At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the operational management and maintenance of our historic academy campus.
- Company: A traditional state school in Walsall, proud of its heritage and community spirit.
- Benefits: Generous budget for maintenance, specialist training, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Join a supportive community with excellent transport links and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on preserving a unique educational environment while supporting student success.
- Qualifications: Professional qualification in facilities management and experience in public sector or educational settings.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We require a highly competent, exceptionally proactive Premises Manager to lead the comprehensive operational management, strategic maintenance, and statutory compliance of our academy’s physical infrastructure and extensive grounds. Operating within an architecturally significant Black Country academy campus that places immense pride in maintaining its historic features alongside modern facilities, the successful candidate will manage the site team, coordinate specialized external contractors, and oversee facilities projects. This critical leadership role ensures our campus remains a pristine, safe, and elite-tier educational environment, fully optimized to support student achievement, community lettings, and daily operational excellence.
Our academy is a highly successful, traditional state school situated in the historic town of Walsall, widely celebrated for its warm community spirit, exceptional facilities, and a culture that deeply values its operational support staff. We believe that the physical environment teaches a silent lesson in respect, discipline, and high standards, which is why we hold our estates and premises team in the highest regard.
Unlike modern, generic campuses built from identical materials, our school features a beautiful blend of historic, heritage architecture and state-of-the-art modern extensions. We are looking for an industrious Premises Manager who takes genuine pride in craftsmanship, heritage conservation, and the meticulous care of a unique estate. You will have full operational autonomy over our fabric maintenance strategy and a dedicated team who takes immense personal pride in keeping our campus looking immaculate, orderly, and professional. We offer a deeply respectful, collaborative relationship with senior leadership, a generous budget for historic building maintenance and upgrades, and fully funded specialist training in compliance, structural engineering, and modern estate management.
KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS
- Strategic Facilities & Asset Management: Oversee the daily opening, closing, and secure operation of the school campus, designing and implementing rigorous preventative maintenance schedules for all building fabrics, mechanical systems, and plant machinery.
- Statutory Compliance & Health & Safety Leadership: Serve as the academy's operational lead for health and safety compliance, meticulously maintaining records for fire safety, legionella testing, asbestos monitoring, electrical testing, and risk assessments to exceed HSE and DfE standards.
- Contractor Management & Capital Projects: Act as the primary point of contact for external building contractors and service engineers, managing tendering processes, verifying RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements), and supervising capital works to ensure deadlines and budgets are strictly met.
- Team Leadership & Operational Coordination: Lead, schedule, and performance-manage the internal caretaking and cleaning teams, optimizing shift patterns to support both standard school operations and our active, community-focused evening and weekend lettings program.
- Emergency Response & Business Continuity: Act as the primary keyholder for the site, managing out-of-hours alarm escalations and leading rapid-response efforts during adverse weather, mechanical failures, or urgent repair scenarios to minimize school closure risks.
PROFILE REQUIREMENTS
- Qualifications & Certifications: A recognized professional qualification in facilities management (such as IWFM) or a high-level health and safety certification (IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH), paired with a valid, clean UK driving license.
- Technical Expertise: Proven experience managing facilities, building maintenance, or construction projects within a complex public sector or educational setting, demonstrating deep knowledge of building management systems (BMS) and statutory compliance laws.
- Leadership & Communication Skills: Exceptional organizational and leadership capabilities, with a track record of effectively managing teams and communicating clearly with senior leadership, local authorities, and corporate contractors.
REGIONAL CONTEXT
An Industrial Heritage Hub Embracing Future Prosperity: Based in the historically significant town of Walsall, the school capitalizes on an exceptional Black Country identity defined by its world-renowned leather-working heritage, manufacturing innovation, and close-knit community ties. Blending busy, culturally diverse town centres with beautiful green spaces like Walsall Arboretum, the area provides a fantastic, real-world context for exploring social history, rhetoric, and creative expression. Operating within this highly collaborative educational network allows our staff to engage directly with local community partnerships, regional business initiatives, and a deeply supportive network of local families.
Connectivity & Infrastructure: The campus benefits from premium West Midlands transport infrastructure, offering straightforward road commuting via the strategic M6 motorway corridor (Junctions 7, 9, and 10), the A34, and the A454. Public transit networks operate continuously via comprehensive local bus routes, while Walsall Railway Station serves as a key transit hub, connecting the school effortlessly to Birmingham New Street in under 25 minutes, making the school highly accessible for professionals commuting across Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the wider West Midlands.
APPLICATION INTAKE
Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.
Premises Manager | Traditional & Heritage-Proud Academy | Walsall employer: Marchant Recruitment
Marchant Recruitment is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant and supportive work culture that prioritises the professional growth of its staff. As a Nursery Teacher in Hillingdon, you will benefit from a collaborative team environment, opportunities for continuous development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on young learners' lives in an Outstanding primary school setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Premises Manager | Traditional & Heritage-Proud Academy | Walsall
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Marchant Recruitment, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Premises Manager | Traditional & Heritage-Proud Academy | Walsall at Marchant Recruitment.
We think you need these skills to ace Premises Manager | Traditional & Heritage-Proud Academy | Walsall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Marchant Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
