Head of Operations Application in London

Responsible to: Headteacher

Salary: Grade 14

Hours of Duty: 22 - 30 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Term: Throughout the year (52 weeks)

Role Purpose: The Head of Operations is responsible for the strategic management of the school's business operations, including estates, catering, IT, and commercial enterprises. The role ensures that the school operates efficiently and effectively, providing excellent support to educational outcomes, maintaining high standards of governance and compliance, and identifying opportunities for income generation and cost savings. They will work with the Financial Controller to ensure appropriate allocation of resources. The Head of Operations is expected to actively participate in SLT meetings where appropriate, contributing significantly to strategic decision-making and operational leadership to drive school improvement and achieve educational goals.

Commercial and Business Development:

• Lead the strategic development of income generation across the school, including lettings, partnerships, and commercial opportunities.
• Identify and secure external funding opportunities, including grants and sponsorship.
• Oversee commercial contracts and partnerships, ensuring value for money and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Ensure that the school’s assets are used effectively to support both educational priorities and financial sustainability.

Estates and Strategic Asset Management:

• Provide strategic oversight of the school estate, ensuring it is safe, compliant, and aligned with the school’s long‑term vision.
• Develop and maintain a long‑term estates strategy and capital development plan, including prioritisation of investment.
• Oversee capital projects, ensuring appropriate governance, procurement processes, and delivery assurance are in place.
• Ensure robust contract management arrangements for estate services (maintenance, cleaning, transport, etc.) through effective leadership of the Facilities Manager.
• Monitor estates performance through KPIs, compliance reporting, and regular review mechanisms.
• Ensure that appropriate professional advice (e.g., H&S, building compliance, statutory testing) is commissioned and acted upon.
• Maintain oversight of stakeholder relationships relating to the estate (e.g., community, local authority, planning bodies).

People Leadership:

• Provide strategic leadership to operational service areas through direct line management of key leaders (Facilities, Catering, IT).
• Set clear expectations, performance measures, and accountability frameworks for service delivery.
• Work with the HR Manager on workforce planning, organisational design, and leadership development within operational teams.

Health and Safety:

• Act as the strategic lead for health and safety governance, ensuring the school has robust policies, systems, and assurance processes in place.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements through effective monitoring, audit, and reporting frameworks.
• Receive and scrutinise health and safety reports, audits, and risk assessments, ensuring appropriate action is taken.
• Provide assurance to the Headteacher and Board of Trustees on health and safety compliance and risk management.
• Promote a strong organisational culture of safety and accountability across all staff.

Business and Continuity Risk:

• Lead the development and oversight of business continuity and critical incident planning.
• Ensure the school maintains an effective risk management framework, with clear ownership and mitigation strategies.
• Advise SLT and Trustees on operational and strategic risks.

Catering:

• Oversee the performance and strategic direction of catering services through the Catering Manager.
• Ensure catering provision meets regulatory standards, financial targets, and stakeholder expectations.
• Monitor contracts, budgets, and service quality, intervening at a strategic level where required.
• Support development of sustainable and cost‑effective catering models.

IT and Systems Management:

• Provide strategic oversight of IT infrastructure and digital systems to ensure they support teaching, learning, and operations.
• Lead on long‑term IT strategy, investment planning, and procurement.
• Ensure appropriate data protection, cybersecurity, and compliance frameworks are in place.

Human Resources:

• Work in partnership with the HR Manager to support workforce strategy, organisational development, and people‑related risk.
• Support implementation of effective HR systems and use of workforce data for decision‑making.

Governance and Compliance:

• Ensure robust compliance across all operational areas, including estates, H&S, and statutory obligations.
• Provide high‑quality reporting and assurance to SLT and the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee insurance arrangements and ensure appropriate risk management.