– this role does not offer sponsorship
Options Autism is proud to be opening Castle Gate School in Guildford, a cutting-edge specialist school for pupils with autism, learning difficulties, and complex needs.
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to play a key role in maintaining and enhancing our school environment — ensuring it’s a place where pupils can thrive and staff can do their best work.
This is an opportunity to make a real impact every day. You’ll lead our dedicated facilities team, oversee maintenance and repairs, manage budgets, and ensure every aspect of our site runs smoothly and safely. From developing long-term improvement plans to managing day-to-day operations, your work will help shape a setting that feels welcoming, professional, and cared for.
What You’ll Be Doing:
1. Leading and motivating the facilities team to deliver outstanding service across maintenance, cleaning, and catering (where applicable)
2. Managing planned and reactive maintenance programmes to keep the school running efficiently
3. Overseeing budgets, contracts, and suppliers to ensure cost-effective and high-quality service delivery
4. Taking ownership of health and safety, fire safety, and compliance across the site
5. Conducting regular risk assessments, audits, and inspections to maintain the highest standards
6. Responding swiftly to maintenance issues and ensuring they’re resolved effectively
7. Coordinating vehicle maintenance, security, and safe equipment use
8. Playing an active role in developing long-term facilities and improvement plans
What We’re Looking For:
9. Proven experience in facilities or site management (ideally within a school or similar environment)
10. Excellent leadership and organisational skills with a proactive, can-do approach
11. Strong knowledge of health and safety regulations and compliance processes
12. Confidence managing budgets, suppliers, and maintenance schedules
13. A practical problem solver who takes pride in maintaining high-quality environments
If you’re someone who thrives on responsibility, enjoys variety, and wants to make a genuine difference, this is your chance to lead a team that keeps our school running at its best — every single day.
About Us
Opening in September 2026, this brand-new school in Guildford is part of the Options Autism group, a leading provider of specialist education individuals with complex needs. The school will support up to 40pupils aged 11–18, offering a safe, structured, and inclusive environment tailored to meet a wide range of needs.
Our schools are unique environments, each one having its own special atmosphere and range of opportunities and resources. Our teachers enjoy becoming part of their school’s ‘family’, exploring the potential of the building and environment and getting to know the brilliant pupils in our care.
For over 19 years Options Autism have provided support and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
14. Life Assurance
15. Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
16. “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
17. A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
18. 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
19. Cycle to Work Schemes
20. Electric Car Purchase Scheme
21. Critical illness cover
22. Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG! 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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