Facilities Manager in Guildford

Facilities Manager in Guildford

Guildford Full-Time 28000 - 42000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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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.

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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 – this role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to play a key role in maintaining and enhancing our school environment — ensuring it’s a place where pupils can thrive and staff can do their best work. This is an opportunity to make a real impact every day. You’ll lead our dedicated facilities team, oversee maintenance and repairs, manage budgets, and ensure every aspect of our site runs smoothly and safely. From developing long‑term improvement plans to managing day‑to‑day operations, your work will help shape a setting that feels welcoming, professional, and cared for.

What You’ll 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 cost‑effective and high‑quality 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 they’re resolved effectively
  • Coordinating vehicle maintenance, security, and safe equipment use
  • Playing an active role in developing long‑term facilities and improvement plans

What We’re Looking For:

  • Proven experience in facilities or site management (ideally within a school or similar environment)
  • Excellent leadership and organisational skills with a proactive, can‑do 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 high‑quality environments

If you’re 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 — every single day.

About Us

Opening in September 2026, this brand‑new 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 11–18, 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 school’s ‘family’, 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 ‘Great Place to Work’ 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 you’ll 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 you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

  • Life Assurance
  • Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
  • “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first‑class mental health support services and physical health checks
  • A market‑leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
  • A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
  • 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
  • Cycle to Work Schemes
  • Electric Car Purchase Scheme
  • Critical illness cover
  • Family Growth Support – 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

At Options Autism, we pride ourselves on being a supportive and rewarding employer, dedicated to creating a positive impact in the lives of our pupils and staff. Located in the vibrant community of Guildford, our new school offers a collaborative work culture, exceptional employee benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to make a difference. Join us in shaping an inclusive environment where your contributions truly matter and where you can thrive both personally and professionally.
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Contact Detail:

Acorn Care and Education Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Facilities Manager in Guildford

✨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.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the school and its values. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in making a difference in their environment.

✨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!

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Facilities Manager in Guildford

Facilities Management
Leadership Skills
Organisational Skills
Health and Safety Regulations
Budget Management
Supplier Management
Maintenance Scheduling
Problem-Solving Skills
Risk Assessment
Audit and Inspection
Communication Skills
Team Motivation
Proactive Approach
Compliance Processes

Some tips for your application 🫡

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: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re 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

✨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.

✨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.

✨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.

✨Ask Insightful Questions

At the end of the interview, don’t 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.

Facilities Manager in Guildford
Acorn Care and Education
Location: Guildford
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