Deputy Operations Manager

Watling Academy, Milton Keynes, MK8 1EP

20 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  6 August 2025 at 9am

• Date listed

  16 July 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £40,476.00 Annually (Actual) September pay award pending

Deputy Operations Manager job summary

DEPUTY OPERATIONS MANAGER – BUSINESS & FINANCE

Commencing – ASAP

37 hours per week

All Year Round

Salary – £40,476 p.a. (September pay award pending)

Are you ready to take a lead role in operations and finance at a fast-growing, forward-thinking school? Do you want to help shape the future of Watling Academy, including the launch of our brand-new Sixth Form?

The Role

Watling Academy is seeking an organised and driven Deputy Operations Manager – Business and Finance to play a key role in shaping our school’s operational and financial success. This is a busy, hands-on, role, with a broad portfolio, where you will drive improvements, champion new systems, and help optimise processes that will support our students, staff, and the wider school community. As our Deputy Operations Manager, you will:

Support colleagues across the Operations team, using your knowledge and expertise to optimise end to end processes

Partner with budget holders, providing financial reporting and support.

Drive income generation, finding new opportunities to support and enhance school resources.

Oversee invoicing and credit control, ensuring smooth and effective financial operations.

Champion the implementation of a new finance system, improving efficiency across the school.

Play a key role in procurement and supplier management, securing value for money and maintaining key contracts.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and refine key systems within a dynamic, forward-thinking school, particularly with the upcoming launch of the Watling Academy Sixth Form in September 2025.

About Watling Academy

Watling Academy is an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ secondary school situated on the western edge of Milton Keynes, encompassing the Whitehouse and Fairfields developments. Opening in September 2020, our school is a new and vibrant learning community for students aged 11-18. We are excited to open the Watling Academy Sixth Form to our first cohort of Year 12 students from September 2025, which will provide further educational opportunities. Our core values of Respect, Responsibility and Kindness embody the ‘Watling Way’ and are integral to the way we interact, learn and grow together as a community.

For more information about our school, please explore our website: www.watlingacademy.net

Learn more about why you should join us by downloading the attached Watling Academy Recruitment Pack

About The Alliance Schools Trust

The Alliance Schools Trust is driven by our mission of Care, Education and Opportunity. We prioritise care by ensuring that no student or staff member ever feels anonymous. Everyone is recognised, valued and supported, creating a strong sense of belonging within our community. Our commitment to education is reflected in our proven track record of academic success, consistently outperforming both Milton Keynes and national averages. We offer opportunity through supportive and dynamic learning environments, where every student can thrive and be well-prepared for future success in higher education or employment. For staff, we offer extensive opportunities for professional development and progression within our growing network of schools, empowering you to advance your career within a united, forward-thinking Trust.

As a Maths Hub and SCITT, we are recognised as leaders in raising educational standards both within our Trust and in the schools we support. We are proud to appoint motivated, highly qualified staff who thrive in a culture where collaboration and the spirit of partnership are central to everything we do.

How to Apply

Due to our commitment to safer recruitment practices, we can only accept applications through My New Term. Please do not submit CVs.

The Alliance Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS check is required for all successful applicants.

E-mail: hr@tastrust.org.uk

Headteacher: Mrs Helen Fry

Closing date for applications: 6th August 2025, 9am

Interviews: Monday 18th August 2025

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Watling Academy

• School type: Free School, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1500 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Watling Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/watling-academy

Watling Academy is a purpose-built secondary school in its second year of operation, located within the Whitehouse development on the western expansion area of Milton Keynes. The Academy will have 1800 students when at full capacity. Watling Academy is part of the Denbigh Alliance MAT.

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