent and responsive to the needs of each academy, while supporting the development of a joined-up Hub model.

Reporting to the Trust CFOO, you will be accountable for the performance, compliance, policy implementation and continuous improvement of support functions across the Hub academies. You will work in partnership with school and Trust leaders to ensure high-quality operational delivery, effective risk management and strong alignment with Trust priorities.

Please note that finance is not included within the main remit of this role, other than local procurement for operational areas, as core academy finance functions are centralised across the Trust.

We are looking for someone who can:

• Lead and develop high-performing operational services across a group of schools.
• Provide confident, pragmatic and expert advice to Headteachers and Senior Leadership Teams.
• Strengthen systems, processes and compliance across HR, IT, estates and operations.
• Build positive relationships across multiple academies, balancing local context with shared Trust standards.
• Drive continuous improvement while maintaining a clear focus on service quality, value for money and operational resilience.
• Manage competing priorities with calm authority, sound judgement and excellent attention to detail.

You will be an experienced operations professional with a strong understanding of how excellent support services enable excellent education. You may already be working in a senior school operations, business management, estates, HR, IT or multi-site leadership role, and you will bring the confidence and credibility to influence at senior level.

The successful candidate will be strategic, organised and solutions-focused, with the ability to translate Trust priorities into effective local delivery. You will be committed to high standards, collaborative working and the safe, efficient running of schools.

Skinners’ Academies Trust is a collaborative Trust of schools in Kent and London, united by a shared commitment to improving outcomes for young people. This role offers the opportunity to shape a new Hub operating model from the outset, working with talented leaders across distinctive schools while benefiting from the support and direction of the wider Trust.

For the right person, this is a rare opportunity to make a lasting operational impact across four academies, strengthen collaboration and help build the foundations for sustainable success.

Skinners’ Academies Trust is committed to equality, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to the relevant pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. We reserve the right to interview and appoint before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.