Operations Manager
Longsands Academy, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 1LQ24 days remaining to apply
Start date details
ASAP
Closing date
11 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
16 September 2026
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
- £40,799.00 - £44,854.00 Annually (Actual)
Operations Manager job summary
Operations Manager
Longsands Academy
37 hours per week | 52 Weeks Per Year | Permanent
Salary: £40,799 - £44,854 per annum
Closing Date: 11th October 2026
Do you have a proven track record of managing finance, estates, health and safety, or HR functions within a complex organisation? Are you someone who builds strong relationships, inspires teams and drives continuous improvement?
Longsands Academy is seeking an experienced, proactive and highly organised Operations Manager to join our leadership team. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional to oversee the academy's operational functions, ensuring that finance, estates, health and safety, HR, compliance and business operations are delivered to the highest standard. Working closely with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in creating an environment where staff can focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students.
Longsands Academy is a successful and ambitious secondary school located in the heart of St Neots. As part of Astrea Academy Trust, we are committed to providing an exceptional education that enables every student to learn, thrive and succeed. We combine high expectations with a strong culture of support, creating an environment where students are encouraged to develop academically, socially and personally. Our dedicated staff work collaboratively to ensure students receive the very best opportunities, and we are proud of our inclusive ethos, strong community links and commitment to continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities- Provide strategic leadership of the academy's operational functions, ensuring efficient and effective business support.
- Oversee financial processes, monitoring budgets, expenditure and financial performance in partnership with the Trust's finance team.
- Ensure purchasing, invoicing and supplier payments are managed accurately and within required timescales.
- Monitor contracts and service agreements, ensuring value for money and high-quality service delivery.
- Manage relationships with external providers, contractors and partner organisations.
- Lead operational aspects of the academy's facilities, estates and maintenance functions alongside site teams.
- Oversee health and safety compliance, ensuring statutory requirements are met and best practices are embedded across the academy.
- Take responsibility for emergency planning procedures, including fire safety processes and testing schedules.
- Support and oversee key HR processes, including recruitment, onboarding, payroll administration and staff absence management.
- Manage operational support services including transport arrangements, lettings and wider commercial activities.
- Contribute as a member of the extended leadership team, providing expertise and guidance on operational matters.
- Lead, develop and support operational staff to ensure high levels of performance and customer service.
- Significant experience within operations, business management or a similar leadership role.
- Strong financial and budget management skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands effectively.
- Knowledge of health and safety regulations and compliance requirements.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to build positive relationships at all levels.
- Experience managing contracts, suppliers and external service providers.
- A proactive, solution-focused approach with the ability to identify and implement improvements.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong IT skills and confidence working with management information and financial systems.
- A commitment to safeguarding, continuous improvement and delivering excellent outcomes for young people.
Why Join Us?
At Longsands Academy, you'll join a dedicated and ambitious team working together to provide exceptional opportunities for young people. You'll play a key role in shaping the operational success of the academy while benefiting from the support, collaboration and professional development opportunities available through Astrea Academy Trust.
Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.
In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.
Flexible Interview Dates:
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and we expect all staff to share this commitment.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Longsands Academy
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1412 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Longsands Academy website
Longsands Academy, part of Astrea Academy Trust, is a successful, fully-inclusive secondary school at the heart of its community. We pride ourselves on providing an engaging and supportive environment in which our students feel empowered to reach and embrace their full potential with confidence. Our staff are committed to nurturing the abilities of every child with a curriculum which promotes academic excellence and is delivered by subject specialists. The opportunities we provide allow all students to showcase their talents, whether through the traditional school day or as a result of the wealth of extra-curricular activities on offer. Furthermore, in order to develop the important qualities of independent learning and resilience, our students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning both in and out of lessons. We are extremely proud of the achievements of our students that are a result of the high expectations, students’ hard work and commitment and the supportive relationships that exist between staff, students and their parents/carers.
The pursuit of academic excellence is at the heart of the Academy. Through high expectations of behaviour, a commitment to great standards of teaching delivering a knowledge-rich curriculum, and positive working relationships with all members of the academy community, all students, regardless of their background or personal circumstances, are encouraged to achieve their academic aspirations. We believe that schools must teach powerful knowledge that takes students beyond their everyday experiences. We believe in a traditional, subject-based approach to teaching in order to create a scholarly culture that is disciplined and joyful. We want to ensure that we open doors for every students’ future and develop in them a life-long love of learning.
We are committed to developing our staff to be the very best that they can be by striving to ensure that all of our colleagues can access high-quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Our CPD programme is both department-based and in collaboration with academies within the Astrea family and external partners. Wide-ranging opportunities for professional development are available for staff at all stages of their career, including ECTs, experienced classroom teachers, middle and senior leaders and support staff.
School location
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