Operations Manager

Lead the operations that keep LSA safe, well run and ready for great creative work: the site, technology, contracts, events and the systems behind them.

LSA is a working creative space as much as a school.

Studios, edit suites, camera kit, a busy network and a steady flow of events and bookings all depend on operations that work quietly in the background.

When they don't, lessons stop, productions stall and risks go unnoticed.

This is a new senior role, created as we reshape how LSA's operations are led.

It gives the school one person who owns the whole operational picture, accountable day to day to the Principal.

A strong candidate will enjoy leading people, coordinating complex activity and managing contracts as much as the practical detail, and will take pride in a school that simply works.

Shape

set LSA's operational calendar and priorities, and its approach to health and safety, site and technology planning and operational policy, with the Principal.

Lead

run the day-to-day operation across both teams, contracted services, external bookings and major events.

Improve

make processes, maintenance, technology, kit and bookings simpler, safer and better value each year.

Life at LSA

A free sixth form for film and TV, in the heart of Highbury.

Our students learn the craft alongside people who work in the screen industries. Every role here, in the classroom or behind it, helps them get there.

The role

• What you’ll do
• 01 Operational leadership

Owning LSA's operation and making sure it serves learning.

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the school, reporting to the Director for People and Operations with strong day-to-day accountability to the Principal
• Own the academy's operational calendar and priorities, agreeing them with the Principal and SLT and meeting the Principal regularly
• Lead administrative systems and service standards, so that the school's processes are consistent, clear and reliable
• Oversee and monitor the helpdesk covering premises, IT and the kitstore, making sure requests are responded to promptly, and report on helpdesk metrics
• Improve operational processes and workflows, simplifying them where they are slow or unclear
• Track operational actions, risks and deadlines, and make sure they are followed through
• Develop and review operational policies, making sure they are clear, workable and followed
• Coordinate effectively with Trust HR, finance and other central support
• Provide clear operational reporting and assurance on operations, health and safety and risk to the Principal, SLT and governors
• 02 Site and facilities

Making sure the building works for a specialist creative school, every day.

• Oversee the maintenance, repair and presentation of the site and grounds, including accessibility provision
• Plan and run a planned preventative maintenance schedule, and respond promptly to reactive repairs and day-to-day premises requests
• Contribute site information to Day One Trust's estates planning and insurance renewals
• 03 Health, safety and security

Being LSA's lead on keeping people safe on site.

• Act as the school's designated health and safety lead, coordinating the academy's compliance with statutory requirements and Trust policy
• Keep the Health and Safety policy up to date, and coordinate the risk assessment programme, including fire risk assessments, commissioning or working with competent specialists where required
• Make sure fire safety equipment, alarms, drills and emergency procedures are tested by competent people, recorded and current
• Coordinate regular site audits, and make sure the actions from them are recorded and completed
• Coordinate site security and access control arrangements, working with the DSLs on anything that touches safeguarding
• Maintain LSA's critical incident and business continuity plans
• 04 IT and kitstore

Keeping the technology and kit staff and students rely on available, secure and fit for purpose.

• Lead the Specialist Technical Services team through the IT/AV Manager, making sure the network, devices, AV and technical kit support teaching and production
• Plan the replacement of IT and kit, and make sure asset and equipment loan registers are accurate
• Implement and monitor cyber security and data protection requirements locally, working with our IT partner and Trust leads, in line with LSA's policies
• Make sure there are workable plans for technology failure, so teaching can continue
• 05 Contracted services

Getting quality and value from the services LSA buys in.

• Manage the cleaning, catering and security contracts, holding providers to agreed service levels
• Monitor quality through regular reviews and feedback from staff and students, and resolve problems quickly
• Manage all other contractors on site, checking quality, value and DBS and safety compliance
• Lead retendering of these contracts with Day One Trust, in line with the Trust's financial regulations
• 06 Events and external bookings

Making LSA's building work harder and its major events run smoothly, without getting in the way of the school.

• Coordinate major events, productions, open evenings and other complex activity, working with the teams who lead them
• Oversee visitor, contractor and room-booking processes across the academy
• Manage external bookings and lettings of the building, studios and spaces
• Set clear terms, pricing and safety requirements for hirers, and make sure every booking is properly staffed
• Balance income with the needs of the school timetable, exams and events
• 07 Operational spend and value for money

Spending well, with Day One Trust, and looking after what we own.

• Manage operational spend on the site, IT, kit and contracted services within the budget agreed with Day One Trust, and flag pressures early
• Run procurement in line with the Trust's financial regulations, getting quotes and tenders where required
• Look for savings and income, including from lettings, where these fit LSA's priorities
• 08 Line management

Leading two teams well.

• Line manage the IT/AV Manager and the Estates Team, including appraisals, training and workload
• Make sure both teams' work is planned, safe and clearly recorded, and that they work well together
• Who you’ll work for

Every student. One crew.

• Cinematographer
• Iman, Year 13
• Marketing
• Costume Designer
• Producer
• Dylan, Year 12

We are committed to diversifying the screen industries, and increasing the diversity of our own team is an important step towards that.

We especially welcome applicants from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, who are currently under-represented in our team.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, of any sexual or gender identity, neurodivergent applicants, adults of any age or religious belief, and we encourage applications from disabled people.