Isaac Newton Academy, Redbridge
Interim Principal: Jo Spencer
Operations Director
Closing date: Midnight 2nd June 2019
Reporting to: The Principal
Salary: Ark Leadership Scale 9-13 (£52,622 - £57,739)
Hours: 36 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
In September 2012 Isaac Newton Academy opened with its inaugural cohort of 180 year 7 students. The school will grow, year on year, to become an 11-18 academy of 1250 students with specialist status in mathematics and music. In 2014 the primary phase of the academy opened to 90 reception-aged children. This too will grow each year, until full in September 2020.
We are looking to recruit an Operations Director to provide the overall strategic and operational leadership and management for all aspects of HR, ICT, premises, health and safety, community usage, catering, administration and operations support in the academy.
For a candidate information pack or an informal, confidential discussion please contact Human Resources on 020 8911 6656 or hr@isaacnewtonacademy.org.
We reserve the right to close this job vacancy prior to the advertised closing date, should we feel we have found a suitable candidate.
Job Description
The Role
To provide the overall strategic and operational leadership and management for all aspects of HR, ICT, premises, health and safety, community usage, catering, administration and operations support in the academy.
To develop, lead and manage operational staff ensuring that the resources and systems of the academy are deployed effectively and efficiently to achieve the educational aims of the academy.
To work with Ark Central and other academies in the Ark network, to develop high quality systems and services throughout the network, offering support where required.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
- To be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning and decision making, leading staff training, groups and student assemblies and attending Governing Body meetings
- To lead on the academy’s operational requirements, including contract procurement, systems set-up, staff training and implementation of policies & procedures
- To work closely and liaise with the Ark HR, Finance and Premises to ensure that in-school processes, as applicable, are implemented and followed
- To manage the academy’s operational budget, ensuring that spend is managed in line with approved budgets and input into termly forecast/budgeting process, analysing and reviewing strategic plans for Academy’s operational areas
- To support the leadership team in developing the strategic approach for lettings and community links and lead on establishing links with the community in this regard
- To work with the Regional/Central Facilities Manager to project manage capital building projects, ensuring identifying appropriate funding sources, writing proposals for expenditure and delivery within scope, time and finance
- To work with the Principal and Regional Finance Director to ensure budget setting is in line with the Academy’s overall staffing and other priorities.
Managing People & Services
- To line manage the Office Manager, Premises Manager, Chef Manager, Marketing and Comms. Manager, HR Manager and Senior Lunchtime Supervisor to ensure that they, and their teams, are motivated, have high levels of commitment and productivity and perform well in their role
- To manage the cleaning contract and ensuring all aspects of the service level agreement are met
- Together with the Assistant Principal, to manage the service and contract/SLA delivery for IT, including ensuring IT assets are security marked and maintained through working closely with Ark Central IT
- To oversee the management of the letting of the academy’s facilities, liaising with the lettings officer and the third party provider.
School Operations
To be responsible for the development of new facilities within the academy and its grounds
- To project manage any capital schemes, identifying funding sources, writing proposals/bids and liaising with relevant personnel
- To lead on sustainability issues such as recycling and the school travel plan.
- To achieve the most competitive pricing for goods and services for the academy, complying with current and relevant procurement legislation and Ark’s policies
- To ensure the academy is compliant with all the Ark policies, rules and procedures, including Fire and Health & Safety legislation, and ensuring the accurate maintenance of the Single Central Record
- To establish and maintain effective administration systems throughout the academy, including systems for monitoring and reporting on all operational functions
- To be responsible for the day-to-day management of Health and Safety (H&S) within the academy, working with Ark’s central Head of Premises & Estates, ensuring that there is a H&S policy and Emergency Plan in place, and reporting back regularly to the Principal and governing body
- To oversee the provision of a high quality daily food provision and supporting the family dining policy.
- To ensure the academy is compliant with all HR policies and procedures.
- To provide support to the Principal and SLT with regard to HR issues/case work such as disciplinary or capability issues, working closely with the Senior HR Officer and ARK Schools HR team
Other
- To actively promote the safety and welfare of our children and young people
- To maintain a presence around the school to ensure that the highest standards of behaviour and site-usage are upheld and to participate in the regular whole-school supervisory duties fulfilled on a scheduled basis by the Senior Leadership Team
- To contribute to the academy’s enrichment programme
- To ensure compliance with Ark’s data protection rules and procedures
- To liaise with colleagues and external contacts at all levels of seniority with confidence, tact and diplomacy
- To work with Ark Central and other academies in the Ark network, to establish good practice throughout the network, offering support where required
This job description is not an exhaustive list and you will be expected to carry out any other reasonable tasks as directed by your line manager.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Professional management qualification desirable
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Experience leading, coaching and motivating staff, ensuring professional development and effectively challenging and managing any underperformance
- Experience of managing budgets
- Good knowledge of HR legislation and experience of supporting Senior Leaders with HR issues, e.g. probation, capability, disciplinary, absence management
- The ability to skilfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with parents, governors, community members and other stakeholders
- Knowledge and experience of managing procurement and contracts for services
- Experience of and confidence in implementing procedures and processes within operational departments, and using Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Able to manage several projects at once, prioritising accordingly to meet deadlines and to work well under pressure
- Strong IT, systems, administrative and organisational skills and the ability to delegate appropriately
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Understanding of relevant legislation, policies and procedures, and the ability to apply this understanding to real situations
Behaviours
- Genuine passion for and a belief in the potential of every student
- A robust awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and you understand how and when to take appropriate action.
- Effective leadership and management style that encourages participation, innovation and develops colleagues’ confidence and trust
- The ability to work in close harmony with the Principal, senior team and staff
- The ability to develop the leadership skills of others as well as to learn from others
- The ability to enthuse and inspire others
- Excellent listening skills
- Passion, energy, resilience and optimism to lead the academy through day-to-day challenges while maintaining a clear strategic vision and direction
- A firm and constant belief in the unlimited potential of every student and a commitment to inclusive educational provision
- The ability to develop positive relationships with all young people and adults
- The ability to take personal responsibility, a readiness to reflect and self-evaluate and the ability to be flexible, to change, improve and develop
- Confidence and self-motivation
- The ability to be decisive
- High levels of honesty and integrity
- A sense of humour and desire to have fun
- Professional outlook, detailed orientated and able to multi task and meet deadlines
- A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative
- Calm and professional under pressure
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion
- Flexible attitude towards work and demonstrates sound judgement
- Other
- Right to work in the UK
- Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all students
- Willingness to undertake training
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.