School Operations Manager in Essex

We are looking for an experienced, organised and proactive School Operations Manager to join our team at Lift Westerings. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, thrives in a busy environment and wants to play a key role in ensuring the school runs efficiently every day.

As our School Operations Manager, you will oversee the day to day operational functions of the school, including administration, finance, estates, HR liaison, compliance, health and safety, procurement and wider school operations. You will work closely with the Principal, providing high quality operational and administrative support, while also supporting key areas of school administration, including SEND processes, to ensure the school continues to operate effectively.

No two days are the same. You will work collaboratively with colleagues across the school and Lift Schools' central teams to ensure operational processes run smoothly, enabling staff to focus on delivering an exceptional education for every child. Lift Westerings is a popular school celebrated for its innovative teaching methods and beautiful woodland setting adjacent to Hockley Woods. Our reputation makes us a school of choice in the local area, and we are proud of our supportive team and strong community feel. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated team committed to providing the very best educational experience for every child. You'll work alongside supportive colleagues who value collaboration, continuous improvement and making a positive difference to the lives of our pupils and families.

What we are looking for:

• Experience working in an operational or administrative management role.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience coordinating areas such as finance, HR, estates, compliance or administration.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing or supervising staff.
• A proactive, organised and solution-focused approach.
• The ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, parents and external partners.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Whether you already work within education or are looking to bring your operational experience into a school environment, this is an excellent opportunity to make a real difference as part of a supportive and ambitious team. Don't just take our word for it, come and see for yourself. School visits are welcomed. Please contact to arrange. Alternatively, visit our website or YouTube channel to discover more.

Closing date: 12th July 2026

Lift Schools are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process which is in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check. Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered. We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.