Operations Manager
Thornhill Academy, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7NA13 days remaining to apply
Start date details
February 2026
Closing date
23 January 2026 at 8am
Date listed
9 January 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
- £44,075.00 - £47,181.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 11 (NJC scale points 33 – 36)
Operations Manager job summary
Operations Manager
📍 Location: Thornhill
💰 Salary: Grade 11 (NJC scale points 33 - 36) £44,075 - £47,181 per annum
⏳ Contract and Working Pattern: Permanent, full time (36 hours per week), all year round
📅 Start Date: February 2026
Consilium Academies is a values-driven Multi-Academy Trust dedicated to Excellence, Equity and Integrity. With eight schools across Salford, South Yorkshire and the North East, we work as a collaborative family of academies, committed to delivering outstanding education and creating environments where both students and staff can thrive.
We are now seeking an experienced and highly capable Operations Manager to join one of our academies and play a pivotal role in shaping a safe, efficient and high-performing school environment.
The role
The Operations Manager is a senior leader within the school, working closely with the Principal and Trust central teams to ensure that all operational services run seamlessly, compliantly and in a way that directly supports teaching and learning. Reporting to the Head of Operations and the Director of Infrastructure and Operations, you will lead and manage all non-teaching services across the school, including estates, health and safety, administration, catering, finance, HR, IT, transport and marketing.
You will be a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team, contributing strategically to school improvement while also providing strong day-to-day operational leadership. Your work will ensure that the school is a vibrant, safe and well-run environment where staff can focus on delivering excellent education.
The role requires a confident, organised and proactive leader who can oversee diverse teams, manage complex compliance requirements and maintain high standards across every aspect of the school’s operations.
What you will do
You will provide leadership across all support services, ensuring they are aligned to both school priorities and Trust expectations. Working closely with Trust colleagues, you will develop and maintain strategic plans for operational services, lead line management and appraisal processes for support staff, and build a culture of continuous improvement. You will act as a key adviser to the Principal on all operational matters and will represent operational services at senior leadership and governance meetings.
You will be accountable for the safe and compliant operation of the school site, including buildings, grounds and facilities. This will include managing the site team, overseeing maintenance and capital works, ensuring statutory compliance, managing contractors and service level agreements, and developing and delivering an estates plan that supports both educational delivery and value for money.
Health and safety is a central part of this role. You will act as the school’s designated lead for health and safety, ensuring that risk assessments, policies, training and statutory checks are in place, that staff and pupils are kept safe, and that incident reporting and follow-up are robust and compliant.
You will lead the school’s catering service, ensuring it meets legislative and Trust standards, supports student wellbeing, operates efficiently and provides high-quality provision. You will also oversee the administration of free school meals, biometric systems and parent payment platforms.
As the senior operational leader on site, you will manage the school’s administrative function, ensuring that data, records, communications, governance support, GDPR compliance and inspections are handled professionally and effectively. You will work closely with Trust colleagues to ensure high-quality reporting, marketing, census returns and regulatory submissions are completed accurately and on time.
In partnership with the central HR team, you will oversee the day-to-day administration of HR processes, staff wellbeing, recruitment, payroll checks, training compliance, safeguarding checks and workforce data. You will ensure that line management processes, absence management, induction, performance review and safer recruitment practices are fully embedded and followed.
You will also act as the school’s operational lead for IT, working closely with Trust IT services to ensure systems, equipment and support meet the needs of staff and pupils. You will coordinate on-site support, manage issues and ensure that assets, access and data security are appropriately controlled.
Marketing and communications form part of the role, with responsibility for ensuring that the school presents itself professionally and positively to parents and the community through events, social media, the website and Trust-aligned branding and communications.
You will also manage school transport arrangements, ensuring contracts, legal requirements and communications with parents are in place and compliant.
Throughout all of this work, you will ensure safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality are maintained at the highest standards.
Who we are looking for?
We are seeking a professional with strong leadership and organisational skills who can manage complex operations in a busy school environment. You will ideally hold a Level 6 leadership and management qualification or equivalent, or have the experience to demonstrate this level of competence, along with GCSE-level qualifications in English and Maths. Experience or willingness to gain qualifications in school business management, premises management, first aid and health and safety is important.
You will bring strong experience of leading teams, managing facilities, overseeing health and safety, handling budgets and contracts, and working with compliance frameworks. Experience in a school or multi-academy trust setting is highly desirable, as is a good understanding of safeguarding, estates, IT and operational systems in education.
You will be a confident communicator who can work effectively with senior leaders, staff, pupils, parents, contractors and Trust colleagues. You will be highly organised, solutions-focused and able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards and attention to detail.
Most importantly, you will share our commitment to Excellence, Equity and Integrity and believe that every child deserves the very best learning environment.
Why join Consilium Academies?
At Consilium, we are committed to supporting our staff to grow and succeed. Through our Centre for Professional Learning, you will have access to high-quality professional development tailored to your career goals. You will be part of a collaborative Trust where your expertise is valued and where you can make a genuine difference to young people’s lives.
We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you into the Consilium family.
Applications and Information
For further information about the role please see attached recruitment pack including, job description and person specification.
If you have any questions about the role or would like to arrange a visit to Thornhill Academy, please contact Gaynor.Harper@consilium-at.com
Closing date for applications is Friday 23rd January 2026, 9.00am
Interviews will take place on a date to be confirmed
Please ensure that within your application you provide the names, addresses, and contact details for two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer.
Consilium Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are made subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.
The Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, the Public Sector fluency duty requires state funded schools to ensure candidates for their customer facing roles have the necessary standard of spoken English.
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Thornhill Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 564 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Thornhill Academy website
School location
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