Operations Manager - Havering Secondary Hub

Life Education Trust, Romford, RM1 2RR

28 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st January 2027, or sooner if possible

• Closing date

  9 November 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  12 October 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: £56,058.00 - £60,390.00 Annually (Actual) This post attracts a recruitment and retention allowance, paid in addition to the salary.

Operations Manager - Havering Secondary Hub job summary

Job Purpose:

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day running of our Havering Secondary Hub: The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls and The Bridge, which share a site in Romford serving around 1,500 pupils with around 200 employees. Reporting to the Chief Finance & Operating Officer, you will lead across finance, HR, site management and operations, putting best practice in place and managing resources effectively so that our schools run smoothly and efficiently every day. This is a permanent, full-time role (36 hours per week, 52 weeks per year) starting 1st January 2027, or sooner if possible. The salary is Grade 9, spine points 40-44 (£56,058 - £60,390), and the post attracts a recruitment and retention allowance paid in addition to salary.

You will:

Share our commitment to building great learning communities where children flourish

Lead and develop the Hub’s operations team, including people, finance, administration, cover and site colleagues

Prepare and manage budgets and forecasts, explain variances clearly to senior leaders, and lead Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP)

Oversee HR processes, including contracts, payroll, safer recruitment and the Single Central Record

Lead the strategic management of the school premises, health and safety compliance, lettings and the catering contract

Manage contracts in line with procurement law and the Trust’s financial regulations, identifying opportunities to save costs

Build strong links between LIFE Central and the Hub, coordinating Trust-wide IT and marketing initiatives

Bring excellent organisation, sound judgement and a collaborative, values-led approach

The successful candidate will join a supportive and ambitious team at the heart of two thriving schools, working closely with the Executive Headteacher, Headteacher and our central team. You will make a real difference to how our schools run, and be supported to keep developing your skills and career within a growing Trust. Please read the attached application pack for the full job description and person specification before applying. We encourage early applications and may interview strong candidates before the closing date. Visits are warmly welcomed; to arrange one, or for an informal conversation about the role, please contact Rebecca Beach at rbeach@lifeeducationtrust.com.

Our Way of LIFE

Our Purpose is 'To build great learning communities where children flourish’ and at LIFE Education Trust we work collaboratively to ensure that everything we do can positively impact the lives of our pupils and employees.

To accomplish our purpose, we use our 3 core beliefs: ‘Courageous Optimism’, ‘Boundless Creativity’ & ‘Heartfelt Compassion’. We believe in helping colleagues and pupils achieve their personal best and we strive to recruit first class talent for our Trust.

References and DBS Checks

All offers of appointment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory references. LIFE Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the DBS.

Inclusion

As a Trust, we are committed to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity. We will ensure that the selection process is fair and without discrimination for or against any candidate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. The person specification sets out the criteria used to assess candidates through the selection process.

Why Choose LIFE Education Trust

For more information on why to choose LIFE, head to the website here.

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

At LIFE Education Trust, we prioritise the safety and welfare of our students. All staff and volunteers are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding children from abuse.
Our schools comply with the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidelines, which require shortlisted candidates to submit a self-declaration of their criminal record before an interview.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and an enhanced DBS disclosure check is mandatory for the successful applicant.

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 Life Education Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Life Education Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/life-education-trust

LIFE Education Trust is a multi-academy trust with 11 schools in Havering and across Essex .
Our mission is to build great learning communities which unleash creativity and champion optimism, in a spirit of compassion.

Head office location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed