At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to maintain a thriving school environment and ensure smooth operations.
- Company: Join Options Autism, a leading provider of specialist education for individuals with complex needs.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, life assurance, and a flexible benefits platform tailored to you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives while enjoying a supportive and rewarding work culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in facilities management and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a brand-new school opening in 2026, dedicated to creating inclusive learning environments.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 42000 ÂŁ per year.
At OFG, we work smarter so you can spend more time doing what makes you happy!
Location: Castle Gate School, Guildford, Surrey GU2 4DU
Salary: Up to ÂŁ35,000.00 per annum depending on experience (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Full Time | 52 weeks
Start: January 2026
UK applicants only â this role does not offer sponsorship.
About the Role
Weâre looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to play a key role in maintaining and enhancing our school environment â ensuring itâs a place where pupils can thrive and staff can do their best work. This is an opportunity to make a real impact every day. Youâll lead our dedicated facilities team, oversee maintenance and repairs, manage budgets, and ensure every aspect of our site runs smoothly and safely. From developing longâterm improvement plans to managing dayâtoâday operations, your work will help shape a setting that feels welcoming, professional, and cared for.
What Youâll Be Doing:
- Leading and motivating the facilities team to deliver outstanding service across maintenance, cleaning, and catering (where applicable)
- Managing planned and reactive maintenance programmes to keep the school running efficiently
- Overseeing budgets, contracts, and suppliers to ensure costâeffective and highâquality service delivery
- Taking ownership of health and safety, fire safety, and compliance across the site
- Conducting regular risk assessments, audits, and inspections to maintain the highest standards
- Responding swiftly to maintenance issues and ensuring theyâre resolved effectively
- Coordinating vehicle maintenance, security, and safe equipment use
- Playing an active role in developing longâterm facilities and improvement plans
What Weâre Looking For:
- Proven experience in facilities or site management (ideally within a school or similar environment)
- Excellent leadership and organisational skills with a proactive, canâdo approach
- Strong knowledge of health and safety regulations and compliance processes
- Confidence managing budgets, suppliers, and maintenance schedules
- A practical problem solver who takes pride in maintaining highâquality environments
If youâre someone who thrives on responsibility, enjoys variety, and wants to make a genuine difference, this is your chance to lead a team that keeps our school running at its best â every single day.
About Us
Opening in September 2026, this brandânew school in Guildford is part of the Options Autism group, a leading provider of specialist education for individuals with complex needs. The school will support up to 40 pupils aged 11â18, offering a safe, structured, and inclusive environment tailored to meet a wide range of needs. Our schools are unique environments, each one having its own special atmosphere and range of opportunities and resources. Our teachers enjoy becoming part of their schoolâs âfamilyâ, exploring the potential of the building and environment and getting to know the brilliant pupils in our care. For over 19 years Options Autism have provided support and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care. We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a âGreat Place to Workâ for the sixth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so youâll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so youâll get an exceptional reward package including:
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
- âYour Wellbeing Mattersâ â access to a wide range of firstâclass mental health support services and physical health checks
- A marketâleading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package thatâs right for you, including:
- A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
- 100âs of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
- Cycle to Work Schemes
- Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support â inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
Facilities Manager in Guildford employer: Acorn Care and Education
Contact Detail:
Acorn Care and Education Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Facilities Manager in Guildford
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the facilities management field. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
â¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the school and its values. Show them youâre not just another candidate; youâre genuinely interested in making a difference in their environment.
â¨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially around leadership and problem-solving. We want you to feel confident and ready to showcase your skills!
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows youâre serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Facilities Manager in Guildford
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Facilities Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in facilities management, especially in a school or similar environment, and show us how you can lead a team effectively.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your excellent leadership and organisational skills shine through. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate how you've managed budgets, suppliers, and maintenance schedules successfully.
Emphasise Health and Safety Knowledge: Since health and safety is a big part of this role, make sure to mention your strong knowledge of regulations and compliance processes. Share any experiences where you've conducted risk assessments or audits to maintain high standards.
Apply Through Our Website: Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way for us to receive your application and ensures youâre considered for this exciting opportunity to make a real impact at our new school.
How to prepare for a job interview at Acorn Care and Education
â¨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of facilities management, especially in a school environment. Familiarise yourself with health and safety regulations, maintenance processes, and budget management. This will show that you're not just a candidate, but someone who understands the role inside out.
â¨Show Your Leadership Skills
As a Facilities Manager, you'll be leading a team, so it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership style during the interview. Share examples of how you've motivated teams in the past, tackled challenges, and ensured high-quality service delivery. This will help them see you as a proactive leader.
â¨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations, like a sudden maintenance issue or a budget cut. Think through potential scenarios beforehand and prepare your responses. This will help you showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet.
â¨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, donât forget to ask questions! Inquire about the school's long-term improvement plans or how they measure success in facilities management. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand if the school is the right fit for you.