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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage operations across two specialist schools, ensuring excellence in support services.
- Company: Join a leading independent SEN provider with a commitment to innovative education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced leave, health plans, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career growth and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people with complex needs.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in business management, ideally within education.
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 which is 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, is already making a significant impact, 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
- 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
- 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 with Jennifer for an application form for this role.
School Business Manager-dual site in Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent
✨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 sometimes lead to job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the schools thoroughly. Understand their values, mission, and recent achievements. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Think of specific examples where you've led teams or managed projects successfully. Being able to share these experiences will demonstrate your capability as a 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 with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace School Business Manager-dual site in Stoke-on-Trent
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know Us: Before you dive into the application, take a moment to explore our website. Understanding our values and mission will help you tailor your application to show how you fit in with our team.
Be Specific: When filling out the application form, be as specific as possible about your experience and skills. Highlight your leadership experience and how it relates to managing multiple operational functions, just like we do at our schools.
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for education and supporting students shine through in your application. We want to see your commitment to creating safe and effective learning environments for young people.
Double-Check Everything: Before you hit send, make sure to proofread your application. Spelling and grammar mistakes can distract from your qualifications, so let’s make sure you put your best foot forward!
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 the specific needs of the students they serve. 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 experience in driving operational excellence and how you’ve inspired others to achieve outstanding outcomes.
✨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 driven value and improved financial performance in previous roles, especially in an educational or regulated environment.
✨Prepare for Compliance Questions
Since compliance is crucial in this role, brush up on safeguarding, health & safety legislation, and education funding. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in past positions and how you would approach these challenges in the dual-site context.