At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage support services across two specialist schools, ensuring operational excellence.
- Company: Join a leading independent SEN provider with outstanding educational outcomes.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced leave, 24/7 GP access, and employee assistance programme.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for training and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people with complex needs.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in business management, ideally in education.
The predicted salary is between 52000 - 55000 £ per year.
Location: Bucknall (Stoke-on-Trent) & Wilmslow (Cheshire East)
Contract: 12-Month Fixed Term Contract
Hours: 40 hours per week
Salary: 52,000 - 55,000 per annum
This role requires an application form. School Staffing Solutions is proud to be recruiting a School Business Manager - Dual Site role on behalf of a large independent SEN provider. This provider has one SEN School in Stoke-on-Trent rated Outstanding by Ofsted, delivering innovative education and care for up to 90 young people aged 6-19 with complex needs, including Autism and associated conditions. The second School in Wilmslow, Cheshire, opened in April 2023, providing specialist education for children and young people aged 5-19 with Autism spectrum conditions.
The Role
This is a senior leadership opportunity across two specialist schools, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping operational excellence and supporting outstanding outcomes for students. Both schools have Administration Teams that will work under your management and guidance. As School Business Manager, you will lead and develop all support services across both sites, including:
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Administration
- Facilities & Estates
- ICT
- Health & Safety
- Housekeeping & Catering
You will ensure these services operate efficiently, compliantly, and in alignment with the schools' strategic priorities – creating safe, effective, and high-quality environments for learning and wellbeing.
Working as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will:
- Lead strategic and operational planning for support services
- Manage budgets with full accountability, driving value and performance
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, safeguarding, and health & safety requirements
- Oversee financial performance, reporting, and resource allocation
- Inspire and manage multi-disciplinary teams across both sites
- Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence
This is a varied and dynamic role, and you will be expected to contribute to the wider leadership and success of both schools.
About You
You are an experienced and confident leader with a strong background in business management – ideally within education or a similar regulated environment. You will bring:
- Proven leadership experience across multiple operational functions
- Strong financial acumen, including budget setting, monitoring, and performance analysis (including EBITDA)
- Sound knowledge of safeguarding, compliance, and health & safety legislation
- Understanding of education funding, inspection frameworks, and regulatory requirements
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- The ability to work autonomously, make sound decisions, and solve complex problems
Desirable:
- A recognised management or professional qualification (e.g. Management Diploma or Finance qualification)
- Experience leading HR processes and procedures
What's on offer:
- Grow with Us – Training & Development
- Save Money on Everyday Essentials with Perkbox app
- Competitive Pay & Reward – Regular benchmarking of pay and benefits
- Enhanced Annual Leave, Company Sick Pay, Enhanced Pension & Life Assurance
- 24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household
- UK Health Cash Plan
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Refer a Friend – Earn 1,000!
Ready to be part of something special! Please get in touch for an application form for this role.
School Business Manager-dual site in Stafford employer: School Staffing Solutions
Contact Detail:
School Staffing Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land School Business Manager-dual site in Stafford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those who might know about opportunities at schools. A friendly chat can lead to insider info that could give you the edge.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the schools thoroughly. Understand their values, recent achievements, and challenges they face. This will help us tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to build confidence. Focus on articulating your leadership experience and how it aligns with the role of School Business Manager.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace School Business Manager-dual site in Stafford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application form to highlight your relevant experience and skills. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of School Business Manager, so don’t hold back on showcasing your leadership and financial acumen!
Showcase Your Achievements: When filling out the application, include specific examples of your past successes in business management. We love to see quantifiable results, so if you’ve improved budgets or led successful teams, let us know!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly understand why you’re a great fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us directly. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company there.
How to prepare for a job interview at School Staffing Solutions
✨Know Your Schools Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you research both schools thoroughly. Understand their missions, values, and any recent achievements or challenges they've faced. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you tailor your responses to align with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a School Business Manager, you'll be leading teams across two sites. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed multi-disciplinary teams in the past. Highlight your approach to inspiring and motivating staff, as well as how you've driven operational excellence in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Given the financial responsibilities of this role, be ready to discuss your experience with budget management and performance analysis. Bring specific examples of how you've improved financial performance or ensured compliance with regulations in previous positions.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the schools' strategic priorities, challenges they face, and how you can contribute to their success. This shows that you're proactive and genuinely interested in making a positive impact.