Operations Manager Location: Sunderland Salary: £44,075 to £47,181 per annumContract: Permanent full time position (36 hours per week)Start Date: February 2026 or ASAP We are seeking an experienced and highly capable Operations Manager to join a secondary academy based in Sunderland and play a key role in delivering a safe, efficient and high-performing school environment. The Role The Operations Manager is a senior leader within the school and a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Working closely with the Principal and central support teams, you will lead all non-teaching operational services, ensuring they run smoothly, compliantly and in direct support of teaching and learning. You will have responsibility for estates and facilities, health and safety, administration, catering, finance support, HR administration, IT, transport and marketing/communications. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational management in a busy school setting. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage all support services and line manage operational staff Oversee the safe, compliant operation of the school site, including estates, maintenance, contractors and statutory compliance Act as the school's lead for health and safety, ensuring robust systems, training and reporting Manage catering services, free school meals administration and parent payment systems Lead school administration, governance support, GDPR compliance and inspections Oversee day-to-day HR administration in partnership with central HR services Act as the operational lead for IT, working with central IT teams Manage school transport arrangements and contracts Support marketing and communications, ensuring a professional school profile Ensure safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection are maintained at all times Person Specification We are looking for a confident, organised and proactive leader with strong experience in operational management. You will ideally hold a Level 6 leadership/management qualification (or equivalent experience) and GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths. Experience in a school or multi-academy trust environment is highly desirable, along with knowledge of estates management, health and safety, HR processes, compliance and safeguarding. You will be an excellent communicator, able to manage competing priorities and work effectively with senior leaders, staff, parents and external partners. A commitment to providing high-quality learning environments and supporting positive outcomes for young people is essential.