Operations Manager

We are looking for an experienced and ambitious Operations Lead to join our Education Division and play a pivotal role in supporting our portfolio of specialist college sites across England and Wales. The position requires regular travel across these education services.

This is a high-impact leadership role where you will work in partnership with Headteachers, Principals and central support teams to drive operational excellence, improve performance and ensure our schools deliver outstanding outcomes for children and young people.

As Operations Lead, you will provide strategic and operational support across multiple sites, helping schools maintain the highest standards of quality, compliance, workforce performance and financial sustainability. You will be instrumental in ensuring our schools are inspection-ready, operating efficiently and equipped to achieve their full potential.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy building strong relationships and are passionate about improving educational services, we'd love to hear from you.

• Leading Operational Excellence
• Partner with Headteachers and Principals to support the effective day-to-day operation of schools.
• Drive consistency in systems, processes and operational standards across multiple sites.
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support schools through periods of growth, change and development.
• Provide operational leadership during inspections, audits and regulatory visits.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks, implementing practical solutions to support success.
• Supporting Workforce Performance
• Work closely with school leaders and HR teams to strengthen workforce stability and performance.
• Monitor recruitment, retention and agency usage trends.
• Support workforce planning, organisational reviews and change programmes.
• Ensure compliance with supervision, appraisal and mandatory training requirements.
• Promote employee wellbeing and engagement initiatives.
• Support the implementation of HR policies and best practice across the division.
• Driving Performance and Improvement
• Develop and maintain performance reporting systems and dashboards.
• Analyse key trends and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Monitor divisional metrics including Occupancy, Attendance, Safeguarding, Behaviour, Complaints, Recruitment and retention, Staff turnover, Training compliance, Budget performance, School improvement actions.
• Produce reports and insights for senior leadership meetings and business reviews.
• Ensuring Quality and Compliance
• Support schools to maintain compliance with Independent School Standards, Ofsted requirements and safeguarding legislation.
• Coordinate compliance audits and improvement plans.
• Monitor completion of actions arising from inspections and internal reviews.
• Ensure schools maintain robust evidence and remain inspection ready.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Leading Projects and Change
• Lead operational projects across the Education Division.
• Support the mobilisation of new services and expansion initiatives.
• Coordinate the implementation of organisational systems and improvement programmes.
• Monitor delivery against project plans and key milestones.
• Escalate risks and barriers appropriately to ensure successful outcomes.
• Supporting Financial Performance
• Work with school leaders to monitor budgets and resource utilisation.
• Support occupancy growth and referral activity.
• Identify opportunities for greater efficiency and improved financial performance.
• Contribute to forecasting, planning and business review activities.
• Building Strong Relationships
• You'll work collaboratively with Headteachers and Principals, Education Leadership Teams, HR and People Teams, Finance Teams, Quality and Compliance Teams, Business Development Teams, External partners and agencies.
• You'll play a crucial role in strengthening communication, collaboration and operational effectiveness across our school portfolio.

• Essential Skills & Experience
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience.
• GCSE English and Mathematics (Grade C/4 or above).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience working across multiple sites and diverse stakeholders.
• Experience supporting leaders within regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of quality assurance, compliance and performance improvement.
• Experience analysing management information and performance data.
• Proven project management and change implementation experience.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisational, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently across geographically dispersed locations.
• Knowledge
• Independent School Standards.
• Ofsted/Estyn inspection frameworks.
• Safeguarding requirements within education.
• Workforce planning and HR processes.
• Health and Safety compliance.
• Data protection and GDPR requirements.
• Desirable
• PGCE or equivalent teaching qualification.

Salary for Operations Lead: £65,000 plus performance bonus.

For more information on the role of Operations Lead Education Division, contact Mick Hull Fieldview Care Recruitment Solutions.