Director of Operations and Estates
Candidate Information Pack
Creating operational excellence
Bursar’s Welcome
day-to-day running of support operations. Your priorities are to continue the strategic development and modernisation of the estates, incorporating measures to make the buildings more environmentally sustainable wherever possible, and ensure support services are meeting demanding customerservice standards. Two projects are underway to improve Senior school teaching accommodation and provide additional changing facilities. Reporting to the Bursar, you will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in your role, and willbe supportedby a team comprising the Premises Manager (operations), Facilities Manager (hard FM), Head of Grounds and Manager of Colfe’s Leisure Services,the School’s facilities letting and members’ leisure centre business. You are also responsible for the management of key outsourced contracts, such as cleaning and school transport I hope that you will consider carefully the various points in the job specification, but I appreciate that few, if any, candidates will tick all of the boxes simultaneously. Our overriding priority is to appoint a highly intelligent candidate who has a strong professional background and the requisite personal qualities to excel in this important leadership role.
Thank you for the interest that you have shown in this exciting opportunity. As a leading co-educational London day school, Colfe’s has seen much progress over the last decade. Growth in its popularity and academic achievements have been matched by expansion and improvement of its facilities. These developments include a Sixth Form study centre and café, a KS1 Classroom wing and a project to unify buildings in the Junior School. Major refurbishments of the Senior Hall and library have also been undertaken to the highest of standards. Colfe’s is a modern independent school with a grounded community of pupils, parents and staff. More than 10% of pupils in a typical Sixth Form year group come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Although founded in 1652, the School’s Estates are modern and practical, dating from the mid-twentieth century or later. These are primarily on the Horn Park site, comprising of a Senior School campus, Junior School and Sports Centre with a full- size swimming pool. The School also owns two nearby sportsgrounds - the Old Colfeans’ and Leathersellers’ grounds.
As Director of Operations and Estates, you will be responsible for maintaining facilities to a high standard and ensuring smooth
I look forward to meeting you in due course.
Max Adamson Bursar
About the School Colfe’s is one of London’s oldest schools. It can be traced back to the 15th century but took its name from Reverend Abraham Colfe, Vicar of Lewisham, who re-founded the School in 1652. In his will, he entrusted the care of the School to the Leathersellers’ livery company, which governs the School to this day. For 25 years , Colfe’s has been fully co-educational, with roughly equal numbers of boys and girls: nearly 1300 pupils in all, from age 3 to 18. Colfe’s old site in Lewisham was destroyed in the Second World War. In 1963, it moved to its present campus in Greenwich and all parts of the School from Nursery to Sixth Form share the site with its unique resources. We are lucky to have such an abundance of green space on site as well as a Performing Arts centre, Sports centre with full-size swimming pool, two additional extensive Sports grounds and a dedicated Forest School for younger pupils nearby. Colfe’s is a happy school. Academic standards are high – students perform well with many going on to their first-place university choice or top degree- apprenticeships. Our award-winning pastoral programmes give pupils the tools they need to learn and to live – supporting them at school and preparing them for life beyond. Locally and nationally, the School enjoys a strong and growing reputation for all-round quality and innovation.
Colfe’s School Aims
• To promote excellence in all areas of school life and to develop each pupil’s abilities and character to the fullest, whilst ensuring that each child is happy and developing their unique potential. • To provide innovative academic teaching which adds value and fosters learning and scholarship of the highest quality together with a wide range of cultural, sporting and cocurricular activities. • To nurture an awareness of spiritual and moral values amongst its pupils in accordance with the principles of the Founder, Abraham Colfe. • To maintain a balanced and diverse community of children from varied backgrounds within the context of an academically-selective school. • To promote a purposeful, disciplined, supportive and respectful atmosphere in which all pupils are encouraged to achieve their full potential, staff can find vocational fulfilment in their careers and all can use their talents for the greater good of the community and society as a whole. • To be the co-educational independent school of choice in south-east London.
Job Profile
Main Responsibilities The list below provides an outline of the main areas of responsibility.
Building and Estates – Strategic
Relationships and Staffing
Building and Estates - Operational
Summary
Build and maintain open, supportive relationships with colleagues across the school to ensure a high quality and responsive service. Provide effective leadership and development of the Facilities and Grounds teams, ensuring the estates and sports grounds are maintained to a high standard. Provide effective leadership and development of the School Keeping team, ensuring excellent support for teachers and that the school is well presented for events. Act as School representative to Colfeian Grounds Limited, an independent management company that utilises School Sporting facilities. Provide oversight of Colfe’s Leisure Services, the School’s trading subsidiary for letting its facilities. Deliver induction training in general health and safety to new staff and all staff annually. Management and coordination of outsourced service contracts, including cleaning and school transport.
Responsible for the care and maintenance of all buildings, services, minor/emergency works throughout the School site, and for the maintenance, upkeep and preparation of the School grounds, gardens, sports facilities and road access. Manage a rolling programme of planned and preventative maintenance, to minimise the incidence of breakdowns and reactive repairs. Oversee tenders for large and small maintenance and refurbishment projects, from initial concept, through design and specification, to implementation and handover to the School. Oversee activities of Colfe’s Leisure Services to deliver incremental income opportunities from the Estate and manage all operational aspects of lettings to third parties. Responsible for reporting to the Governors’ Estates Committee and strategic and Operational matters.
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Assist in the strategic development of the Estates’ Plan, in conjunction with the Head, Bursar and Governing Body; advise the Bursar on matters relating to the ongoing management of the Estates. Ensure adequate supervision and control of all major site development projects and on time and within budget delivery. Responsible for developing and delivering a costed rolling 5- year building and grounds maintenance plan.
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The Director of Operations and Estates is a senior support staff role reporting to the Bursar, with responsibility for all aspects of the ongoing management and further development of the Estates. This includes the maintenance and security of the buildings and grounds, management of facilities contracts and services, and leadership of the facilities team. The Director of Operations and Estates will take a leading role in the ongoing strategic development of the Estate and will oversee all building projects and works. The postholder will join a popular and thriving School which has a bright future despite sectoral challenges.
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Financial
Continuing Professional Development
• Oversight of Accident and Incident Reporting, including RIDDOR. • Responsible for running the School Health, Safety & Security (H&SS) sub-Committee and reporting to the Governors’ H&SS Committee.
• Obtain and keep up to date a nationally recognised First Aid certificate. • The postholder will take responsibility for ensuring they keep up to date with changes in legislation and best practice and engage with personal professional development as agreed with the Bursar.
• Responsible for preparation of annual budgets for relevant areas, control of spend against budget and preparing termly expenditure forecasts. • Take responsibility for the efficient procurement, tendering and appointment of professional consultants, advisors, contractors and suppliers. In particular: • Responsible for School insurances and
Compliance and Control
• Ensure compliance with all relevant Independent School Standards relating to H&S, premises or other areas of responsibility. • Manage and co-ordinate statutory inspection and servicing schedules to ensure full compliance with all legislation, including (but not limited to) fire and alarm systems, lighting, air conditioning, asbestos, water testing, PAT testing, and COSHH. • Ensure safe working practices are employed and that all relevant staff are properly trained and competent in the operation of any equipment put into their charge. • Ensure all relevant Risk Assessments are in place and are reviewed and updated regularly. • Monitor the performance, health and safety practices, licences, insurances, and DBS clearances of contractors, reporting any deficiencies to the Bursar.
General
related questions and claims. • Responsible for leasing and maintenance of School vehicles. • Responsible for energy procurement using expert broker services.
• Maintain comprehensive records, electronically, for all areas of responsibility. • Implement and review School policies pertinent to all areas of responsibility, and support and uphold the School’s policies.
Other Duties
Sustainability
• The Director of Operations and Estates will be required to attend a number of school activities outside of normal working hours, including weekend Open Days and some evening School events. • On occasion, site attendance may be needed to deal with emergency call-outs.
• Responsible for developing and delivering environmental sustainability improvements in School operations and facilities. • Responsible for energy usage tracking and driving measures to reduce carbon emissions.
Health & Safety and Security
• Take responsibility for the management of Health and Safety at the School, ensuring all statutory requirements are met (as set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent H&S legislation).
This job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder, to reflect the changing needs of the School
About You
Person Specification
Essential
Desirable
Education / Qualifications / Training
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Education to Degree level. Membership of relevant professional organisation (e.g. BIFM/CIOB/RICS). Formal health and safety training.
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Experience
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Significant experience in the management of buildings and grounds. Significant experience managing health and safety across multiple sites & excellent knowledge of health and safety legislation. Strong track record in project management with capability to deliver projects on time and within budget. Experience of on-site management of building works and projects. A strong communicator with experience of managing teams. Proven experience of building effective relationships with major suppliers, contractors and advisors. Experience of compiling and monitoring budgets relevant to estates and facilities management. Experience of working in a school or educational environment.
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Skills / Characteristics
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Commitment to health and safety and compliance. A positive, can-do, flexible attitude with the ability to analyse and evaluate options and to provide appropriate solutions. Highly organised and accurate, with an eye for detail and able to work to tight deadlines. High levels of numeracy and literacy skills. Good knowledge of Excel and Word. An appreciation and understanding of independent education.
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Key relationships
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Internal: Bursar, Head, Senior Leadership Team, Schoolkeepers, Grounds and Facilities Teams, Governors, colleagues External: Contractors, suppliers, external professional advisors and consultants, parents
Safeguarding Statement
Colfe’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The appointment is subject to satisfactory pre- employment checks in accordance with the relevant statutory guidance, including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, proof of identity and qualifications and a satisfactory medical report. Colfe’s School recognises and is committed to ensuring applicants and employees from all sections of the community are treated equally regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, belief, gender reassignment, marital and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the postholder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, any concerns must be reported to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in accordance with Colfe’s’s policies and procedures.
Application Process
The Management Recruitment Group has been appointed as our exclusive advisor for this appointment and any third party or direct applications will be forwarded to them.
For further information or to discuss the role, please contact:
Sian Gardiner sian.gardiner@mrgglobal.com 07932 717 458 Michael Hewlett michael.hewlett@mrgglobal.com 07530 068 184 To apply, please send your CV along with a covering letter clearly demonstrating how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification to Sian Gardiner.
Closing Date for applications: Sunday 14 th July 2024
First stage Interviews: w/c 29 th July 2024
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