DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
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HEADMASTER’S WELCOME Dauntsey’s is a friendly, focused, and happy school where I ask everyone, both pupils and staff, to give of their best to be adventurous and to look after each other.
and an hour and a half from London. The school has grown steadily in recent years, thanks to strong academic results, the strength of its all-round education, the generous support of the Mercers’ Company and outstanding pupils and staff. It is a thriving co-educational school of 865 day and boarding pupils. From all our staff, I ask for commitment, enthusiasm, energy, and positivity; in return we offer a happy, supportive, and fulfilling environment in which to work.
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HEADMASTER’S WELCOME
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THE SCHOOL
I believe that people, rather than build- ings or facilities, are what make a good school great, and I am proud to lead an exceptional team here at Dauntsey’s. Dauntsey’s sits in an idyllic location in the middle of rural Wiltshire, five miles from the historic market town of Devizes, close to Bath and Salisbury,
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THE ROLE
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THE CANDIDATE
- Mark Lascelles
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APPLICATION PROCESS
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THE SCHOOL Dauntsey’s was founded in 1542, by William Dauntsey, Master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. Today it is a leading co-educational boarding and day school for 11–18-year-olds, set in a 150-acre estate in Wiltshire and noted for its friendly and supportive atmosphere. Staff and pupils have every opportunity to fulfil their potential and achieve their aspirations, both academically and otherwise. Teachers pass on their enthusiasm and love of their subject to pupils who leave with strong exam results and a love of learning. But Dauntsey’s is about much more than exam grades. Our extensive adventure education programme encourages pupils to develop important life skills, such as resilience, communication,
creativity, and teamwork and this adventurous spirit translates into the classroom, so pupils approach their academic lessons with curiosity and a “have a go” attitude. Dauntsey’s is a happy community with a strong family atmosphere where independent minds, social responsibility and moral values are encouraged, and the school community thrives on a culture of kindness and mutual respect.
Dauntsey’s received the highest rating of ‘Excellent’ for both categories: the quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements, and the quality of pupils’ personal development. In recent years Dauntsey’s has seen substantial growth with the addition of many new facilities and the refurbishment of other buildings. These have included significant improvements in science, ICT and DT, in addition to new day and boarding accommodation and additional sports pitches. More recently, work was completed on a Pavilion and a classroom block for Business Studies/Economics, Geography and Mathematics. A new dance studio was created in the Sports Hall complex, and an all-weather athletics’ track added in 2018.
School Structure The foundation of our
outstanding pastoral care is the House system which provides a secure source of support and guidance and leads to a real sense of belonging.
In its most recent ISI inspection,
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THE ROLE
The Director of Operations is one of three Heads of Department reporting directly to the Bursar alongside the Head of Finance and the Head of Human Resources.
The Director of Operations is the key player in ensuring that the everyday activities at the school run smoothly and the estate is maintained to the current exacting standards. They will work together with their direct reports and manage key relationships with a variety of different stakeholders. The duties include developing and improving the day-to- day operations of each of the departments, establishing school policies, implementing change where necessary and adhering to compliance procedures, laws and regulations. In addition, the Director of Operations will provide strategic guidance to the SMT and Governors. The Director of Operations is directly responsible for the following: Clerk of Works, Chef Manager, Facilities Manager, Head Groundsman, Senior Nurse, Sports Centre Manager and the International Pupil & Transport Manager. Key Duties & Responsibilities: • To ensure the smooth running of all key operational aspects of school life on a daily basis. • Providing leadership for the following areas to ensure they deliver in line with the school’s overall strategic plan: Catering, Facilities, Grounds, Health Centre, Health & Safety, Maintenance, Security, Sports Centre and Transport. Preparation, control, and delivery of the budgets of these areas. • To oversee the estate to monitor and maintain its current high standards. • To be the first point of contact, in case of emergency or disruption to the school, pupils and staff. • Representing the school as the initial point of contact for day parents regarding all transport matters. • To oversee all building and grounds maintenance associated with keeping the school functional and operational. • To ensure that the school is compliant with all statutory and legislative checks associated with the estate and catering functions. • To develop a sustainable ethos throughout the school. • To develop and lead on all future projects from an estates’ perspective. • Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.
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Departments Facilities: • Line management of the Facilities Manager. • Overseeing the co-ordination and supervision of all the Facilities Services including: • Welfare Services - Boarding accommodation. • Domestic Services including cleaning and janitorial provision. • Accountability for the facilities and domestic support operating budgets. Health Centre: • Through line management of the Senior Nurse, ensure effective, compliant delivery of all aspects of the Health Centre for pupils and staff. Catering Support: • Line management of the Chef Manager. • Accountability for the food procurement and catering support budgets. • Co-ordination of catering capital equipment replacement programme. • Ensuring the continued high standards of catering provision including food safety standards and allergen control. Transport: • Line management of the International Pupil and Transport Manager. • Overseeing the international travel arrangements for all pupils living abroad and ensuring that those pupils travelling comply with both the country of origin and the UK’s travel regulations. • Overseeing the safety and timeliness of all day pupils using the school’s bus service. • Overseeing the tendering, letting and co-ordination of bus travel contracts including reliability, safety, and cost control.
Security: • Overseeing the security arrangements and procedures for the school. • Leading the school’s response to incidents related to site security. • Control and overall authority of the CCTV management system in line with GDPR. • Letting and review of tenders for the security contract. • Overseeing the upgrade of security measures including the CCTV system for the school. Sports Centre: • Line management of the Sports Centre Manager. • Overseeing the running of the Sports Centre including the sports hall, swimming pool and fitness suite. • Accountability for the sports centre budget. • Overseeing the development and operation of the Dauntsey’s Swim School. Health & Safety and Fire Prevention: • Co-ordination and management of Health & Safety and Fire Prevention Procedures. • Act as Chairman of the School’s Health and Safety Committee. • Prepare the annual Health and Safety. • Report for the Governing Board. • Work closely with the school’s Health and Safety and Fire Protection advisors to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and best practice requirements related to buildings and operations. • This will include preparing risk assessments and processes for external contractors working at the school. • Maintenance of effective Health & Safety Policy. • Formal review and update to be conducted every 2 years. • Assurance of compliance with Health & Safety
requirements for the maintenance of Risk Assessments. • Assurance of compliance with statutory fire training for all staff. • Maintenance and review of fire evacuation procedures and fire prevention policy. • Co-ordination of contingency planning requirements including: • Whole School Evacuation Procedures • Major Incident Plan • Pandemic Plan School Lettings: • In conjunction with the Bursar, review and oversee commercial lettings and review all external organisations and private individuals wishing to use any of the school's facilities during the holiday periods on a commercial or charitable basis. • In conjunction with the Sports Centre Manager, oversee all external organisations using the sports facilities at Dauntsey’s School. • Work with the Head of Partnerships to coordinate all outreach activities using the school site. Grounds: • Line management of the Head Groundsman. • Oversight of grounds maintenance activities and co- ordination of the requirements for grounds capital equipment replacement plans. • Accountability for the Grounds operating budget Estates, Buildings & Maintenance: • Line management of the Clerk of Works. • Estate management co-ordination including planning, budgeting and scheduling of the pre- planned 10-year maintenance programme. • Ensuring that the delivery of all the estates pre- planned maintenance and capital projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Act as Secretary to the Governors’ Estates Committee and prepare termly reports for the Estates Committee. • Liaise with the school’s architects on all planning issues and listed building consents required to develop the Dauntsey’s estate in line with the goals of the strategic plan. • Develop and lead on the school’s sustainability agenda to materially reduce its carbon footprint and reduce its energy consumption. • Ensuring that the school is compliant, at all times, with all the relevant legislation and statutory testing and all members of the maintenance team are appropriately certified and qualified. • Ensuring that an efficient call-out service is in place for out of hours emergency repairs. Capital Projects and Site Development: • In conjunction with the Bursar and the Senior Management Team manage the Site Development Plan for the school. • Development of user requirements in support of estate capital expenditure projects. • Project management of individual capital projects. • Liaise with the Development Director to support fundraising projects for specific capital projects. The following duties are ones which all staff are required to perform: • Observe health and safety procedures, and work safely at all times. • Be responsible for your own continuing self- development, undertaking training as appropriate to the working environment and location, and developments in your role. • Conduct yourself with professionalism, tact, and diplomacy as a representative of Dauntsey’s in line with school policies and procedures.
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THE CANDIDATE
Dauntsey’s seeks to deliver an outstanding educational experience in all fields to its pupils. It requires staff with the ability and expertise to support this ambition. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will demonstrate the following: QUALIFICATIONS Essential: • Project Management qualifications. • Health and Safety qualifications. Desirable: • Degree qualified. • Professional qualification within the building/property industry. • NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health & Safety. • Understanding of CAD,
planning, organisation and implementation of projects. • Creation of 10-year budgets across departments and delivery of an annual budget. • Previous experience overseeing health and safety matters. • Experience of communicating with end users / customers (ie. parents). Desirable: • Previous experience within an independent school or other educational establishment. • An understanding of estates engineering (both digital and mechanical), eg. heating, electronic and electric systems. • An understanding of letting building contracts. SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE Essential: • Excellent communication skills in both oral and written formats. • Excellent negotiating skills. • Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills. • Accuracy and attention to detail. • Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise. • A working knowledge of property and planning law and regulations. • A good working knowledge of Health and Safety including fire safety. • Understanding sustainability and energy conservation.
Desirable: • Building trusted and
supportive relationships with colleagues. • Building relationships with external contractors to ensure high quality provision and value for money. ATTITUDE AND PERSONAL QUALITIES Essential: • Proven leadership qualities, energy, drive and determination. • Approachable and confident in dealing with a wide variety of people. • Tact and discretion. • Good humoured and patient. • A firm yet flexible approach with a capacity for hard work and sustained effort. • Empathy towards the ethos and principles of the school and understanding of the needs and challenges facing independent education.
Facilities management software and catering management software to include allergen, menu control and stock control.
• Committed to own
professional development.
TERMS & CONDITIONS This is a full time, full year appointment on a permanent contract to start in August or September 2023. Hours of work:
Desirable: • A strategic thinker, who is
EXPERIENCE Essential: • Previous experience of
able to translate strategy into practical realism.
The post holder will live on site and will be on call as required. A flexible approach to working hours is required, noting the requirements of a boarding school. Accommodation provided in a 3-bedroom property on the school grounds from mid-August 2023. The post holder is expected to live on site at all times except for when they are on annual leave. The cost of utilities and council tax will be covered by the post holder.
• A willingness to learn and adapt to changing requirements.
managing (multiple) teams in a fast moving and responsive environment. • Financial awareness and experience of budget management and control. • Previous experience in a related or similar role. • Significant project experience with proven skills in the
During term time – 42.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.00pm with a one hour lunch break) plus Saturdays when the school is in session from 8.00am to 12:30pm (approx 26 Saturdays per year).
Outside term time – 35 hours per week (Monday to Friday 9am to 5.00pm).
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APPLICATION PROCESS
The Management Recruitment Group has been retained as our exclusive advisor for this appointment and any third party or direct applications will be forwarded to them. For a confidential discussion and/or the full job description, please contact:
Melanie Pye E: melanie.pye@mrgpeople.co.uk M: 07530 734 568
To apply, please send your application consisting of a CV and supporting statement to Melanie Pye.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 14th May 2023
First Stage Interviews: w/c 5th June 2023
Dauntsey’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all employees to share this commitment. All employees must be willing to undergo child protection training and screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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